Bright Spots in Our Special Education Program

When the legislation was enacted changing the operational posture of the AEA system in Iowa, it caused quite a sea change in public schools. Many of the services that we once relied on were eliminated and support that we had relied on was no longer available. There were a lot of concerns with this legislation, and most of them have been voiced here. But, perhaps the one that gave me the most heartburn was special education support. Like most smaller school districts in the state, we relied on the AEA to provide guidance and a safety net for special education operations. You see, special education is a very complex program with rules and regulations that seem to be constantly changing. We have to deal with a mix of federal and state funding, be cognizant of a concept known and 'least restrictive environment', have a basic working knowledge of Medicaid, and understand what specially designed instruction looks like. Perhaps most importantly, ensure that our special education teachers are getting the support they need through general supervision of the program. 

A lot of the aforementioned were concepts that we relied on the AEA to assist with. Good thing too. You see, by trade I'm a music teacher. The skill set between teaching a student to sing or play the piano is quite different than those needed to develop and deliver specially designed instruction. Likewise, the other three principals on the team aren't special education teachers by trade either (although they are light years ahead of me when it comes to this type of expertise). Indeed, this phenomenon isn't unique to Hudson. That is why many of my colleagues around the state made the decision to add special education directors to their districts: administrators with specific expertise in special education. A sound decision for sure, one that I would unwise to second guess. Financially, it's not a heavy lift. 10% of the special education funding that flowed to the AEA can now be retained by individual districts ($29,329 for Hudson Schools next year). If you share that position with other school districts and pool the funds together, in essence it becomes cost neutral. Plus there is the added benefit of operational sharing incentives. 

Yet, when overtures to participate in a sharing arrangement for a special education director were made, I resisted. Not because I thought this wasn't a good idea. But because I thought it was first important to 'pop the hood' on our special education program. Before adding an additional layer of administration, I thought it first important to understand with clarity what exactly was happening in that program. And to be completely honest, an opportunity for us administrators to examine our blind spots when it comes to special education administration. So, we commissioned a study of the program, led by the AEA.

We started this process way back at the beginning of the school year by identifying exactly what it was we hoped to accomplish and why. It was also important to understand why our special education deficit was so high and if there were efficiencies that could be uncovered. During the course of this school year, we refined our scope and reviewed data metrics both internal and external. Teams observed our teachers delivering instruction. Examined the construct of IEPs. Conducted focus groups and administered surveys. And compared our data to peers.

The results. Well, they were quite impressive. We found that our identification rates are consistently below state averages and fairly stable across all buildings, with lower rates occurring at the high school. This is a positive finding because it suggests our educators have a strong problem solving process in place. When a student is experiencing difficulty in the classroom, special education should never be the first intervention. We have to ask the question: Is this a skill deficit, or a processing issue? If the answer is skill deficit, then special education is unlikely to yield the result desired. Further, lower identification rates at the high school suggests the overall program is performing as designed. The reason there are fewer students at the high school is because the service is no longer needed. Our goal is for students receiving special education services to not need them; and instead receive instruction in their least restrictive environment (LRE). 

Least restrictive environment then, is in regular class with their age appropriate peer group. Again, another bright spot for our program. Our LRE rate exceeds state targets, which indicates our special education students are in the regular classroom more that the statewide average. And with an exit rate of 7.5%, we are higher than that 4.5% exit rate realized statewide.

One of the findings that I was most proud of was in compliance. The majority of IEPs are finalized within 15 days of the scheduled meeting, and the observable data reveals implementation of specially designed instruction that has been outlined in the IEP is actually being delivered. This tells me that the developed plan is not offering mere platitudes, but delivering on promises and expectations. Additionally, the instruction truly is specialized and individual to each student, as opposed to 'more of the same' general instruction. 

Ensuring compliance with the law, designing quality instruction, and ensuring students are in the least restrictive environment means little unless we are moving the needle on student outcomes. Our analysis suggests that is the case. Students are exceeding statewide ISASP proficiency benchmarks for students with IEPs. Graduation rates surpass state rates. Dropout rates are consistent with those who do not have an IEP. 

One might think everything that has been highlighted as strengths in this column goes without saying. The fact is, they are not. During my time on the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners one of the most consistent issues we dealt with were teachers unable to properly manage the workload that comes with being a special education teacher. One of the first things to suffer is progress monitoring. We do not have that problem here. I had always believed our teachers were knocking it out of the park on a daily basis. Of course, I'm admittedly bias (and still not a special education teacher). Of course one would think that IEPs are well written and professional. Yet, I can attest to the fact that we have inherited some very low quality plans in the past; ones that our instructors have had to fix. 

The takeaway is that we have an outstanding special education program and can prove it. It is outstanding because of the professionals who are working with our students every day. Do we need an additional administrator to oversee this program? Absolutely not. However, there are a few tweaks that we can make in the program to make it even better, not only for our students but our teachers. We'll tackle some of those next week. In the meantime, if you are interested in reading the full report, please check it out on our website. 

Losing the Plotline

At best I am three degrees removed from the classroom. To provide a bit of perspective, oftentimes visitors to our office can have a hard time reconciling the fact we are even in a school. My day to day work experience may find me buried in spreadsheets, signing purchase orders, answering email or arguing with a vendor on the phone. I may be in a meeting hearing from direct reports, facilitating a debate, or planning for future building use. Perhaps there is a disciplinary issue that needs to be addressed with an employee. Or, at other times, I may find myself balancing whether or not it makes sense to put a new transmission in a school bus or just buy a new school bus. Over the winter, I monitor market trends to determine the best time to purchase bulk natural gas. Then in the spring we consider health trends and how best to manage our PBM. Budgets. Buses. Buildings. Benefits. I would imagine this list of tasks and responsibilities would lead few to conclude these are in the wheelhouse of a school superintendent. 

When studying to become a superintendent, there is this utopian idea of a concept known as instructional leadership. By definition, this is someone who is prioritizing what is happening inside the classrooms. Focusing on the quality of instruction and the effectiveness of curriculum. The professional growth and development of teachers. Sure, from a macro level I can make that argument. But what is happening in 5th grade this week? I can't help you with that. Those attributes are more closely situated within the scope of what our principals do on a daily basis. There was a time not to many years back when, at the beginning of the school year I would offer platitudes to our new teachers that they would see me on a regular basis, in their classrooms and hallways. I'd start out OK, but it didn't take long before a crisis with the HVAC system would scramble the schedule.

Now, I'm not saying all this to complain. Quite the contrary. I knew what I was getting into and find the work incredibly satisfying and rewarding. I know that if a question or problem comes across my desk, no one else has been able to solve it (that's not to say every solution I've come up with may be popular-or even right). The point is that, admittedly, it is easy to lose the plotline from the chair I currently occupy. I can get so wrapped up in the spreadsheet on my screen I forget, that at this very instant a lightbulb moment happened in first grade. A student who finally mastered place value, or adding and subtracting within 10. Or the magic in agricultural mechanics, when the student has figured out with a great deal of satisfaction just the right touch needed to ensure a consistent and strong weld bead. 

We're at the point in our school year where a bit of perspective and introspection is helpful; if not for you, perhaps me? You see, in the fall we set the stage for the year that is about to unfold. Here we hold all of our hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the students that are preparing to walk through the doors with dreams of their own. Very soon thereafter, reality sets in and the daily grind takes over. Before we know it, we are in the throes of winter and what I often refer to as the 'long stretch'. Now, the long stretch is over. Our days of cold, wet, and downright unpleasantness are beginning to wane. Days of warm sunshine are replacing the cold and dark of winter. It's springtime in Iowa-now it may not really feel like it today, but trust me. Warmer days are in the forecast. 

But more importantly, before our very eyes a transformation is taking place inside our schools. You see, also at the beginning of the school year, I have the 'You have one job' speech with our employees. Turn the students in your classrooms into 3rd graders....and so on down the line. Now that we are through the banality of the beginning of the school year and the long stretch is in our rearview mirrors, I can see it. Those 2nd graders? Well, they are starting to look an awful lot like 3rd graders. 

As for me? Well I was able to pick up the plotline again over this last weekend. On Saturday night I was able to attend the jazz cafe concert. Embarrassingly, it was the first music concert I was able to attend this year. Then on Sunday afternoon, I treated myself to a performance of the spring play and speech showcase. Folks, I was blown away by the performances of our students. Yet it was more than those singular capstone performances that impressed me. It was also a recognition of the journey these students had been on over the course of this school year. Mrs. Ramsey and Mr. Stover articulated it best when they recognized the fact that these students had been working together in rehearsal since as early as November. Even more enlightening was the commitment that was shown over the course of multiple years when both directors talked about the impact their seniors have made on the program.

As we move through this spring, marching steadily toward summer, there will be ample opportunities for all of us to make sure we don't lose the plot. I encourage all of us to make sure we take full advantage of these moments. It is in the concerts, inductions into National Honor Society, classroom presentations, and athletic events to come, where we have the chance to remember why we are here.