Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education

Secondary Transition Administrators (CoP) / April 2018

Type: Open Committee

Focus Areas: High Quality Student Evaluations, Skilled Staff, Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)

 

Upcoming dates or events to share with general membership

Hot Topics

Conversation with MDE – Janet Timbs:

MDE

“Identifying priorities for next school year along with a “format” for meetings/trainings.  Having 2 workshops a year will not move us toward better results. I am open to any suggestions!”

–Janet:

  • “Seamless Transition”
    • Company is Transcend
    • 3 sites last year, 2 new sites this year – cross agency teams
    • Obligation includes: 3 face to face with all teams together, 2 face to face with individual teams, monthly call, online “homework”
    • Goal = build capacity and then take across state
    • Janet is co-leading with Bill Colombo from MRS
    • application process to be a part of the next cohort is coming in October – could be at ISD level or at district level – must include education and community agencies – most are heavy on MRS / Disability Network – Kent is newest team and they have CMH involved
    • Discussion about difficulty in getting collaboration from partners
    • Janet sent to Transition Coordinators, MRS leadership sent to counselors
    • What prerequisites would be expected? – commitment that all will work together
    • Team has to identify minimum of 12 students who will be leaving in a couple of years – going through Discovery Process, looking at Customized Employment
    • Intended Outcome is a group of students having employment (competitive / integrated) by the time they leave school
    • Similar to Building Your Future with START
    • First round – people only had 2 weeks to turn around applications – want to start early this time to allow for time to prepare
    • No funding – but it is quality training
  • April 12 – 13 Training will “close out” priorities for this year’s grant
    • transition assessment
    • data analysis
    • IEP development
  • MDE, BSBP, MRS, MTSA – Denver NTTAC Capacity Team Building Conference – each agency pays for own person to attend will become our Employment First – School to Work Committee  (Monthly Group under Lt Governor’s office – NTACT Team under OSE) —someone from MAASE could be a part of this group
  • What are priorities for next year? Best practice
    • Tennessee Transition – courses online
    • University of Indiana – Tuesday Transition Tips
    • MAASE collect exemplars of best practices from around the state, vet them, send out to the field
    • Practice of the month
    • MAASE CoP – collect information and send out to the field
    • Catamaran will have a space for best practice and will add to it
    • Marcia can share document outlining Employment First in Michigan
    • Developmental Disabilities Council – limited connection with education but now starting outreach – work more with adult population
    • Student led IEPs and self-determination
    • Activities in the transition plan are specially designed instruction
    • Still a struggle to get folks to understand the WHY behind transition planning
    • Across K-12, all kids (including SWD) there is a frustration with the pressure to get career / college ready

Collaboration with CTE?