Supporting Diverse Learners in the Transition to College

Supporting Diverse Learners in the Transition to College and Career Ambassadors: • Keri Rossi D’entremont • Jane George • Cynthia Van Avery • Ann Durham 1

Prepare. RI is for ALL Students • Initiative to prepare all Rhode Island youth with the skills they need for jobs that pay. • Strategic partnership between the Rhode Island government, private industry leaders, the public education system, universities, and non profits • Aims to close the gap between what students learn in school and what they need for high demand jobs. 2

Prepare. RI Goals: By 2020: • All career pathway programs will be aligned to Rhode Island’s high-demand career fields • All students will have access to a work-based learning experience, such as an internship in a relevant career field • All students, starting no later than middle school, will have career exploration opportunities and individualized learning plans based on their unique strengths and interests • Over half of high school students will graduate with college credit or an industry credential • Over half of high school students will participate in career and technical education (CTE) 3

Prepare. RI is for ALL Students Core Components: • Career Exploration • Career Education • Jobs & Internships • College Credit 4

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Special Education & Career Education Did you know? Rhode Islanders can access CTE through over 200 programs housed at career and technical education centers and high schools across the state. 7

Aligning to high-skill, high-demand industries Special Education & Career Education • Prepare. RI aims to align all career education with high skill, high demand industries, so that students will be prepared for long lasting and high paying jobs. The Governor's Workforce Board determines these high skill, high demand industries. Updating standards • The CTE Board of Trustees released updated standards for CTE programs in July 2017. (Read the full CTE Board standards or the CTE Board standards summary. ) These new standards emphasize that all CTE programs should culminate in an industry recognized credential. 8

Improving CTE funding Special Education & Career Education • RIDE convened a working group of superintendents and CTE center directors to advise the creation of a new and improved funding system for CTE. View a one page summary or the complete proposal. • RIDE launched CTE Innovation & Equity Grants, which provide $1 million for CTE programs in the state to close equity gaps. Increasing CTE teacher training • RIDE is partnering with Roger Williams University to create a new CTE teacher certification program in Rhode Island. • Prepare. RI has begun hosting semiannual Prepare. RI Summits, which include professional development for CTE teachers 9

CTE & IEP Development of the IEP: • When developing the IEP for a high school student, career and technical courses may be considered as part of the student’s education plan. • These courses can provide knowledge and skills to enter the workforce or pursue postsecondary training or education. • Appropriate placement for the student is very important to ensure both success and satisfaction of the student in the program. 10

What should the team consider when discussing enrollment of the student in a career technical course? career interest inventory results student performance safety student’s abilities behavior plan student’s physical limitations student’s strengths CTE course competencies 11

12 What is the role of the career technical teacher in the IEP process? • The career technical teacher is encouraged to attend the IEP meeting and should be prepared to: 1. provide course description 2. describe program of study (sequence of courses) 3. review the course competencies 4. discuss and document any occupational hazards that exist in the course 5. discuss the safety test for the course 6. participate in the discussion to 7. determine the best placement for the student 8. determine appropriate modifications and accommodations determine which competencies the student will be accountable for mastering • What can the career technical teacher do if a student is not succeeding in the career and technical class? • The career technical teacher should consult with the special education teacher for assistance in providing services for the student. If the student continues to be unsuccessful, the teacher may request an IEP Team Meeting to review the student’s placement in the course.

Middle School Cohort (April) What's in the Works – Career Education & Special Education • 70 + Middle School Special Educators • Junior Achievement • Individual Learning Plans & Career Awareness 7 th RI Transition Institute (May) • 200+ Secondary Special Educators & Special Ed. Directors • District Capacity Building & Professional Development • “Ensuring that Rhode Island Students with Disabilities Access and Thrive in Career and Technical Education Courses and Programs to Become Full Members of Our Workforce” • “Middle School Teachers as Fortune Tellers: Helping Students Envision their Futures and Prepare for High School and Beyond” Prepare. RI Grants • Prepare. RI offers grants to help launch new programs that increase students' access to high quality career pathways. • https: //www. prepare ri. org/grants#school grants 13

Advanced Learning in Advanced Course Network Working Definition: Rigorous learning opportunities in different content areas for students at varying grade levels that support them in developing their individualized pathways. Examples of how this looks in ACN: • Advancing beyond traditional beliefs of what a high quality public education entails • Advancing beyond your school walls to access educational opportunities throughout the community • Trying out new approaches to learning • Taking advantage of content areas not available within your school 14

Advanced Course Network Course Examples Advanced Placement • AP United States Government & Politics (Barrington School District) Work Based Learning • Intro to Music Production: Hip Hop, Pop, Dance and Beyond (New Urban Arts) • Rhode Coders 2. 0 Javascript (Providence After School Alliance w/Providence Public Library) Career Preparation • Teacher Assistant Preparation (Northern Rhode Island Collaborative) Dual Enrollment • Introduction to Film Studies (Roger Williams University) • Forensics I (New England Institute of Technology) • Private colleges only; public dual enrollment is accessed directly through your high school 15

How might RIDE, Members, and Providers better support students receiving special education services and emerging bilingual students in accessing and succeeding in advanced coursework through the ACN? 16

What's in the Works Short Term • Definition of advanced learning for Advanced Course Network • Guidance from RIDE on the expectations for network members and providers • Templates that students, course providers, and schools can use to streamline communication and supports Long Term • Secure data sharing between member districts and ACN providers • What is shared? • How is it shared? • When is it shared? 17

Dual Enrollment & Concurrent Enrollment: Definitions: • "Dual Enrollment" means that a student is enrolled in a secondary school while simultaneously enrolled part time or full time as a non matriculating student at a postsecondary institution, such as a community college, college or university. • "Concurrent Enrollment" means a student is enrolled in a dual enrollment course that is offered at the secondary school and taught by a secondary school teacher who is approved by the postsecondary institutions. 18

Per the RI Board of Education Regulations for Dual Enrollment " Students with disabilities shall receive the protections, services and accommodations set forth in their Section 504 plans and as prescribed by federal and state law in accordance with the policies and procedures of the postsecondary institution in the case of dual enrollment or the secondary school in the case of concurrent enrollment. " 19

Supporting Dual Enrollees Students with disabilities have the right to access any program offered by their school district, if they meet all the same eligibility requirements for enrollment. There are many factors to consider to determine if a dual enrollment program is best for a high school students with disabilities such as how the course aligns with the student's career goals, fits into their academic plan, and what accommodations and services are available in a college course. These factors should be discussed in collaboration with the student, their family, high school guidance counselor and teachers when deciding if a dual enrollment program or course will be the best choice for the student. Dual enrollment classes (college classes taken on the college campus) are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504. Participation in a college class is considered to be a choice on the part of a student, therefore the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and FAPE which govern the delivery of special education services in K 12 settings do not apply to college classes. If the student has an IEP or 504 Plan within their school district, the accommodations in that plan do not automatically carry over to dual enrollment (college) courses. 20

Supporting Dual Enrollees • However, since the student is still a high school student, IEP services could continue to be provided by the school district in other ways. • The student should register with the Disability Services office from the college the credit will be earned from, to determine reasonable accommodations under the ADA for the college course. School district personnel (teacher, case manager, counselor) may assist the student with the process of registering with the college Disability Service office, as needed. The student may opt to list district personnel on the college's FERPA release to aid communication in coordinating accommodations and services. • The student should continue to work with their school district for any personal services (provided outside of the college course) under IDEA which can aid their learning process. • All students in the college course will be held to the same academic and behavioral standards. 21

What's in the Works – Internships • NEW Prepare. RI Internship placement at the RI Governor's Commission on Disabilities • Development of Internship Guides: ü To support youth with disabilities with self advocacy skills, understanding disclosure and how to request reasonable accommodations in the workplace üTo provide employers and businesses serving as Prepare. RI Internship sites with information about how to support interns with disabilities and provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace 22

Easy Information for ELs—The Process • Step One – Interview ask questions • Teachers • Principals • College professors • School counselors • Students • Step Two • Prepare draft of TOOLKIT for ELs with simplified information • Get feedback from colleagues, School Counselors, administrators, students • Revise 23

What's in the Works for ELs? • 5 new ELL Ambassadors for 2019 2020 school year • More progress in supporting ELs in all the pathways • Support for parents and families 24

Discussion • What do you know, not know, or not understand about Advanced Course Network? • What opportunities do you believe Advanced Course Network provides to special education and English learning students? • What supports are available for students with disabilities to access college courses while they are still in high school? • What supports are available for students with disabilities to access and complete CTE courses? • How do English learners obtain user friendly information about and access to opportunities available through Prepare. RI? • How will you apply today's information to your work to best support students/peers/families? 25

Resources Prepare. RI From this website you can access all the information about Prepare. RI RI Governor's Commission on Disabilities 2018 Data and Analysis Information Pursuit of Equity: Teacher Preparation for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Career and Technical Education https: //ccrscenter. org/products resources/ccrs center webinars events/pursuit equity teacher preparation inclusion students • National Technical Assistance Center on Transition https: //transitionta. org/ • Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights & Responsibilities (U. S. Department Education, Office of Civil Rights) https: //www 2. ed. gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition. html • • 26

Questions? Session Leaders: • Keri Rossi-D’entremont, Prepare. RI Ambassador & director of disability services at Rhode Island College krossi@ric. edu • Jane George, Prepare. RI Ambassador and itinerant ESL teacher for the North Kingston School Department janegeorge 1@mac. com • Cynthia Van. Avery, Prepare. RI Ambassador & Director of Transition & Vocational services at the NRIC cvanavery@nric ed. org • Ann Durham, Prepare. RI Ambassador & deputy director of the Providence After School Alliance adurham@mypasa. org 27