Closing Using Federal Stimulus Funds To Purchase the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Sue Thomas, Manager, Business Development, Hazelden Publishing

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Using Federal Stimulus Funds

To Purchase the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

Sue Thomas, Manager, Business Development, Hazelden Publishing

© © Hazelden Foundation, 2009Hazelden Foundation, 2009

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This Presentation Will…

Provide an overview of the types and amounts of federal stimulus funds coming into states

Describe how these stimulus funds MAY be used to purchase OBPP

Describe how OBPP compliments PBIS, a major focus of stimulus funding

© Hazelden Foundation, 2009© Hazelden Foundation, 2009

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A Word of Caution

School districts may or may NOT be able to use stimulus funds to pay for OBPP—this is decided by the state and district.

We will at least give them the tools they can use to advocate for this.


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An Overview on the Stimulus Funding

In early 2009, Congress passed the

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Providing an unprecedented amount

of money to help the states


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Of the total $787 billion ARRA package:

$575 billion is dedicated for spending, which includes:

o $105 billion for education related programs

o $90 billion for Medicaid

o $51 billion for Energy & Water

o $48 billion for Transportation

o $39 billion for Unemployment

o $25 billion for Health Insurance


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In most cases, these funds are funneled through the state governor to the state’s educational agency (SEA) (typically the state department of education)

The SEA then distributes the funds to the local educational agencies (LEAs) (typically a school district, but I believe private schools can receive funding as well)

They are trying to distribute these funds as quickly as possible

School districts can decide what they want to do with the money, but the state SEA has to approve these expenditures; in some cases SEAs are actually mandating programs


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Four Key Principles in Awarding ARRA Funds

# 1: Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs.

# 2: Ensure transparency, reporting and accountability.

# 3: Invest one-time ARRA funds thoughtfully to minimize the “funding cliff.”

# 4: Improve student achievement through school improvement and reform.


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How OBPP helps meet Principle # 1: Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs.

Over 600 Olweus trainers are readily available

We have several OBPP TOTs per year

Product can be shipped quickly

Program guides provide easy steps to take to get the program started right away


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How OBPP helps meet Principle # 2: Ensure transparency, reporting and accountability

Olweus questionnaire and report provides accountability and reporting

Olweus trainer mentors schools for one year, providing accountability and reporting

Community and parents are involved in OBPP, providing accountability


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How OBPP helps meet Principle # 3: Invest one-time ARRA funds thoughtfully to minimize the “funding cliff.”

Except for the questionnaire, OBPP product and training are a one-time purchase

OBPP is a long-term solution that becomes part of “how you do school”


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How OBPP helps meet Principle # 4: Improve student achievement through school improvement and reform

Bullying affects school climate and safety

When children don’t feel safe in school, they have a harder time learning and achieving

Bullying causes an increase in school absenteeism among children who are bullied


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Specific Stimulus Funding

These are the main stimulus funds that MAY be used to fund OBPP

Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Part A of Title I funding

Possibly State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF)


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Students with disabilities are at increased risk for bullying—affects their learning

ARRA giving $ 11.3 billion to this fund nationally

50% distributed to state SEAs in April 09, 50% distributed in September 09, funds need to be obligated by LEAs by September 2011


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Funds will be allocated to schools based on the same formulas that have been used to fund their annual IDEA amounts.

Stimulus funds are added on top of general IDEA funds.

Main coordinator of these funds most likely will be the district Special Education Director or District Superintendent.

Any proposals advocating for OBPP must clearly show how children with disabilities will benefit academically, behaviorally and emotionally.


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IDEA Criteria and OBPP

IDEA funds can be used to provide technical assistance, professional development and training

OBPP provides 2-day school committee training, 1 full day of all staff training—focused professional development

Schools can send people to an OBPP TOT

Olweus trainers provide technical assistance for one year


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IDEA funds can be used to provide positive behavioral interventions and supports and appropriate mental health services for children with disabilities

OBPP is a positive behavioral intervention

OBPP addresses a serious school issue that affects the mental health of bullied students, bullying students, and bystanders

OBPP is very compatible with Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)


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IDEA funds can support capacity building activities and improve delivery of services to improve results with children with disabilities

OBPP is a schoolwide program that helps build capacity of staff and resources to address school climate

OBPP improves the school’s delivery of violence prevention efforts


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Example Uses that ARRA have given:

IDEA funds can be used to establish data systems and using data for improvement

The Olweus Bullying Questionnaire is a great data collection system

Data from the questionnaire can be used to make improvements in school policies and program implementation


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IDEA funds can be used to increase teacher effectiveness, particularly the use of evidence-based schoolwide strategies to support positive behavioral supports

OBPP helps teachers create a class climate where learning can best occur

OBPP teaches teachers how to intervene in bullying situations, so they can be stopped at an early stage


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IDEA funds can be used to improve results for all students

Because OBPP is a schoolwide program, it creates a positive school climate for ALL students

OBPP helps keep children in school, so they can achieve academically


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Part A of Title I Funding


Funding helps increase the performance of schools with high poverty

ARRA giving $ 10 billion to this fund

50% distributed to state SEAs in April 09, 50% distributed in Summer/Fall 09, funds need to be obligated by LEAs by September 2011


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Funding being provided through same formulas as standard Title I funding

Main coordinator at the school level is most likely the Director of Title I or the district superintendent

Funding can only be used by schools that qualify for Title I funding


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Criteria for Part A/Title I and OBPP

Title I funds can be used to implement evidence-based programs that build sustainable capacity for improving learning

OBPP is evidence-based

OBPP builds capacity for the whole school

OBPP is sustainable over time

Addressing bullying can improve learning


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Title I funds can be used to coordinate and integrate federal, state and local programs, including violence prevention programs

OBPP is recognized by the federal government

Many state and local level leaders are advocating for OBPP

OBPP is the most researched and highly effective violence prevention program


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Title I funds can be used to provide professional development for teachers, pupil services staff, other staff and parents

As part of OBPP, all of these people receive training and professional development

OBPP also has other resources, besides training, to give people professional development


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Title I funds can be used to implement scientifically based programs that address specific instructional issues that are identified in their school improvement goals

OBPP is scientifically based

OBPP addresses a core issue that often causes schools not to perform well


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Title I funds can be used to implement a curriculum, with professional development, that is scientifically based programs and shows substantial promise of improving educational achievement of low-achieving students


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Title I funds can be used to implement programs and procedures for the involvement of parents, including meaningful consultation with parents

OBPP involves parents at the schoolwide, classroom, and individual level

Parents are given resources so they can partner with schools in addressing bullying


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SFSF—One Other Possible Funding Source

State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF)

$ 53.6 billion in funds in ARRA

States apply for this funding by giving assurances of compliance

Money mainly used to avoid teacher layoffs and to improve school buildings

Funding MAY be available to address public safety, improve academic achievement, and strengthen teacher effectiveness


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SFSF—One Other Possible Funding Source

State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF)

Schools MAY or MAY NOT be able to use SFSF funds to support OBPP

Check with the district’s superintendent

Any leftover monies in SFSF will be rolled into the Title I funding


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Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

ARRA is focusing a lot of attention on schools using a program called Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to meet IDEA requirements


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PBIS and OBPP are mutually compatible in these ways:

Both focus on positive ways to address behavior

Both are school-wide, systems change programs

Both have a system to collect data

Both recommend the school create a leadership team and do schoolwide planning

Both are multi-year programs that require buy-in


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PBIS and OBPP are mutually compatible in these ways:

Both provide training for all teachers, as well as, ongoing learning

Both use clear consequences for negative behavior

Both recommend using class time to focus on behavior education

Both recommend using suspension or expulsion as a last resort


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How Could PBIS and OBPP Work Together?

Have a single leadership team that works on both programs

Use staff discussion groups as time to teach on both programs

Use class meetings to teach on both programs


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Final Thoughts…

Schools May or May NOT be able to use funds for OBPP, but we can give them the tools to advocate for it.

Please feel free to send the printed materials out to people electronically as needed

We will be working with state coordinators to help them advocate for OBPP at the state level


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Final Thoughts…

Any Questions?


Documents

Closing Using Federal Stimulus Funds To Purchase the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Sue Thomas, Manager, Business Development, Hazelden Publishing