After school programming

Special education programming and resources

Specialists - math and reading

A safe corridor for students and families (crossing guards, repaved road, clear lines, enforcement)

Reduced class sizes for regular education

Lit specialist at middle school level

Math specialist at middle school level

Reading program specific to students with reading disabilities

Special Education Support

RTII Support

Therapeutic Counselor

Funded paid internships for students

Funds for student life experience/clubs

Mentor stipends for first gen students

Funded entrepreneurship micro grants

More BCAs -Bilingual Counselor Assistants

More resources for grades 3-5 Heggerty or Phonics

Resources for LS teachers to modify regular ed. ELA and Math curriculum

Reduce class sizes in K - 2 classrooms

Hi, all!

The resources I shared for Special Education are two ways to look at having the application of IDEA better match the spirit of the law.

The first is the slide deck from the conversation I facilitated at EduCon this past weekend on Nurturing Neurodivergence, highlighted how schools can ask different questions to make powerful learning accessible for Neurodivergent learners.

I also want to note that IDEA law has not changed meaningfully for more than 20 years, and our understanding of disability (using a social and functional model) as the mismatch between a human and their environment and NOT a deficit in the human has yield a ton of research conducted by Disabled individuals that shed light on the nature of how environments can change to accommodate humans of all neurotypes and physicalities. I assert it is time for updated legislation.

The second is a snap shot of a "polis" advocacy call to action around Special Education funding gaps. With thoughtful criticality around the angle of the argument, it digs into the push and pull of what it currently takes to fund special education programming.

Looking forward to reading everyone's resources!

However, the negative aspect of school choice is that it impacts public schools by taking money away and putting it into private schools. This transfer of money from public schools to private only deepens the inequalities of education in this country based on people's socioeconomic status. 

A Family Engagement Project: Teaching and Learning from EL Parents

• ESL class for parents and cre takers of Elementary students to close the gap of linguistics and cultural barriers that interfere with parents ability to actively be involved in their child’s education,

https://www.proquest.com/openview/c7f6f127a91581085babc00815cf1fc3/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y

Family Engagement of ELs: A case Study

• Implementing cultural proficient practices to increase family engagement for ELs in elementary school. A collaboration of administrators, teachers, students and parents.

https://digitalcommons.latech.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1999&context=dissertations

School leadership Initiatives: To promote Equatable and Inclusive Family Engagement Practices for ELLs

• Families lack of access to school network and don’t understand how the school system assists their child.

• US public schools family engagement is becoming an area of reform

Another factor contributing to inequities is the lack of incentives for teachers to commit long-term to urban districts. Many certification programs do not emphasize or require extended classroom experience in urban schools, resulting in educators leaving after only a short period. This high turnover disrupts student learning and makes it difficult for schools to build a strong, experienced teaching workforce. Moreover, traditional certification pathways create barriers for diverse candidates, particularly due to standardized exams such as the Praxis, which disproportionately disadvantage aspiring teachers of color. As a result, Philadelphia’s teaching force does not always reflect the demographics of its student population, leading to a lack of representation and culturally responsive instruction.

https://www.researchforaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Herold_B_TQ_-inequitable.pdf

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HP

With that being said, it is known that teacher turnover is an issue plaguing the nation. As a result, researchers have been working to identify the underlying reasons for this issue and to provide solutions to mitigate the problem. One solution is to increase the salaries of teachers to help retain them. Higher teacher retention rates can have a direct correlation to the efficiency and success of a school. I have attached an article from Nguyen et al. (2023) that explores school finance reforms (SFRs) specifically related to increased teacher salaries. The authors identified a link to salary increases and higher retention rates through their study. This study, (along with others), supports the ideology of investing monetarily in a school's teachers (resource). By spending money on teachers (resource), there is evidence to suggest that the intended outcome of student achievement can be met. As a result, this expenditure is one in which I think is important.

1. Sharing resources and staff between buildings. The effectiveness of this strategy is heavily dependent on proximity to similar schools and staff availability and flexibility.

2. Cross- district collaboration and resource sharing.

3. A potential challenge exists in school ecosystems in which schools are competing for students. The drive to differentiate might supersede the benefits associated with resource sharing.

   
   

   Leigh Purnell

1) Here is a video demonstrating inequity and what happens when there are little to no resources. 2) And here is an article on designing spaces that empower youth if resources were redefined and focused on student's needs.

These are near and dear as the special needs population but also the inner city student and teacher who don't see a way through the politics.

Ira

Leigh Purnell

JG

If you could change one statewide policy or metric to empower equity and excellence in Pennsylvania public schools, what would it be?

2) Explain the steps of how you cultivated a staff to make Northwood Academy successful.

TBH

As director of PCE, what have you found as the biggest challenges in retaining teachers in charter schools?

In the past five years, which district in PA has made the greatest progress in actualizing priorities around equitable funding and why?

What are you most proud of in your first 2+ years in this position?

-JG

2) How do you keep students and educators encouraged when they carry trauma of their own and education is just a part of their existence?

(TBH)

2. In your opinion, how do legal policies and school practices interact to create barriers or opportunities for students facing educational challenges?(HMP)

How does the Coalition engage with Philadelphia's Charter sector?

JG

Will we ever figure out the financial requirements to give all students the resources they need to succeed?

CP

Add the Census Based Funding (CBF) challenges, NJ schools are not adequately funded.

How can we help stakeholders understand that prioritizing vulnerable populations by providing appropriate funding is best for all in order to properly oversee the management of funds?

-JG

What are the next steps for NJ policymakers.

- JG

Presenter from Northwood was informative

I enjoyed collaborating with a very diverse cohort. I have gained new colleagues and dissertation partners in this journey.

i enjoyed the wealth of knowledge and experience our instructor brought to the course.

Tracie

Probing: Please describe the incentives you envision for collaboration and how they might impact the bottom line for individual school communities.

Dani

Should those taxes be evenly distributed across the state, counties or kept in each district?

Torrence Rothmiller

2) Can the parents come in to classrooms on a rotating basis to help support teachers in some way?

Tracie

In regards to the PA Educator Pipeline Support Grant how can I apply? Is there a criteria? Do all schools receive it?

hp

Do you think the change in certification spans (K-6 to PK-4 for example) negatively impacted the work force?

-JG

AD