Stakeholders Planning Group Meeting, 10/14/03: Meeting Minutes

Closing Connecticut's Achievement Gaps:  2nd Annual Summit
Stakeholders Planning Group Meeting
October 14, 2003

In Attendance:

I.  Introductions and Overview of Agenda
Nancy M. Cappello, Consultant, CSDE, welcomed new members to the planning group and extended her thanks to the group for their continuous support in addressing the issue of overidentification and disproportion in special education.  Members of the planning group introduced themselves and shared their affiliation.  Nancy reviewed with the group the purpose of the initial grant awarded to convene the two-day Summit held on March 20 -21, 2003 and the plans to convene Summit II.  She shared with the group that Summit II has been scheduled for March 31, 2004 at the Radisson Hotel, Cromwell.  Nancy asked the planning group to save the date.  She provided the group with an overview of the agenda and purpose of the meeting.       

II.  Update of State Level Teams
Roger Frant, Consultant, CSDE, and Co-Facilitator of the Teacher and Personal Preparation State Level Team, provided the group with an update on the team.  He asked the group to refer to the handout for a listing of team members and note that there are representatives from each school level.  Roger shared that when the team initially started meeting, the thinking was that higher education was to "blame" for problems, but as the process continued, the team stopped placing the blame solely on higher education and started thinking as to how they could resolve the issues.  The team posed the following questions: What does professional development and higher education have to do to prepare new teachers?  What is entry-level and what is the district's responsibility in preparing new teachers?  The team felt that professional development was not providing new teachers the knowledge and skills that they needed.  They felt that general and special education teachers needed to receive the same training in order to reduce the achievement gaps.  The group focused their attention on four main areas: (1) Teacher Certification; (2) Teacher Internship/All School Settings;  (3) Professional Development; and (4) Teacher Preparation.

Nancy M. Cappello, Consultant and Dudley Williams, Assistant to the Commissioner, CSDE, Co-Facilitators of the Policy/Governance State Level Team, shared with the group an update of the team.  They stated that they are planning to meet with George Dowaliby, Chief, Bureau of Special Education, and Paul Flinter, Chief, Bureau of Early Childhood, Family and Student Services, in order to provide them with an in-depth overview of the report from the Policy/Governance State Level Team.  Nancy and Dudley shared that the team covered a lot of territory and identified key areas to increase student achievement.  Nancy stated that CSDE would help identify practices that have a proven record of working based on scientific data, accountability, and instruction.  The team identified job-embedded professional development as key for districts in addressing the achievement gaps.  The Policy/Governance State Level Term felt that professional development needed to be embraced and mandated by the CSDE.  Positive Behavior Support (PBS) was also viewed as a component that should be a part of school improvement plans.

III. Update on Grants
Nancy M. Cappello, Consultant, CSDE, provided an update on the Sliver Grants that were offered to each of the 34 districts participating in the Summit.  She shared that a total of $6,500 each was awarded to the 11 districts that applied for the grants to assist with the implement of their action plans.  She hopes to use these applicants as "spotlight" districts.  Nancy reported that districts are required to submit a report to the CSDE on the goals and outcomes at the end of this school year.    She reminded the group that Goal 2 of the P.J. ET AL v. STATE OF CONNECTICUT, BOARD OF EDUCATION ET AL Settlement Agreement relates to disproportionality.  The grants will help show the court that school districts are addressing the issues of overidentification and disproportion.

Marcus Rivera suggested that at the Summit II a district awarded the Sliver Grants should nominate a member of their team for a State-Level Team.

IV.  LRE Newsletter
David R. Grice, Consultant, SERC, shared with the group that SERC's LRE Fall 2003 Newsletter focuses on overidentification and disproportion in special education.  One article provided an overview of the efforts being made in Connecticut through the two-day program, Closing the Achievement Gaps: Connecticut's Summit on Overidentification and Disproportion in Special Education.  Summaries of the two state level reports were also included in the newsletter.  A copy of the LRE FALL 2003 Newsletter will be mailed out to the Stakeholders Planning Group.

V.  Resources to Targeted Districts
Kjell Fenn, Consultant, SERC, highlighted a list of resources provided to the targeted 34 districts participating in Summit I from SERC.  The resources included: (1) copy of the overall Executive Summary of Summit I Report conducted by Words and Numbers Research, Inc.; (2) three videos from Summit I: (3) Summit II Save the Date flyer; (4) information regarding upcoming professional development activities to assist with action plans; and (5) a copy of the Connecticut Continuous Improvement Plan  (CCIP) Annual Report.

VI. Small Group Discussion: Summit I Evaluation
Michelle LeBrun-Griffin, Consultant and David R. Grice, Consultant, SERC facilitated two small group discussions  (see enclosure) on two of the key factors that would enhance the planning process as identified by the overall evaluation of Summit I conducted by Words and Numbers Research, Inc.  See pages 33-34 of the evaluation report:

• Increase the number of organizations willing to provide financial support in order to broaden the ownership of the initiative; and
• Widen the representation on the stakeholders group to include more legislative and policy interests.

See attached summary.

VII.  Update on Other State Level Activities on Closing Connecticut's Achievement Gaps
Dudley Williams, Assistant to the Commissioner, CSDE, provided the group with an update on other state level activities on Closing Connecticut's Achievement Gaps.  He reported that the CMT data for the past two years was sent to Superintendents, Mayors, and First Selectman of the priority districts.  Dudley shared that a high performance list is currently being developed and will be available soon.  Connecticut applied for a grant to replicate the Vanguard School Program.  He also reported that at each State Board meeting, an ERG I district provides information to the Board on efforts being made by their schools/districts to close the achievement gaps.

VIII.  Update on Universal Pre - K
Paul Flinter, Chief, Bureau of Early Childhood, Family and Student Services, provided the group with an update on Universal Pre - K.  He shared that there was 10% budget increase for preschool in severe need and priority districts.  Paul stated that there is a need to put people in front of the State Board in order to continue pushing the issues of Universal Pre - K.  The State Board has heard from large districts about where their money goes in terms of preschool.  The Mayors from Danbury, Milford, and Vernon have addressed the State Board about Universal Pre- K and they are in favor of it.  Walter Gillinhan from Yale University is conducting a research on Pre - K for Connecticut (refer to handout).

 
IX.  Update on Summit 2004
Marianne Kirner, Director, SERC, facilitated a brainstorming opportunity to gain input from the members of the Stakeholders Planning Group regarding the agenda and topics for Summit II (see enclosure for list).

Marianne shared with the group that limited planning has been done for Summit II in order to solicit the full involvement of the Stakeholders Planning Group.  Only the keynote presenter, Dr. Pedro Noguera from Harvard University, has been identified.  She engaged the group in a brainstorming activity soliciting possible topics/themes that should be addressed during Summit II.

X.  Potential Meeting Dates for Stakeholders Planning Group
The group completed a Potential Meeting Dates for Stakeholders Planning Group form.  There will be two meetings scheduled (December 2003 and February 2004).  Next meeting date will be determined based on the availability of members of the planning group.