Purpose

Initiative 23B proposes using the VESID Quality Indicators (QI) to compare against an institution's actual work of preparing teachers or administrators to determine the extent to which the knowledge and the skills, taught and practiced in the program, are evidence based and to determine the connection between practices in the field and practices at institutions. This initiative seeks to support interested teacher or administrator programs at institutions in a process of mapping the QIs side by side with the course content and field experiences implemented in those programs.

Scope of the Work

These three QI documents represent current evidence-based guidelines for effective practice in the field. These QIs were designed for distribution and implementation by technical assistance personnel around the State and are now available for wide dissemination on the VESID website: http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/techassist/QIcover.htm.

As these QIs are “living” documents, interested applicants should check periodically for changes to the QIs during and after the application process. The institutions awarded will be expected to map one of their programs against these three QI documents.

Scope of the Work recommendations (pdf)

Expected Outcomes

Each institutional group of faculty, with the help of an HESC facilitator, convened around these VESID documents will be responsible for:

• Providing the HESC a final report by August 15 th , 2010 evaluating how, where, and how often the selected QIs are taught in the teacher or administrator preparation program under examination;



• presenting their findings at the Spring, 2010 Statewide meeting of the Task Force on March 25 th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany;



• facilitating a small, self-selected group of institutions interested in similar analysis if an institution decides to continue and assist with the mapping into a second year. Additional funds will be available in 2010-2011 for this purpose;



• measuring the impact of the mapping process and the QIs on the teacher preparation/administrator program one year from the implementation of the mapping process.



• Initiative 23B includes the potential for a two year commitment. In the second year, with HESC support and depending upon the availability of funds, an institution which has completed mapping the QIs against program curriculum may choose to mentor a sister institution in its region to do similar mapping.

Benefits to Institutions

This initiative may provide the following benefits for applicants – the opportunity to:

• create an extensive and comprehensive self-study



• connect field experience to coursework more closely



• evaluate and connect to current evidence based practices in schools



• claim publically a connection to the New York State VESID Quality Indicators.

Application and Selection of Participating Institutions

Institutions interested in participating in this initiative should be represented on the Task Force on Quality Inclusive Schooling (TFQIS). This initiative is also open to Administrative certification programs at Task Force member institutions. HESC is highly interested in funding one institution per region for a total of seven awards under this initiative. Coordination of applications through the regional Task Force liaison is recommended. With the help of the facilitator from HESC, a “program cartographer” and institutional faculty will arrange a series of meetings to consider the comparison of these QIs in their teacher preparation or administrative program. A “program cartographer,” responsible for registering the institution for the initiative and then representing the group in its mapping process and assisting in data gathering and in maintaining contact with the HESC facilitator, should prepare the application with the help of interested faculty.

Cartographer and Mapping Details

Please address your questions about this initiative and the documents themselves to Peter Kozik at plkozik@syr.edu .

Budget

Each applicant will need to complete an on-line budget, distributing the available funds among the areas of wages and salaries, fringe benefits, supplies and materials, and travel. These funds may be used for stipends, meeting resources, travel, photocopying, and supplies. These funds may not be used for out-of-state travel or food. Indirect Costs of 8% will need to be calculated as part of the total award. Applicants should check with their institutions' financial officers to ensure compliance with the institutions' processes.

Funds must be expended in time to permit the host institution to submit the final detail cost invoice and signed Exhibit C, available on-line as part of a final report with the final narrative report by August 15, 2010. Timing for preparation of this report is different for each institution. Please consult with your host institution regarding this matter.

With the approval of the HESC, reallocation of funds from one category to another in amounts greater than 10% in a category may be made to reflect changes in regional plans and expenditures. Changes of 10% or less in a category do not need HESC approval.

If there are questions about the budget and the budget process, please contact Peter Kozik at plkozik@syr.edu.

Award

Awards will be made by sub-contract to an institution where the mapping process takes place. Awards for this initiative will be distributed so that there is regional representation throughout the State. Each institution involved in the mapping process will be awarded a maximum of $4,000.

Time frame

It is suggested that faculty members at institutions look to the time between semesters to undertake this initiative. Members must apply before December 15 th , 2009 at which time all “cartographers” and group members will be identified. After an institution applies and is accepted to map the QIs, a facilitator will be assigned with whom the institution can develop a viable schedule for the work. The life of these groups is envisioned from the date of the acceptance to the spring State-wide, scheduled for March 25 th , 2010. A final written report, developed with the HESC facilitator, is expected on or before August 15 th , 2010.