National Center for Systemic Improvement

Helping states transform systems to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities

News & Events

NATIONAL WEBINAR – ASSESSING IMPACT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS (June 6)

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Monday, June 6, 2016 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM (EDT) This national webinar is hosted by NCSI, ECTA, and DaSy, for state Part B and Part C staff focused on strategies for assessing the impact of SSIP infrastructure improvements. Representatives from two state departments of education and two state Part C programs will participate in a “virtual state panel” and share their experiences with … [Read more...]

Webinar: What Counts as Evidence? Making Decisions for Instruction and Intervention within a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

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This webinar will be held on March 10, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The webinar, presented by Rebecca Zumeta Edmonds, Allison Gruner Gandhi, and Lynn Holdheide, will focus on the continuum of evidence that supports instruction within multi-tiered systems of support. It is sponsored by NCII, CEEDAR, and NCSI. Register for the webinar here. Are you unable to attend the webinar? … [Read more...]

State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Evaluation Planning_ A Companion Resource to OSEP’s SSIP Phase II Guidance Tool

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This document provides a series of questions to help states develop or review the completeness of the evaluation component for Phase II of the SSIP. The evaluation tool serves as a companion piece to the OSEP Guidance and Review Tool as it provides probing questions for states to consider when engaging in evaluation planning. It is available to download from the SSIP Phase II section of the … [Read more...]

NCSI Brief: Advantages of Assessing SiMR Progress by Tracking a Sample Over Time

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When planning your SSIP evaluation, it is critical that you choose a design that will capture your target population’s progress toward the SiMR. However, that population will change over time. This brief overviews approaches to and advantages of tracking a broader group of at-risk students over time. The brief is available on our Resources: Tools and Publications page. … [Read more...]

Brief: Lessons Learned About Instruction from Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in College and Career Ready Assessments

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The new large-scale assessments rolled out by consortia and states are designed to measure student achievement of rigorous college- and career-ready (CCR) standards. Recent surveys of teachers in several states indicate that students with disabilities like many features of the new assessments, but that there also are challenges. Many of these challenges are related to instructional issues that … [Read more...]

National Evaluation Webinar Series

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OSEP hosted a two-part “National Evaluation Webinar” series on January 14th and January 21st. A joint collaboration of NCSI, ECTA, IDC, DaSy and OSEP, the webinars will focus on evaluation planning in the context of the Phase II of the SSIP. The webinars address clarification of OSEP Phase II requirements, development of a quality evaluation plan, and the process of moving from a theory of action … [Read more...]

Rhode Island: Aligning Supports to Build Capacity Toward Meeting Its SIMR Goal

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Since 2013, The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) has worked with the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII) to implement data-based individualization (DBI) in reading, mathematics, and behavior for students with severe and persistent learning and behavioral needs. Specifically, NCII has supported schools in two districts and worked with a team of coaches representing staff … [Read more...]

Targeted TA Open for All

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NCSI is launching a series of Learning Collaboratives to support states in improving outcomes for children with disabilities ages 0-21. The Collaboratives are networks of shared leadership and peer support designed to enable participants to (1) identify issues and opportunities in improving outcomes for children with disabilities from cradle to career through joint and self-reflection, feedback, … [Read more...]

Thought Leaders Gather on Measurement Issues

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In July, the NSCI will be hosting a Thought Leader Forum on Measuring and Assessing Progress toward SIMRs, at WestEd’s headquarters offices in San Francisco, CA. As states work to make to progress and demonstrate results for students with disabilities who are targeted in systems of Results Driven Accountability, they are likely to face some significant challenges in effectively measuring student … [Read more...]