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A Review of Special Education Programs Dallas Independent

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A Review of Special Education Programs Dallas Independent A Review of Special Education Programs Dallas Independent School District February 2017 Improving Student Achievement in Dallas Independent School District A Review of Special Education Programs State of special education programming Perceptions of the efficacy of special education Improving guidance and support for special education students Report of Findings and Recommendations Submitted to Dr. Ivan Duran, Deputy Superintendent February 28, 2017 Prepared and Submitted by Denise Collier, Ed.D. Collier Educational Consulting CEC Dallas ISD Special Education Program Review Dallas Independent School District Special Education Program Review Table of Contents I. Overview of the Special Education Program Review 1 II. Review Process Methodology and Related Research 4 III. Special Education Program Overview and 9 Document Review IV. Special Education Data and Information Analysis A. Enrollment and Participation 12 B. Access and Equity 15 C. Analysis of Enrollment, Access, and Equity Data 21 D. Student Performance 22 E. Staffing and Budget 24 V. Promising Practices in Dallas ISD 28 VI. Special Education Program Feedback for 32 Improvement VII. Special Education Program Review Findings 38 VIII. Special Education Program Review Recommendations 39 IX. Report Summary 40 X. Appendices 43 A. Data and Documents List 44 B. Interviews and Focus Groups 45 C. Schedule and List of School Site Visits 46 D. Research References 47 Collier Educational Consulting, LLC ii 2017 Dallas ISD Special Education Program Review Dallas Independent School District Special Education Program Review List of Tables and Figures Tables Page 1. Special Education Review Process 5 2. Special Education Participation by Disability Category 11 3. Urban District Special Education Enrollment Comparisons (2013-14) 14 4. African American Student Representation in Special Education: 2009-10 to 2016-17 15 5. Hispanic Student Representation in Special Education: 2009-10 to 2016-17 16 6. English Language Learner Representation in Special Education: 2009-10 to 2016-17 17 7. Special Education Representation by Ethnic Group 18 8. LEP Programs Participation for English Language Learners 18 9. DISD Rates of “Does Not Qualify” – Special Ed. Individual Assessment Determination 19 10. Percentage of Special Education Students at the Satisfactory STAAR Standard 23 11. Graduation Rate Comparisons for Special Education Students-Class of 2015 24 12. Graduation Rate Longitudinal for Special Education Students 24 13. Special Education Teacher Staffing (2014-2016) 25 14. Special Education Staffing – Urban District Comparison 2016 25 15. Special Education Individual Evaluation Department Staffing Comparisons 26 16. IE Department Staff Count by Ethnicity-2014 (Diagnosticians and School Psychologists) 27 17. Special Education Budget – State and District Comparison 2016 27 18. Special Education Review Findings and Indicators 38 19. Special Education Review Recommendations 40 Figures Page 1. Special Education Participation by Disability Category 11 2. State Special Education Enrollment Comparisons (2013-14) 13 3. State Special Education Enrollment Trends (2009-10 to 2016-17) 15 4. Percent of Special Education Students at STAAR Satisfactory Level on 3-8 Tests 23 5. Percent of Special Education Students Meeting Standard on EOC Assessments 23 6. Promising Practices in DISD Special Education Classrooms 29 7. Interview Questions 32 8. Parent Center Feedback Summary 33 9. Bilingual Parent Feedback Summary 33 10. Network Parents Feedback Summary 34 11. Teacher Feedback Summary 34 12. Principal Feedback Summary 34 13. Central Administration Feedback Summary 35 Collier Educational Consulting, LLC iii 2017 Dallas ISD Special Education Program Review Dallas Independent School District Special Education Program Review Report of Findings and Recommendations I. Overview of the Special Education Review Vision, Mission, and Goals: Dallas ISD, one of the largest urban districts in Texas, serves a diverse, population of approximately 160,000 students. DISD seeks to be a premier urban school district, educating all students for success. Dallas ISD has established six goals toward vision and mission attainment: 1. All students will exhibit satisfactory or above performance on state assessments. Students below satisfactory performance will demonstrate more than one year of academic growth. 2. Dallas ISD schools will be the primary choice for families in the district. 3. The achievement gap by race, ethnicity and socio-economic status will be no greater than 10 percentage points on all academic measures. 4. Ninety-five percent of students will graduate. Ninety percent of the graduates will qualify for community college, college, military, or industry certification. 5. Ninety-five percent of students entering kindergarten will be school-ready based on a multidimensional assessment. 6. All students will participate in at least one extracurricular or co-curricular activity each year. To achieve these goals, the district’s core instructional program—including effective supports and scaffolds for students with unique learning needs and disabilities—must be designed, implemented, and supported effectively and in alignment with college readiness and future-ready learning expectations. Context for the Special Education Program Review Dallas ISD (DISD) serves over 11,000 students in various support programs under the umbrella of Special Education services. This represents 7.2% of the overall student enrollment (as of 10/10/2016). In 2015 the district received a state accountability rating of “Met Standard” district-wide, but a rating of “Needs Special education” in the area of Special Education. The district is seeking support in analysis of special education programs and services to provide information and guidance for program improvement. Information from the district’s website provides a snapshot of the district. The Dallas Independent School District sits in the heart of a large, diverse and dynamic region with a metropolitan population of 6.5 million people in the 12 counties in North Central Collier Educational Consulting, LLC 1 2017 Dallas ISD Special Education Program Review Texas. Dallas ISD comprises 384 square miles and encompasses several municipalities. The district is the second-largest public school district in the state, and the 14th-largest district in the nation. The school district serves approximately 160,000 students in pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade, in 227 schools, employing nearly 20,000 professionals. Student enrollment in Dallas ISD is comprised of: 70.2% Hispanic 22.6% African American 4.8% White 1.3% Asian .3% American Indian .1% National Hawaiian / Pacific Islander Dallas ISD has seen gains in student achievement and graduation rates, and strives to help ensure the success of every student. At the same time, however, with the advent of the STAAR exam and the requirements of House Bill 5 related to community-based accountability, the expectations of test-based accountability and curriculum mastery have increased for special education students in the state of Texas. It is in this context of change that the district has undertaken this program review process. District information retrieved November 14, 2016 from http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/336. Special Education Program Reviewer To conduct the Special Education program review in reading/language arts and mathematics, Dallas ISD contracted with Dr. Denise Collier of Collier Educational Consulting. Dr. Collier wishes to thank the Dallas ISD personnel who participated in this review. Dr. Ivan Duran, Deputy Superintendent, provided guidance and oversight. Ms. Rosalind Smith effectively facilitated the review process. Many district leaders provided data, information, insights, and clarity related to the district’s special education programs and systems. A list of district leaders interviewed for this report may be found in the appendices section, but the following leaders played a key role in this work and special thanks go out to: Parent Focus Group Participants (Parent Center, Bilingual Parents, Network) Teacher Focus Group Participants Principal Focus Group Participants Dr. Ivan Duran, Deputy Superintendent Ms. Stephanie Elizalde, Chief of School Leadership Mr. Vicente Reyes, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Cecilia Oakley, Assistant Superintendent of Evaluation and Assessment Mr. Brian Lusk, Deputy Chief of School Leadership School Leadership Executive Directors Collier Educational Consulting, LLC 2 2017 Dallas ISD Special Education Program Review Ms. Tanya Browne, Executive Director Special Education Ms. Rosalind Smith, Director Academic Improvement and Accountability Principals and Teacher Focus Groups at 10 Site Visit Schools o Carr Elementary o Dade Middle Schools o Donald Elementary o Garcia Middle Schools o Hotchkiss Elementary o Piedmont Middle School o McNair Elementary o Conrad High School o Titche Elementary o Woodrow Wilson High School While individuals other than those listed above are not identified by name in the report, the reviewer wishes to thank the parents, principals, teachers, teacher assistants, and central administration leaders who provided information and gave their valuable time to participate in surveys, interviews, site visits and focus groups. Without their contributions, this review would not have been possible. Special Education Program Review Purpose According to Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ivan Duran, the Special Education program review for the Dallas Independent School
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