How Administrators Support and Sustain Implementation

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RtI, RtI2 ExCEL in Cambrian

• How Administrators Support and Sustain
  Implementation

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Supporting Sustaining RtI2

• Choosing a Model
• Communications
• Professional Development
• Time Collaboration
• Resources

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Choosing a Model

• CDTA What authorizes this initiative?
• IDEA Regulations, 2004
• CDE, Supt of Public Instruction, 2008
• Our responsibility to all learners
• RtI moves from the discrepancy model to an early
  intervention model
• RtI2 expands the model to include accelerated
  learners
• ExCEL selected with Board support in 2007
  Excellence A Commitment to Every Learner

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What Have We Learned About Selecting a Model?

• More collaborative process in the selection of
  the model yields more buy-in
• Many of the models required web-based software
  and assessment purchases for a targeted group of
  students ExCEL is a model and not a program,
  and does not require additional purchases or
  tests
• ExCEL fits our needs as a model that reaches ALL
  students from intensive to accelerated

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ExCELs Components Include

• Universal Screening
• Tiered instruction
• Placement based on ongoing assessments
• Collaborative teaming
• Strategic use of support staff

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Tiered Instruction

• All classes will provide direct, targeted,
  leveled instruction differentiated for all
  students
• Grade 1-5 classes will provide tiered instruction
  by regrouping all classrooms across the
  grade-level with push-in support
• Kindergarten will provide targeted, leveled
  instruction as determined by student needs and
  time allowed

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Develop a District-wide Communications Strategy
for Implementation

• Clear direction provided by Board and District
  staff that ExCEL is our model
• Article in District Newsletter outlined critical
  attributes of ExCEL / RtI for Cambrian
• Information Sessions planned for all staff
• Teachers Association School Board front-loaded
• Article for Community Newsletter distributed

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Things to Remember About Communication

• Be clear about your intent If its a pilot,
  call it a pilot if its an implementation, then
  call it that
• Determine critical attributes before sharing with
  staff this leads to clarity of purpose
  process
• Front-loading CDTA Board on current
  developments has made a difference... no longer
  demanding MOU alongside contract board support
• Consider how to communicate with various
  stakeholders

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Professional Development

• Excellent ExCEL trainer - Cara Bergen - worked in
  over 200 schools over 12 years... you may find
  some of her language in the anticipated
  reauthorization of NCLB
• sure-footed, deep knowledge of instruction,
  flexible, available
• works with principals on assignments, scheduling,
  supervision, assessments, sustained support
• trainer of trainers model

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PD Builds on District Best Practices

• ExCEL PD Cycle for deep implementation
• Yr 1 Logistics Lessons
• Yr 2 Assessments
• Yr 3 Instruction
• Yr 4 Rigor
• From the District
• Support school- and district-wide grade-level
  collaboration TIME
• Clear message of support for ExCEL model

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Time Collaboration

• Scheduling regular time for collaboration is
  critical
• ExCEL Leadership Team (regular monthly meetings)
• Has process to gather input from all staff
• Calendared agendas that provide focus
• Grade-level teams
• Use a common agenda
• Review the results of common agreed-upon
  assessments
• Carry out collaborative instructional planning
• Use shared files on computer for team
  communications

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Comparing Collaboration Cooperation

• The fundamental difference between collaboration
  and cooperation is the level of formality in the
  relationships
• Collaboration involves coming together and
  fundamentally changing individual approaches to a
  goal to allow for the sharing of resources and
  responsibilities
• Cooperation is an informal arrangement in which
  we maintain separate mandates and
  responsibilities, but do some work together to
  meet a common goal

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The ExCEL Waiver

• ExCEL is Cambrians response to RtI and RtI2
• Once a grade-level team has been trained in
  ExCEL, and has used ExCEL, they may have a better
  idea and can apply for a waiver.
• The waiver will be filed by June 1st, and will
• Outline a research-based proposal that addresses
  the interests that ExCEL responds to, and
• Identify how we will know if underperforming, at
  grade-level, and accelerated students have been
  successful in the alternate program

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Allocating Resources

• Time
• For principals to get oriented and to share
• For teachers on an ongoing basis for planning
• Use the RSP teachers instructional assistants
  that you have teacher teams allocate their
  placement
• Funds for PD train the trainer model
• Pool the many intervention and other resources
  gathered over the years for more targeted use
• Funds provided for team to expend together

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At the End of the Day Its all about OUR Students

• Does this model serve more students and lead to
  greater success?
• 98 of schools implementing ExCEL for a minimum
  of 3 years have shown an increase!