The Journey Towards Equity Continues
#WeAreED&D
We are the Equity, Disproportionality and Design (ED&D) Team, a project of the San Diego South County SELPA. Our mission is to prevent disproportionality in schools so all students can meet their full academic and social potential.
Throughout 2018-2023, the ED&D project team in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) built the capacity of Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) to support Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in developing and implementing evidence-based practices for students with disabilities (SWD).
As we embark upon the 2023-24 school year, the ED&D team looks forward to continuing the journey of building equitable systems and supporting school districts through the provision of technical assistance to prevent disproportionality in our schools. At ED&D, we understand that the pursuit for equity is a collaborative effort and we are motivated to work alongside our educational partners to provide support for school communities including staff, students and families. We are excited to announce our projected services and professional learning opportunities below. Contact us to discuss how ED&D can partner with your school, district, SELPA or county office to enhance educational systems for improved student outcomes!
Supporting Educators Through Technical Assistance
The South County SELPA’s ED&D team is committed to helping SELPAs, LEAs, and schools, build equitable education experiences for all students. Through research-based techniques and equity-driven practices, ED&D provides a human-centered approach to support your equity goals. With a proven track record, as a 2022 CDE-approved targeted technical assistance provider, ED&D supported SELPAs and LEAs across California through robust professional development opportunities.
The current ED&D menu of services includes customizable professional development training, coaching opportunities, and technical assistance in content areas to support LEAs in learning recovery and with Local Control and Accountability Plans, addressing their differentiated assistance (DA) and compliance and improvement monitoring (CIM) status. With ED&Ds partnerships and our team’s passion and experience, we are confident that we can support SELPAs and LEAs in their journey toward closing the achievement and opportunity gap, while building equitable systems for all students. ED&Ds goal is to provide high-quality professional learning, and equip SELPAs/LEAs to scale and continue equity driven efforts indefinitely.
Using Data Tools to Address Disproportionality
When LEAs contract with ED&D for technical assistance, their skills in using data tools to address disproportionality are expanded. In collaboration with Expatiate, ED&D provides access to iTAAP, a real time analytic data tool. When using iTAAP LEAs are able to monitor their Dashboard indicators, CIM indicators, predict future performance, ensure compliance, and prevent disproportionality. Additionally, in partnership with Codestack the Equity Dispro Data System (EDDS), a real time disproportionality data tool, offers LEAs the opportunity to examine the components of data while analyzing demographics within the Special Education Information System (SEIS).
Using data tools to address disproportionality requires coaching and training that focuses on data ethics and teaches educators the foundational skills necessary when calculating disproportionality risk ratios. Through the gradual release approach, “I do, we do, you do,” data tool training assists educational teams in analyzing their data, and provides language that makes it easier to interpret and share results with their school communities. During data literacy training, ED&D consultants focus on establishing a safe environment for learning and expanding data use skills. Contact us to learn how data tools can support your school or district in reducing disproportionality and building equity based educational systems for all students!
Leveraging MTSS/PBIS to Decrease Disproportionality
ED&D is committed to decreasing disproportionality and helping educators expand equitable educational experiences for all students. As a technical assistance provider, we can support your school or district through the provision of professional development and coaching regarding the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) focused on academic and social-emotional development, as well as positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) for preschool through high school students.
Technical assistance focused on MTSS/PBIS will enable multi-disciplinary school teams to engage in a hands-on approach as equity work is implemented through a tiered system of support. School or district teams learn the “what and why” of systems work, the components of the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) and “how” to evaluate a school’s implementation with designed action planning for areas needing improvement. Professional coaching allows teams to learn from each other as well helping team members brainstorm ideas that lead to creative ways of working with their school communities. Professional development and coaching can be provided in person or through virtual meetings. LEAs, SELPAs, county offices, and schools can contract with ED&D to continue their work in closing the achievement and opportunity gap while building equitable systems. Contact us to discuss how ED&Ds technical assistance can support your team in reaching its equity goals!
Taking Action to Build Equity
The journey towards equity is continuous. Take action today by contacting the ED&D team to discuss how we can partner together to build equity and decrease disproportionality in schools. Visit our website to learn more about our project. We look forward to collaborating with you!
Resources
Equity, Disproportionality & Design website