Overall Project Purpose:  To promote delivery of best practices in special education procedures and services for students with disabilities attending alternative programs in Minnesota. This will be accomplished through the seven goals listed below.

Goal 1.     

To gather data to inform process and product development

• Gather data on existing practices in the provision of special education in alternative schools (including intake models, program guidelines, etc.) at federal, state, and local levels
• Gather data on best practices in the provision of special education in alternative schools at federal, state, and local levels
• Identify needs and concerns through

a) an on-line survey of alternative schools in Minnesota

b) discussion with alternative school educators and administrators at alternative schools

c) discussion with directors of special education at regional meetings

d) participation at relevant state level conferences and meetings (e.g., MAAP, MASE)

Goal 2.     

To establish collaborative working relationships with individuals representing a variety of key organizations and groups

• Include representation on the advisory committee from a variety of organizations and stakeholder groups (e.g., MDE, MASE, MAAP, alternative schools, parents, students.
• Promote communication through use of e-mail, project advisory committee meetings, attendance, and dissemination of information at conferences and meetings

Goal 3.     

To develop a manual of procedural guidelines to assist in delivery of best practices

• Include introduction to requirements of IDEIA and Minnesota Rules
• Include information relevant to alternative schools in Minnesota
• Include procedural guidelines ( e.g., intake, exit, service delivery, transition)
• Include examples of scenarios illustrating application

Goal 4.     

Develop a team of Technical Assistants across Minnesota to assist alternative school educators in providing best practice special education services

• Train teams of individuals who will act as regional special education contacts through regional trainings (e.g., staff development, dissemination of manual)

Goal 5.     

Share information and disseminate products to a variety of individuals and organizations throughout the state of Minnesota (e.g., principals, MASE, MAAP, etc.)

Goal 6.     

Conduct evaluation for continuous improvement

• Conduct formative and process evaluation throughout the duration of the project. Identify goals and critical tasks; monitor implementation through communication (telephone and e-mail) and meetings with the advisory committee, MDE grant contact, project director, etc.
• Conduct summative/impact evaluation by gathering data prior to and following critical task activities (e.g., on-line survey, collection of information on local procedures in place, feedback collected at regional training meetings, etc).

Goal 7.     

Determine mechanism for ongoing communication, staff development, training, feedback, revision, of the project and its impact beyond the first year

• Possibilities include utilizing a listserv to facilitate communication between technical assistants who have received training, coordinating annual updates and staff development at the MAAP conference, establishing ongoing collaboration with major stakeholder entities
• Obtain funding to sustain project efforts and impact beyond the first year