ADE Director's Communication Memo Form


Memo Number : IA-05-050

Date Created : 09/30/2004

Attention:

Superintendents
Co-op Directors
Elementary Principals
other: LEA Supervisors

Type of Memo: Informational
Response Required: Optional
   
Section:   Internal Administration - Dr. Bobbie Davis
Subject:
Special Ed Programs: State Improvement Grant (SIG) Training in Positive School Discipline

Regulatory Authority:
Public Law 105-17

Contact Person:
Howie Knoff

Phone Number:
501-682-4325

E-mail:
hknoff@arkedu.k12.ar.us

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Special Education Unit has received a five-year State Improvement Grant (SIG) from the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs to expand and enhance effective services to students with disabilities across the state. A major initiative within the SIG is to implement Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) systems that involve integrated school-wide discipline, social skills, behavior management, student accountability, and safe school activities at the elementary school level. This is intended to be superintendent-directed and a systemic initiative with explicit goals to: increase students’ academic engagement and achievement (especially at-risk and underachieving students and those with disabilities); increase these students’ social and self-management skills; decrease discipline referrals to the principal’s office and suspensions and expulsions for all of these student groups; increase staff skills and consistency relative to positive approaches to discipline and behavior management; and increase parent support, skills, and participation in all of these areas.

All of this will be coordinated by SIG staff in a partnership with individual school districts and the elementary schools that they designate for participation. The PBS system will be implemented using Project ACHIEVE (see websites: www.acc.k12.ar.us/sig and www.projectachieve.info), a nationally known, evidence-based school improvement and model prevention program as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (SAMHSA) and U. S. Department of Justice (OJJDP). Especially emphasized for implementation will be Project ACHIEVE’s Stop & Think Social Skills Program, functional assessment and data-based problem-solving process, early intervention team strategies, and related school-wide positive discipline approaches.

During the 2004-2005 school year, ALL districts can participate in PBS training through a series of distance learning and regional in-service events (up to six are planned). During the 2005-2006 school year, a small number of districts (selected through an application and needs assessment process) will begin a two- to three-year process, receiving on-site professional development and technical assistance focused on full PBS implementation at one or more elementary schools. Full implementation will require commitments from the district relative to staff involvement, professional development and in-service time, and the purchase of support materials. Full implementation will be built into participating schools’ School Improvement Plans and the District’s ACSIP process.

Relative to the PBS training available to ALL districts this year, at least the following topics will be addressed:

• The components of a Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) system
• The research evidence underlying PBS
• How to establish a well-functioning School Discipline/Positive Climate Committee and identify behavioral intervention resources
• How to establish a well-functioning Student Assistance or Early Intervention Team and process
• How to write an effective school-based discipline plan with appropriate annual school improvement goals
• How to collect and analyze student discipline, student referral, and school climate data—using the data for formative decision-making
• How to design and implement an effective school-wide accountability system for student behavior
• How to prepare for the implementation of a school-wide social skills program
• How to integrate PBS with school-based mental health services
• How to involve parents and community partners in PBS activities

In order to participate in this training, school districts will need to make a commitment to involve (at least) a four-person team that will participate in all of the training events. This team should involve (a) a relevant administrator who is either on the superintendent’s central office staff or who has direct access to the superintendent; (b) an elementary school principal; (c) a district-level student services or related services professional (school psychologist, counselor, social worker); and (d) a district or school improvement team leader. While the State Improvement Grant will pay for meeting facilities and food, the districts will need to fund participant travel to in-service training sites and other associated expenses. All “live” events will be conducted in five regions of the state to facilitate reasonable access by all districts.

To communicate both interest and commitment, districts should complete the Positive Behavioral Support Commitment Form that can be downloaded from the State Improvement Grant website (www.acc.k12.ar.us/sig) and e-mailed to Dr. Howard M. Knoff, the SIG Director. All commitment forms must be completed by October 31, 2004.

For more information, please contact Dr. Howard M. Knoff, Director, State Improvement Grant at 501-682-4325, Arkansas Department of Education, 1401 W. Capitol, Victory Building, Suite 450, Little Rock, AR 72201 or via e-mail at hknoff@arkedu.k12.ar.us.

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