Archived newsletter — Spring 2026. This issue preserves historical information; events, contacts, and resources may have changed.
Welcome to the 48th issue of the SIGnetwork Newsletter published for SPDG projects and their partners to learn about upcoming events, the latest relevant research, TA resources and training, and, most importantly, SPDG impact. We’re glad you're here!
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Here’s a moment of delight I can’t help sharing with friends, family, and now YOU!
If We Treated Teachers Like Pro Athletes
News You Can Use
OSEP Conference
The conference will be held on August 4-5, 2026, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
Registration is now open and the call for proposals has been launched! Visit the OSEP 2026 Conference website to register and secure your lodging and to propose a session.
If you have any questions, please email the OSEP Conference Planning team at osepconference2026@manahattanstrategy.com.
GrantWISE
GrantWISE is a SIGnetwork Community of Practice (CoP) open to all SPDGs focused on fiscal and programmatic excellence in discretionary grants. The group will explore procurement, internal controls, budget planning, and APR-related budget explanations.
Next meeting, May 13th 3:00 ET. Please send questions and topic ideas to Jennifer or John (Jennifer.Coffey@ed.gov; SIGnetwork@uoregon.edu).
SPDG Success
Kentucky CTE
Maryland SDI & Math. A guide for SDI in MTSS
Improving Professional Learning
Defining Effective Coaching Practices to Support Teachers and Improve Student Outcomes (tip sheet)
The Cost of Improvement: How Districts Spend on Teacher Professional Learning (report)
Cultivating Implementation Readiness: Growing Change with the COM-B Model (blog)
Family Engagement Done Well
How much do you know about building strong school-home connections?
Engaging Critical Perspectives
SIGnetwork webinar recording and Rebekah Hornak’s slides can be found here; SISEP webinar recording
Spotlight on TA & Technology
Root Cause Analysis Guide provides templates for four root cause analysis protocols and facilitation tips.
Navigating Barriers for Successful DBI Implementation (webinar recording). NCII helps distinguish technical versus adaptive challenges and provide strategies and tips for overcoming these barriers.
Evaluators' Corner
AI for Analysis, Reporting, and Decision Making
This recorded CIDDL Office Hours session walks through a practical seven-step workflow for using AI to analyze open-ended student and educator responses. The discussion demonstrated how AI can streamline analysis, accelerate reporting, and support evidence-based decision-making — while maintaining the essential role of human judgment to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Tweets/Podcasts/Videos
Implement. Change in Education Podcast.
What will it take to turn Maryland’s historic Blueprint into lasting change? Tom DeWire unpacks why coordination is breaking down and what it will take to turn visionary policy into real impact for schools, students, and communities in this podcast episode. (19 min)
If You Have a Minute
5 Tips for Implementing UDL to Support LRE and All Learners in General Ed (blog)
From Policy to Impact: A State Education Agency’s Guide to Implementation (report)
This report offers a new framework to help SEA leaders and staff think about the many facets of implementation.