Deaf Education Leaders’ Summit 2010

Overview and Summary

State Leaders’ Summit Goals

     Participants will connect with others across the country and leave with ideas and information learned from interactive conversations States will form or strengthen their stakeholder teams Participants will identify current research and effective strategies to be used for improvement planning State teams will leave with an updated action plan Teams will assess their state’s progress in meeting the goals of the National Agenda

National Agenda Overview

        Early identification and intervention Language and communication access Collaborative partnerships Accountability, high stakes testing, and standards based environments Placement, programs, and services Technology Professional standards and personnel preparation Research

Minnesota Summit Attendees

  – – – – – – – – – – – – – Eighteen states participated this year (on-site and remotely) Minnesota attendees included: Minnesota Hands & Voices representative Minnesota Association of the Deaf representative Social worker Educational Audiologist Teachers from urban, rural, and suburban districts School administrators University professors PepNET representative (transition program for DHH students) Educational interpreter EHDI coordinator from MDH and MDE Minnesota Resource Center: D/HH Director- MDE MCDHH staff 2 participants were hard of hearing, 3 were deaf, 3 were parents of deaf and hard of hearing children

Presentation and Discussion Overview

    State team meetings and discussions – Survey results   Joyce Daugaard presented about FAEDHH Survey (2010) Mary Cashman-Bakken presented about MDE Survey (2009) – – SWOT Analysis Kids in the Middle Discussion – Action Planning Session Parent and Recent Graduate Panel Discussions Research and Implementation Panels Thinking through Improvement (IT Kit) – Ann Bailey

SWOT Analysis

  STRENGTHS – Variety of services and communication options – – – – EHDI mandate: Identification and intervention earlier Strong teacher preparation  Committed teachers Excellent legislation and advocacy Parent resources – Hands & Voices WEAKNESSES – Limited rural services – – Hard of hearing often overlooked Need critical mass statewide – – – – – – Equitable testing, valid for DHH?

Collaboration mandate in Part C only (not Part B) Bias of “who” gives message to parents Need funding to support tech resources Parent education beyond 0-3 is lacking Limited information on evidence based practices   OPPORTUNITIES – Link EHDI and MDH data – – – Engage families and students from other cultures More opportunities to convene Use technology to reach families    List serv In-home training Connect kids, critical mass – – Standardize training for DHH teachers One website to get all information related to DHH THREATS – Aging of teachers and professionals at higher education level – – – Local control Economics - $5 billion deficit Politics within field, from outside world, and legislators over education

State Goal for Next Year

Develop a statewide improvement plan based on the National Agenda MCDHH takes the lead with MDH and MDE as partners

Summit Evaluation

   On average, participants responded that the Summit effectively: – – Helped the state form and strengthen their stakeholder teams Created an updated action plan in moving forward Participant reactions to the Summit included: – – – Informative, Inspiring, Overwhelming Collaborative, Hopeful, Planful Driven, Committed, Eye-opening Improvements for next year include: – Better technology for the remote connection – – – Increase time spent for state planning and discussions Greater focus on hard-of-hearing in addition to deaf students Mind-mapping of process

Next Steps

 Create a scope statement and budget   Discuss proposal with MDE and MDH Ask for commission approval on May 21 st  Create team of diverse stakeholders to create improvement plan  Timeline: one year