Purpose
The MS SPDG will strengthen educator preparation and support systems statewide by improving behavioral practices in both pre-service and in-service settings. Through evidence-based professional development, coaching, MTSS-Behavior implementation, and Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs in Special Education, the project aims to increase educator effectiveness, implementation fidelity, and sustainable leadership capacity. Expected outcomes include improved classroom behavior supports, stronger educator retention and preparation, reduced exclusionary discipline, and improved behavioral, engagement, and academic outcomes for students with disabilities across Mississippi.
The MS SPDG will use a phased statewide implementation model that integrates evidence-based professional development, coaching, MTSS-B systems, and Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (R-TAPs) to strengthen educator capacity and improve outcomes for students with disabilities. The project will be managed through coordinated leadership teams, district and school implementation cohorts, and partnerships with national centers (CEEDAR, PBIS, etc.) and state educator preparation programs. Evaluation activities will include fidelity assessments, coaching observations, participant surveys, coursework reviews, and student outcome data to monitor implementation quality, guide continuous improvement, and measure progress toward behavioral, engagement, and academic outcomes.
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The Mississippi State Personnel Development Grant (MS SPDG) focuses on the evidence-based practices of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), to improve (1) student performance by scaling-up and deepening im
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