The following is an annotated list of current projects that are part of the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center:
SPP/APR Consortium
The MPRRC is working with several States around their State Performance Plans (SPP) and Annual Performance Reports (APR) to assist in collecting and analyzing data for Indicator #8 Parent Involvement and Indicator #14 Postsecondary Outcomes. The following States have Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the MPRRC:
Parent Involvement
Montana
South Dakota
Nebraska
District of Columbia
New Mexico
Postsecondary Outcomes
Utah
Kansas
The MPRRC and SEAs work together and share ideas and information to improve their data. MPRRC Lead:
Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE)
TAESE was developed to provide information, product development, training, technical assistance, and consultation to State Education Agencies, School Districts, and Part C Lead Agencies to improve programs and services for infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. Services provided include:
Technical Assistance — We are available to provide technical assistance in all areas of special education.
Training — Trainings are available on topics in special education to SEAs, LAs, and school staff.
Conferences — Assist States in planning and implementing special education events and conferences.
Products — TAESE staff can develop guidance documents for your staff on any topic in special education.
Contracts — TAESE can enter into a contract arrangement with an agency to provide technical assistance or trainings.
Consultation — Working with the SEAs, LAs, or school districts around policies, procedures, and data analysis.
This project is successful regardless of the State, district, or agency that implements the Project's protocols because it uses numbers to verify results and provides teachers and administrators with the in-depth IDEA 2004 transition requirement knowledge necessary to run a successful transition program. MPRRC Lead:
The cornerstone of democracy rests in the ability for every child to have a highly qualified teacher, related service provider, administrator, or support staff to interact with on a daily basis in the school environment. While the goal of education is to help develop students into contributing citizens of society, a key factor that must be present to meet this challenge is the presence of a well-qualified educational workforce. To meet this challenge, the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center (MPRRC), Utah State University (USU) has built a successful partnership with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and continues to expand the Arizona Center for Professions in Education (ACPE). This cutting edge recruitment and retention center established in 2001 by both the MPRRC and the ADE has played a role in placing over 14,000 educators and support staff statewide into school-based careers during the past five years, and built one of the nation’s most visited educational recruitment Web sites in the Arizona Educational Employment Board (AEEB). MPRRC Lead:
and
The purpose of this project is to provide Information Technology (IT) and Internet Service Provider (ISP) support to the Arizona State Improvement Grant. Via its infrastructure backbone, the SIG hosting includes development, maintenance, and online support for over six different SIG web hosts including http://www.azsig.com, Goal’s 2 and 3 to the website, as well as auxiliary hosting including http://www.ade.az.gov/ess/eapn/ among others. MPRRC Lead:
and
MPRRC Partnership Projects
The following is an annotated list of projects in which the MPRRC is a contributing partner providing either man-power, funding, or oversight or with which we regularly collaborate:
MPRRC is a partner with the University of Oregon in providing technical assistance to States on PBIS. The Center has been established by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs to build State, district, and school capacity for identifying, adapting, and sustaining effective school wide disciplinary practices. MPRRC is actively assisting States in our region to develop statewide efforts to implement PBIS using the PBIS Blueprint. MPRRC Contact:
ASK12, formerly the Regional Assessment System (RAS) for K-12 Interpreters, is a partnership of 13 States, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center; it provides educational interpreters the opportunity to evaluate their skills and knowledge. Each State/BIA department of education special education director makes up the partnership. MPRRC Contact:
For copies of handouts and PowerPoint Presentations for the 2006 State Leaders Summit: Making a Commitment to Systems Change in Deaf Education go to http://www.ndepnow.org/summit/ppt_2006.htm. Summits have provided an opportunity for state leadership teams to learn about and plan for systems change options for service delivery models. Strategies that take into account issues unique to deaf and hard of hearing students, improve student outcomes, and that support high standards, full access to communication and authentic peer relationships have been presented. Summits have been centered on the goals of the National Agenda using an action-oriented agenda. Facilitated work sessions promote discussion within teams and among participants. Summits are aimed at improving results within an accountability framework. Summits are planned by a representative planning team and facilitated by the MPRRC and the RRFC network. MPRRC Contact:
