These documents and resources were collected from our Region 1 states specificially to be shared with each other. We hope that you will make use of them! Because of the wide variety of topics, these are organized by state.
A Study of School-Sponsored Extracurricular Activities: Implications for Professional Development SERC, in collaboration with the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), decided to conduct an exploratory survey on school-sponsored extracurricular activities for students with disabilities to fill the information gap. The information was to be used as a baseline for determining professional development and parent education needed in this area. Meeting the Diverse Learning Needs of Connecticut Students: A Needs Assessment The purpose of the needs assessment was to determine the professional development needs of Connecticut teachers so that teachers could better address diverse learning needs in their classrooms. In this study, the term "diversity" was used in a broad context to include a wide range of students, including students from diverse cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, and language backgrounds, as well as students with disabilities. Transition Planning: A Report of Focus Group Findings One of the most critical stages of a student's life is the transition from public secondary school into the "real world". The process is particularly challenging for students who have had the support of special education services. As a result, the Connecticut Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) Council, in conjunction with the Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education /Pupil Services (BSEPS), conducted a series of focus groups to identify professional development activities that would improve the transition process for students. Recruitment: Building Capacity in Special Education and Speech/Language Pathology The Chief of the Bureau of Special Education and Pupil Services (BSEPS) and the Director of the Connecticut Birth to Three System (Part C) reviewed the 2001 Fall Hiring Report and requested that Connecticut's Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) Council develop a workgroup to study and address recruitment and retention issues. Updating The Report of the Connecticut Task Force on Issues for the Education of Children with Autism The Connecticut State Department of Education, the Bureau of Special Education and Pupil Services, published The Report of the Connecticut Task Force on Issues for the Education of Children with Autism in 1997, and revised it in 1998. This report was prepared by a Task Force that included parents of children with autism, as well as leaders with expertise in autism. During the last several years empirical research, instructional strategies and techniques, federal legislation, and new information about children with autism have emerged. As a result, the CSDE considered it vital to revise the document to reflect the new information.
New Hampshire Family-Centered Early Supports and Services Professional Development Needs Profile The New Hampshire Family-Centered Early Supports and Services Program is developing a profile of the Professional Development Needs of all individuals providing service and supports to Part C eligible children and their families. We are asking ESS program directors, coordinators, direct service providers, and community partners ( Early Head Start, Child Care, NH Home Visiting, Behavioral/Mental Health Provider) to complete the questions and appropriate section of the Professional Needs Assessment. Contact: Jan Skoby, Program Specialist
