Name: Indiana Department of Education
PR Award #: H323A150004
City, State: Indianapolis, IN
Project Director: Kristan Sievers-Coffer
Project Director email: ksievers@doe.in.gov
Purpose
In partnership with schools, families, agencies and communities, the Indiana State Personnel Development Grant (IN-SPDG) seeks to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities by ensuring their access to a preK-12 continuum of instruction from high-quality teachers. IN-SPDG proposes a project that focuses on improved outcomes for students with disabilities through improved teacher quality. The project goals and objectives are grounded in the concept of educational equity for teachers and students. It builds on and supports Indiana’s significant State reform efforts in critical areas such as transitioning to college/career readiness standards and assessments; creating culturally responsive classrooms; and supporting teacher and principal effectiveness.
Method
Job-embedded professional development for educators will focus on four core components: Leadership; Culturally Responsive Practices; Data-driven Decisions; and Family, School, and Community Partnerships. Activities include creating Model Implementation Districts, integrating special educators into quality teacher evaluation systems, training in culturally responsive practices, and action plans for vertical alignment of transition points and dissemination. Formative evaluation includes measures of capacity and implementation at the State and local levels. Summative evaluation includes: (a) Review of project activities to accomplish objectives; (b) Data Summaries of the implementation; (c) Review of student improvement on targeted outcomes; and (d) Usefulness and effectiveness of assistance from IN-SPDG.