Laura Spenceley, Ph.D.State University of New York at Oswego

Presented at the 7th International Conference on Excellence in School Education

Improving Outcomes for All Students Through A Collaborative Approach

Brief Goals

What factors influence student achievement?How can we work to meet the needs of all students across a

continuum of needs?Setting the table: Ensuring teachers, administrators, and

leaders are involved

Student Achievement: The Interaction Between Home and School

In school variables: Academic factors:

Quality of academic instruction Quality of curriculum Availability of supportive

resources Teacher quality

Classroom factors: Management Support for all students/inclusive

orientation Physical environment School safety Class size

Out of school factors: Child factors

Physical and psychosocial health Early childhood experiences Aptitude, interest, motivation

Family/caregiver factors Support for education Participation in learning Nutrition Healthcare Economic factors

Community factors Safety Physical barriers to attendance Supports available Competing opportunities

Santhya, Francis Zavier, & Jejeebhoy, 2015; UNICEF, 2000;

Improving Teachers’ Ability to Support All Learners

Instructional Pedagogy Response to Intervention (RtI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

(MTSS) Identifying academic and behavioral difficulties early Providing intervention before problems magnify Data-based, problem solving model

Inclusive Education Differentiated instruction to meet needs of all students

Key Supports Administrators Teachers Multidisciplinary teams

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

MTSS: Evidence based practices, implemented in a system, focused on (Dulaney,

Hallam, & Wall, 2015): Leadership Professional development Empowered action of assessment, curriculum, and instruction

Personnel: Classroom teacher Special education teacher Parent(s)/caregiver(s) School administrator Additional personnel: Reading specialists, language specialists, school

psychologists, school counselors

“MTSS is a data informed framework targeting not only the comprehensive service delivery of academic and behavioral support for individual students but also focuses on enhancing school climate, connecting the dots between learning and student mental health, and promoting transformative systemic change.” (NJASP, 2015)

MTSS, cont.

Core Features of A Successful Multi-Tiered System

1. Administrative leadership2. Adequate training3. Establishing a culture of collaboration and problem-solving4. Reliance on high-quality curriculum5. Use of dynamic instruction through multiple tiers of support6. Frequent, formative, data collection 7. Data-based decision-making

RTI Network, 2015, retrieved from www.rtinetwork.org

Supporting Teachers, Supporting Students

Questions to consider: How can key stakeholders align goals for collaboration to improved

student outcomes? Who is responsible for what – defining roles, spheres of practice, and

collaborative priorities How can systems be modified to meet the needs of the students, families,

and communities being served?