Archived newsletter — May 2023. This issue preserves historical information; events, contacts, and resources may have changed.
Last week a SPDG coordinator shared how her project is changing their training and coaching scope and sequence because of a conversation with her mentor. She was energized and excited to use these new ideas, feeling hopeful that her project was now on an even better track than before.
Collaborative relationships in SIGnetwork are important to all of you; we hear this in your survey responses, emails, and verbal feedback, Collaborative relationships are also important to the practitioners and leaders projects work with. We know these professionals need to feel supported and understood. We also know that cohorts and professional learning communities can help practitioners and leaders grow their skills. During a challenging time these relationships may be what brings people back to the table and increases engagement with the services a SPDG provides.
During our May Directors’ Webinar, Dr. Genine Blue shared how instructional coaches can effectively support teachers. Her recommendations based in research include strategies for building an effective coaching partnership. Find links to the research and Dr. Blue’s slides in the “Improving Professional Learning” section.
Toward building stronger relationships!
Jennifer
News You Can Use
Upcoming Directors’ Webinar (June 1st @ 3:00 ET)
Coaching: Melanie Upright from Johns Hopkins University will join us to describe how coaches can effectively support teams.
Communication: Credible is the next SUCCESs principle we’ll dive into. Please consider when credibility is most important in your SPDG work and how you demonstrate it.
Attend: The OSEP Project Directors’ Conference is in person July 24th-26th and attendance is required for all Project Directors. Please book your lodging today!
Prepare: The SPDG National Meeting will also be in-person in DC October 17th & 18th at the Capital Turnaround. Please note the slight date change (originally October 18th & 19th).
Dose of Data: OSEP Fast Facts: Students With Traumatic Brain Injury (ed.gov)
Funding Opportunities
Check out the latest open OSEP funding opportunities:
OSERS Funding Opportunities
Disability Innovation Fund
Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project
(Assistance Listing Number 84.421E)
Extension of the Application Deadline Date
The Disability Innovation Fund, Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project; Application Deadline Extension (Assistance Listing Number 84.421E) is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
The Office of the Federal Register (OFR) Public Inspection page offers a preview of the 84.421E document online.
New Application Deadline: Friday, July 7, 2023, 11:59:59 Eastern Time
Eligible Applicants: State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) and State Educational Agencies (SEAs).
Required Partners: SVRAs, SEAs, Local Educational Agencies, and federally funded Centers for Independent Living.
NOTE: Applicants that have submitted applications before the original deadline date of June 5, 2023, may resubmit their applications on or before the new application deadline date of July 7, 2023, but are not required to do so. If a new application is not submitted, the Department will use the application that was submitted by the original deadline. If a new application is submitted, the Department will consider the application that was last successfully submitted and received by 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 7, 2023.
For additional information,
- 84.421E Pathways to Partnerships Notice Inviting Applications Published in the Federal Register on April 7, 2023 (Original Notice) Note: The Application Deadline has been extended to Friday, July 7, 2023 11:59:59 (Eastern Time)
- National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) provides information regarding the 84.421E Pathways to Partnerships, including the Question and Response document from the 84.421E Pathways to Partnerships Preapplication meeting
- RSA website provides information about vocational rehabilitation opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as information about the Pathways to Partnership program.
Competition Manager: Cassandra Shoffler, U.S. Department of Education, email: 84.421E@ed.gov.
The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the FY 2023 EIR Competitions. Evidence-based projects that include STEM, social emotional learning, educator recruitment/retention, and other field-initiated innovations are welcome.
Notices Inviting Applications
Deadlines for Transmittal of Applications
- Expansion: July 12, 2023
- Mid-phase: July 12, 2023
- Early-phase: August 1, 2023
Additional Information
- Pre-Application Webinar: June 1, 2023 at 2:00 PM (EST)
- Notice of intent to apply
- Call for peer reviewers
- For more information (including office hours and other application material), visit the competition website.
- Clarifying questions can be sent to eir@ed.gov; however, staff are unable to advise on proposed project ideas, eligibility determinations, or decisions about which tier/priority to submit under.
SPDG Success!
The Ohio SPDG supported mini-grants to 11 IHEs to integrate evidence-based literacy instruction into their curricula. All 11 IHEs provided evidence of 100% alignment with Ohio’s model curriculum for research-based language and literacy instruction.
Improving Professional Learning
Dr. Genine Blue generously shared a reference list of coaching studies during our May Directors’ Webinar: Instructional Coaching Research Base. Recording Slides
Can AI Do Teacher Observations and Deliver PD? In Some Schools, It Already Does
EdWeek article
Family Engagement Done Well
Family Engagement Credentialing
National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement
Decades of research demonstrate the importance of family engagement for student achievement including increased school readiness, improved language, literacy, and mathematics skills, better social-emotional skills, and increased likelihood of high school graduation.
Educators need continuing opportunities to grow and refine their family engagement practice. When educators receive opportunities to learn about and practice family engagement, they improve their attitudes toward working with families. They also develop greater teaching efficacy and improve their confidence and knowledge in working with diverse families. Unfortunately, not all educators have access to the professional development support they need. And finding time in everyone’s busy schedule can be difficult. Below we highlight different professional learning opportunities - including micro-credentials, online modules, and simulations - that are available for all family facing professionals to use in their practice immediately. Please contact edprep@nafsce.org if you have a resource you'd like to add to this list.
Spotlight on OSEP/TA
CEEDAR is Offering a New Affinity Group
First Session: June 6, 2023, 3-4 pm Eastern
This affinity group will focus on strategies to promote a diverse teacher workforce. Specifically, we will dive into promising strategies for attracting, supporting, and retaining a diverse teacher workforce. Have you been interested in understanding what states across the country are doing to prepare, hire, and keep teachers of diverse backgrounds? If so, this is the group for you!
What is a CEEDAR Affinity Group? Affinity Groups (AGs) are created to respond to common needs across states. AGs focus on one topic and provide a forum to learn about strategies being implemented as well as an opportunity for participants to engage in cross-state conversations specifically related to sharing successes and supporting challenges across contexts.
How do Affinity Groups meet? AGs convene via Zoom for approximately one hour monthly for four to six months.
Who can attend? Everyone can attend!
How do I sign up? Register at bit.ly/42kthZF. For questions and support, contact Nichole Spalding-Watson at nspalding@ufl.edu.
New IEP Tip Sheet Focused on Transition Services
The PROGRESS Center has added a new tip sheet to their IEP Tip Sheet series. This tip sheet focuses on transition services, a key component of the individualized education program (IEP) once the child reaches 16 (or earlier in some states). The transition services tip sheet includes a brief summary of federal regulations, tips for implementation, and additional resources.
IES ED Games Expo during the meeting. It is scheduled as an in-person event for September 20-21st. Information and updates will be posted at ED/IES Small Business Innovation Research - The ED GAMES EXPO.
Tweets, Podcasts, & Videos of the Month
Blog: Our very own John Lind shares his IES-funded research project preparing students for transition to college and career. Kelsey Leib coordinates the research. We are lucky to have these two stars leading the SIGnetwork!
Video:The State of the Science of Reading for Supporting Students with Reading Disabilities | National Center on Improving Literacy