Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 A4A 2009-2010 Annual Report ltoona, PA 166500 Sixth Avenppalachia In 02ueter m e d ia t e U n it 8 Where Children Come First Thirty-eight years ago, Act 102 was signed into law, creating 29 intermediate units in the state of Pennsylvania and charging them with providing the support services necessary to improve the state system of education for children in both public and nonpublic schools. Since that time, the school districts in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, and Somerset counties have looked to Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 to assist them with their responsibilities in providing a quality education for all children. Under new leadership, we will continue to provide cost-effective qual- ity programs and services focusing on customers, fi scal responsibility, innovation, empowerment, leadership, and systems. These components support the foundation of the organization, which is guided by the overarching principle that children come fi rst. In this annual report, we showcase the new initiatives, programs, or products that we provided to our schools during the 2009-2010 school year. The entire organization, including the IU8 Board of Directors and IU8 staff—as well as local school district superintendents, district board members, and district staff—deserves special gratitude for its support and hard work in guiding the mission of IU8. We value our relationships with the communities we serve and the partnerships we’ve formed with other organizations, and we look for- ward to working together in the coming year to support education in IU8—where children come fi rst. JJooeesspphh EE.. MMaacchhaarroollaa,, EEdd..DD.. EExxeeccuuttiivvee DDiirreeccttoorr Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 districts and one charter school within the IU8 area. Technical assistance has Appalachia IU8 Board of Directors been provided to district administrators through written communications, 2010-2011 telephone conferences, site visits, and formal presentations. Assistance was provided with budgeting, tracking, and reporting of these funds. B. Wayne Lohr • North Star School District President Energy Procurement Thomas Bullington • Bedford Area School District Vice President Opportunities were provided for school district administrators to attend in- Larry Malzi • Forest Hills School District Assistant Secretary formational meetings regarding the coming deregulation of utilities, particularly focusing on electricity. IU8 entered into a regional cooperative for the purchase Thomas Creehan • Penn Cambria School District Member of electricity, making the program available to school districts within our region. Chris Cronrath • Northern Bedford County School District Member Thomas C. Dadey • Greater Johnstown School District Member Estimated IU Operations for 2009-2010 Arlene DeSalvo • Northern Cambria School District Member Susan Diehl • Claysburg-Kimmel School District Member Margaret Hendricks • Altoona Area School District Member William Padamonsky • Hollidaysburg Area School District Member Edward Pruchnic • Richland School District Member Michael Revak • North Star School District Member David Worthing • Bellwood-Antis School District Member Dr. Joseph E. Macharola (NVM) Executive Director Judy Voytko (NVM) Board Secretary First Commonwealth Bank (NVM) Treasurer Barbera, Clapper, Beener, Rullo and Melvin Solicitor Appalachia IU8 Executive Staff Dr. Joseph E. Macharola Executive Director General Operating Budget $4,963,249 Dr. Barbara Uncapher Director of Educational General IU Grants $20,565,000 Programs & Services Act 89 - Non Public $2,100,000 Amy J. Woomer Assistant Director of Educational State Corrections Grant $970,000 Programs & Services Special Revenue Funds $25,700,000 Judy Voytko Director of Business Services Capital Projects Fund Balance $620,000 Jared Cronauer Assistant Director of Business Services Laura J. Toki Director of Curriculum, Enterprise Funds $2,070,000 Training & Development Services Internal Service Funds $1,395,000 Carolyn Shipley Assistant Director of Curriculum, Alternative Ed Programs $1,425,000 Training & Development Services TOTAL $59,808,249 Brian R. Myers Director of Human Resources & Relations 15 Executive Offi ce • General Guidelines & Information Regarding Your Substitute Teaching Expe- rience In his fi rst year, IU8’s Executive Director, Dr. Joseph E. Macharola, reached Business Services out to the 35 school districts, fi ve area vocational-technical schools, and 81 nonpublic schools in an effort to extend professional services that focus on The Business Offi ce provides support internally to IU program staff, as well child-centered educational initiatives, and expand programs for both public and as to school district staff as they pursue the primary mission of successfully nonpublic schools. educating children. During 2009-2010 the following activities supported that mission. During this past year, he also instituted new leadership in key areas of service at IU8, specifi cally the Business and Curriculum Departments. Under Dr. Macha- Employee Services rola’s direction, the Administrative Team is dedicated to providing outstanding In addition to processing approximately 540 paychecks per pay period, the services for the school districts in the IU8 region. Business Offi ce continues to update and manage the 125-C Flexible Spending Account, the 403-B Tax Sheltered Annuity Program, as well as all health care In Technology, the IT Department was relocated within the Altoona Executive benefi ts for eligible employees. The IU completed its fi rst full year on the “Cost Offi ce building and provided with increased space in preparation for an expan- Plus” program, a modifi ed self-insurance model for funding health care cover- sion of services, which will include training and technical support to both public age. and nonpublic schools. This, in turn, allowed the Curriculum Department to expand its offi ce space, personnel, programs, and services to school districts. Purchasing Over 3,000 purchase orders were issued in 2009-2010, supporting all programs Important initiatives such as Race to the Top (RTTT), PAIUnet (Pennsylvania’s within the IU. The IU managed a bid for cooperative paper purchasing on behalf wide-area network), and the electricity procurement consortium were major of IU8 school districts, as well as participating in a regional paper bid in coop- areas of focus this year, and IU8 is poised to take a lead role in these programs eration with several other Intermediate Units. A bid for laminating supplies was with participating districts and other partnering agencies. also accomplished to benefi t IU8 school districts. As American author Will Rogers said, “even if you’re on the right track, you’ll Budgeting/Reporting get run over if you just sit there.” Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8—always Business Offi ce staff works with IU8’s Program Directors and Managers in known as a provider of quality educational services—will continue to move the preparation of recurring budgets and new grant applications. The Business forward and evolve, refi ning its philosophy and mission as a child-centered orga- Offi ce is responsible for all fi scal reporting, and in 2009 completed a transition nization. to a new software system through preparation of the fi rst series of fi nancial reports using the new format and processes. Educational Programs and Services IU8 Workplace Safety Committee The Business Offi ce initiated formation of a new IU8 Workplace Safety Com- Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 provides special education and related services mittee in November 2009. The committee was formally certifi ed in June 2010, to approximately 3,700 preschool students and school-age students attend- saving the IU 5% on its Workers Compensation premium and working to pro- ing our 35 school districts and the Central PA Digital Learning Foundation. mote a safe working environment for employees. The Business Offi ce continues One hundred, eighty-eight (188) classroom and itinerant teachers provide to publish the IU8 Safety Newsletter. the programs that make it possible for students to access their education and experience success. The Intermediate Unit employs 140 full-time and part-time IDEA and ARRA IDEA Fiscal Management paraeducators along with six interpreters for the students who are deaf and In addition to the management of over $10 million in regular IDEA pass- hearing impaired. Nine physical therapists, occupational therapists, and certifi ed through funds, PDE has charged the IU with the responsibility for the man- occupational therapy assistants also support preschool and school-age students. agement and tracking of approximately $12 million in IDEA funding from the To provide support to the school districts, the Intermediate Unit also employs American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on behalf of the 35 school 16 supervisors and educational consultants, seven school psychologists, and fi ve 1 14 of the building, making improvements to the parking lot, and modernizing the social workers. Six early intervention service coordinators serve children ages interior spaces of the building, including the expansion of wireless Internet ac- 3-5 and their families. cess for use during trainings. Autistic Support – Itinerant Program The technology offi ce was moved to a new location in the Executive Offi ces in The Autistic Support program provides education for students ages 3 - 21. Dur- Altoona. The space that was vacated by the technology department was recon- ing the 2009-2010 school year, over 130 children across the four counties with fi gured, allowing for an expansion of the Curriculum Department. autism received autistic support services. Autistic support includes both direct and indirect service to assist the child in making progress on individual goals. Human Resources Assistance Direct service is provided, either individually or in a small group setting, to offer The Human Resources Department provided assistance to districts regarding instruction that targets skill development based on the child’s individual needs teacher assignments, Level II Certifi cation, employee discharge and other day- and as defi ned in the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Indirect service to-day HR related questions. The Human Resources Department maintains a may include consultative service for the child’s teacher(s) to assist with planning bureau of collective bargaining agreements and compensation plans for districts for and the implementation of appropriate adaptations and accommodations to to reference. assist the child in making progress on individual goals as well as experiencing success across a variety of settings and activities. Teacher induction training was conducted for approximately 136 fi rst-year teachers. The presentation included code of conduct, Level II certifi cation re- Autistic Support – Classroom Program quirements, and Act 48 requirements. The full-time Autistic Support program provides education for students in the middle school grades in a regular school environment. The educational focus The HR Department updated the library of district collective bargaining unit emphasizes daily living skills, functional academics, and independence through agreements that are accessible on the IU’s website via a login ID and password. a structured teaching approach, utilizing inclusion practices within the least restrictive environment. The Human Resources Department issued the administrative salary report during the fall to participating districts. Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center The IU services at Cove Forge are designed to meet the educational needs Additionally, the department has assisted districts with identifi cation badges for of adolescent students placed in full-time residential treatment. The focus is their staff. on academic skills in a small group setting, IEP implementation, and emotional support. Students in the program can receive credit in math, science, history, Emergency Substitute Teacher Program English, reading, and health and physical education. IU8 also offers a Life Skills During the 2009-2010 school year, 27 districts participated in the emergency Support class where the educational focus emphasizes daily living skills, func- substitute teacher program. The Intermediate Unit began coordinating this pro- tional academics, independence, and transition to adult life. During the 2009- gram in 1999 to help districts with the shortage of substitute teachers. 2010 school year, 36 students received services, including eight students from districts within IU8. Additionally, IU8 has implemented a 33-day Title I summer Throughout the course of the year, IU8 applied for 261 emergency certifi cates program, in which students can receive credits in math, English, science, history, and 255 candidates remained on the active list at the end of the school year. and reading. Candidates attended in-services during the summer 2010 in preparation for renewing their certifi cates for the upcoming school year. Inservices included: Cresson Secure Treatment Unit Cresson Secure Treatment Unit (CSTU) is a high-security juvenile detention fa- • Keys to Classroom Management cility that provides therapy, treatment, and education to juvenile offenders from • Internet Safety-Cyber Bullying-Drug & Alcohol Awareness across the state of Pennsylvania. The IU operates the school program for PDE. • Improving Classroom Performance Focusing on Discipline Strategies During the 2009-2010 school year, the CSTU school served 83 students from • Standards Aligned System 30 districts. The average student was enrolled for approximately eight months. • Strategies for Motivating & Engaging Students Major initiatives this year included: • Brain Functioning & Classroom Strategies 13 2 • A full-time AmeriCorps worker to prepare students for the GED test Technology Training • A restraint reduction initiative done in conjunction with Justice Resource The IU8 Information Technology Department provided Microsoft Offi ce 2007 Institute demonstrations at school district inservices during the 2009-2010 school year. • An update of technology resources to include computer-aided drafting and Four IT Department members earned Microsoft Offi ce Specialist 2007 Certi- design (CAD), operation systems management, and interactive learning fi cations, which will enable IU8 to offer Offi ce 2007 training to school districts modules. and nonpublic schools. This year, 12 students received either a GED or a high school diploma at CSTU. Instructional Media Services (IMS) CSTU held three separate graduation ceremonies throughout the school year. At the close of this school year, the IMS Department’s Bulk Purchasing pro- Despite the distance, most of the families of the graduates attended. gram distributed over 4,300 items to our districts and laminated over a mile of materials—approximately 5,400 feet. We also purchased and delivered 1,100 Early Childhood Intervention Program rolls of laminating fi lm and 500 projector bulbs. IMS van drivers deliver and pick The IU8 Early Intervention programs serve eligible 3-5 year old children who up items in our school districts on a weekly basis. This year they stopped at have a 25% delay in one of fi ve developmental areas: personal-social, adaptive, over 200 locations every week. The IU8 IMS Department also delivered ap- cognitive, communication, and motor skills. During the 2009-2010 school year, proximately 1,500 pieces of library materials during the 2009-2010 school year over 1,200 children across the four counties received services. In order to using the Interlibrary Express (ILEx) service. expand our repertoire of service delivery options, the IU8 preschool program has established collaborative classrooms with Blair, Bedford/Fulton and Cambria Human Resources and Relations County Head Start programs, as well as partnerships with Tyrone Area School District, Conemaugh Valley School District, and the Learning Lamp private PA Department of Education Assistance nonprofi t preschools. The IU8 preschool program is also working in partnership The Human Resources Department provided technical assistance to the PA with Pre-K Counts grantees and all public and private early childhood settings Department of Education Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality. to serve eligible preschool students in their programs. This included administration of PDE funds for Chapter 49 activities as well as program management of activities associated with the Bureau’s initiative. Emotional Support Assistance was provided with coordination and planning of training events and The itinerant Emotional Support program provides education to more than collaboration as requested by the Bureau. 100 children within IU8. Emotional support includes direct and indirect ser- vices to assist the child in making progress on individual goals. Direct service Employee Information Guide provides meaningful instruction, either individually or in a small group setting During the fall of 2009 the HR Department updated the IU8 Employee Infor- to target specifi c skill development, based on the child’s needs as defi ned in the mation Guide. This staff guide provides an overview of procedures for staff child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Instruction may include teaching the including human resource information, business operations, technology services, child coping skills to better manage the emotional, behavioral, and/or academic and educational programs and service information related to the welfare of diffi culties the child may be experiencing, as well as problem-solving skills and students. This guide was distributed to all staff as well as new employees. strategies for managing daily stressors. In addition, the emotional support teach- er may provide indirect, consultative services to school personnel and parents New Employee Knowledge Enhancement Program to assist with planning and implementing appropriate adaptations and accom- The NEKE program guides new employees with respect to the organizational modations, including a positive behavior support plan to aid the child in making mission, policies, benefi ts and employment practices of the Intermediate Unit. In progress on individual goals. addition, the program provides new staff with IU departmental information and an overview of the functions of an Intermediate Unit. Hearing Impaired Support During 2009-2010, the Hearing Impaired Support staff provided services to Buildings and Grounds 154 children, ranging in ages from birth to 21, who are deaf or hard of hearing. Renovations and improvements to the Mylo Park Building in Ebensburg were Services included in-home intervention for infants and preschoolers and their completed in September of 2009. They included remodeling the entire exterior families; consultation with school personnel about hearing loss, assistive tech- 3 12 Scholastic Quiz League. The winner of this meet was represented by Appa- nology, and communication adaptations; parent training and support; school to lachia IU8 in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Quiz League at the state competi- adult life transition support; individualized instruction to students with hearing tion in Harrisburg, PA. loss; sign language interpreters; and an amplifi cation system loan program. • The Bedford/Blair Junior Scholastic Quiz League, in its second year, involved two meets between junior high teams from Bedford and Blair Counties. Learning Support Multi-district Learning Support classes were available to support students, Information Technology Services kindergarten through age 21 needing replacement courses in the core academic areas, more intensive/targeted support than is available in a traditional learn- ing support setting, or additional learning opportunities. The classrooms were Video Conferencing Equipment Deployment created to enhance the school districts’ continuum of services for students in In early 2010 Appalachia IU8 purchased 29 Polycom HDX7000 video confer- need of Learning Support Services. In addition, the classroom structure and encing units for all the IU8 Regional WAN member school districts. This equip- building setting help facilitate the inclusion of students, as appropriate, based on ment will be used to help facilitate distance learning activities between districts individual needs. via the Regional Wide-Area Network. This equipment will also allow them to collaborate with other districts across the state over the PAIUnet educational Life Skills Support and Multiple Disabilities Support network. The Life Skills Support and Multiple Disabilities Support programs provide education for students from kindergarten through age 21 with moderate to Building-to-Building Connections severe cognitive impairments. The educational focus utilizes the state standards At the start of the 2009 school year, three districts went live with upgraded to meet educational goals, as well as daily living skills, based on the individual building-to-building network capabilities. These connections were made be- needs of students through their IEPs. The program strives for independence and tween various district schools back to their district’s main network hub. With transition to adult life, utilizing inclusive practices within the least restrictive these upgraded connections, districts will be able to provide educational con- environment. To assist students with moderate to severe challenges in access- tent more effi ciently and effectively to their students. ing the state standards and the general education classroom, professional staff members have been trained in utilizing the Supplementary Aids and Services New WAN Districts Toolkit. In 2009 Appalachia IU8 added four new WAN districts to the IU8 Regional Wide-Area Network. The new districts now have access to a wide variety of Life Skills Support Apartment Programs educational resources, discounted Internet access, high-speed access to all the IU8 operates fi ve Community-Based Apartment programs for Life Skills Sup- 29 member districts in IU8, as well as high-speed access to 480+ districts state- port (LSS) and Learning Support (LS) students aged 18-21 with the outcome of wide via the PAIUnet educational network. competitive employment. Four of these programs, known as the BRIDGE pro- gram (Building Realistic and Integrated Daily-living Skills, Gaining Experiences PAIUnet Content and Employment Skills) are located in Ebensburg and Richland. The fi fth pro- In 2009-2010, IU8 was a partner with the 28 other Intermediate Units in a gram, known as the STAIRS program (Students Transitioning to Adult Indepen- statewide Act 183 E-Fund Grant. This grant was used to purchase Safari Mon- dent Real-life Skills) is located in the Altoona Ramada Inn. The purpose of the tage video streaming service and the EduTone Education Portal. These services BRIDGE and STAIRS programs is to train participating students in independent will be deployed to the districts in the 2010-2011 school year. living, personal maintenance, recreation, and leisure activities, self-determination skills, and community-based vocational training so they may live as independent- IU8 Video Conferencing Equipment ly as possible within their communities following graduation. In the 2009-2010 school year, IU8 deployed new video conferencing equipment at its Richland and Ebensburg offi ces. In conjunction with the existing equip- PennData ment at the Altoona Executive Offi ce, the IU is now able to provide more ef- PennData is a program that assists our 35 member school districts and one fi cient collaboration between staff at these offi ces, saving both time and money charter school with the collection, maintenance, and reporting of required usually involved in travel. data on children who were receiving special education or gifted services as of December 1 of each school year. In 2009-2010, data for 10,704 students was 11 4 submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. All Supplemental Infor- ist certifi cation through the IU8 ESL Consortium, bringing the total to 106 to mation Tables were accepted and all special education students were accepted date. Twenty-seven (27) educators earned ESL Program Specialist certifi cation by PDE as eligible for IDEA funding. through the IU8 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) evening program, which brings the total to 77 to date. As of the end of the 2009-2010 school Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy year, 183 educators have completed all the educational requirements for the The PT/OT staff provides services to approximately 900 children in special ESL Program Specialist certifi cation through IU8. education programs, including evaluation; parent and teacher training support; individual therapy; data collection for progress monitoring; consultation with Over the past year our districts have been working to have at least one ESL- school personnel about disabilities, development, adaptations, and assistive certifi ed teacher for each school building in the district, not just one ESL devices; assistance with the development of IEP goals and objectives; evalua- teacher for the whole district. This is better for ELL students, whose numbers tion and recommendation of necessary adaptive equipment for school based increase every year in the IU8 region. We have also spent increasing amounts of activities and transportation, consultation with physicians as necessary; active time helping teachers of children who have been adopted from other countries participation on the Autistic Assessment and Brain Injury Teams and completion where English is not spoken as their fi rst language. of ACCESS forms. Student Programs PIMS Numerous student-centered projects were conducted through the Curriculum PIMS (Pennsylvania Information Management System) is PDE’s statewide longi- Department during the 2009-2010 school year. tudinal data system that is designed to improve the data capabilities of IU8 and its member school districts by enhancing their capacity to meet student-level • The ATOMS (Advanced Training for Outstanding Math and Science) Schol- data reporting requirements. PIMS collects data for special education as well as ars Program received a grant from the PA Department of Education again regular education students. Templates accepted by PDE for 2009-2010 include this year, which provided partial funding for this hands-on summer school data for students, courses, staff, and related calendars. One signifi cant benefi t experience for students who have completed grades 2 through 8. This year provided by PIMS includes access to multi-year longitudinal data, which helps 1,665 students attended the program; 13 IU8 school districts served as teachers and administrators address individual student needs, empowering host sites. teachers with state-of-the-art data analysis tools to improve individual student • The Continental Mathematics League Competitions involved 880 students achievement. from Hollidaysburg Area and Westmont Hilltop school districts. The stu- dents took timed tests at fi ve different intervals during the school year and School-Based ACCESS Program their scores were tabulated and sent to the national scoring center. Pennsylvania’s School Based ACCESS Program (SBAP) allows the Intermediate • The Pennsylvania Middle School Computer Fair is offered each year to Unit and member school districts to receive federal funds for providing IEP students in grades 6 through 9. The regional competition was held at Penn health-related services to Medical Assistance (MA) special education students. State Altoona and the state competition was held at Dickinson College in Funds are used to supplement the district’s special education programs. IU8 Carlisle, PA. This past year we had 34 projects entered in the fair; fi ve were supports local programs with on-site technical assistance and training. All state selected for the state competition. Medicaid programs, including SBAP, must be operated within federal regulations • The Pennsylvania High School Computer Fair is offered each year to stu- with an increased emphasis on “promoting integrity.” Schools and personnel dents in grades 9 through 12. The regional competition was held at Penn must understand and implement all regulations/requirements from all applicable State Altoona and the state competition was held at Dickinson College in oversight agencies correctly. Sixteen schools contract with IU8 to administer Carlisle. This past year we had 18 projects entered in the fair; nine were their local school-based ACCESS programs. chosen for the state competition. • The Interscholastic Reading Competitions provided over 1,600 students Speech and Language Support with the opportunity to read and answer questions about the books they The Speech and Language Support staff worked with more than 400 students read. from 34 of the 35 school districts in IU8. They also provided speech and • The Bedford/Blair Scholastic Quiz League involved 14 high schools in 10 language support to students in fi ve alternative education programs, 33 non- meets in the fall of 2009. The winner of the Bedford/Blair Scholastic Quiz public schools, and a multitude of preschool programs in the four counties League moved on to compete against the winner of the Central Western 5 10 Providing Effective Intervention Instruction, which focused on implemen- served by IU8. The speech and language support staff conducted screenings on tation of specifi c strategies for instruction and intervention for students more than 1,300 preschool children. Partnerships with the speech and language in kindergarten through 5th grade, supporting IU8’s Title I Rural Capacity departments at both Penn State and IUP have allowed for the use of supervised Building Consortium and RtII initiatives. student interns to assist with preschool screenings. In addition, the Speech • The sixth and fi nal year of IU8’s TEAMS (Teaming Educators for Applied and Language Support staff provides support to students with alternative and Math and Science) Learning Project was funded through the Title II-B Math- augmentative communication devices, ranging from low to high technology. Science Partnership grant. In June of 2010, we were awarded a new com- Members of the speech and language staff collaborated with four county Infant/ petitive three-year Title II-B grant for our SEEDS (STEM Engaging Educators Toddler Early Intervention Programs to facilitate the OCDEL Assistive Technol- in Design-based Science) Project, in which we will again partner with Saint ogy Grant. Francis University. Transition The IU8 Transition Team supports school districts by providing technical as- Educational Technology sistance in the development of transition plans and IEPs, training for parents and This year, IU8 received a 21st Century Teaching and Learning grant to support district personnel, assessment, and job development and coaching. The focus of Technology Integration Mentoring (TIM) services for our districts. We conduct- the 2009-2010 school year was on providing training and technical assistance ed two Technology Integration Content Collaboration Days, which continued to the fi ve school districts identifi ed as “Indicator 13 Cohort #2.” This train- the momentum of the Classrooms for the Future (CFF) initiative, allowing 50 ing, mandated by PDE, was developed to ensure 100% compliance on writing secondary Language Arts and Social Studies teachers, and 45 Math and Science measurable annual goals for transition and providing appropriate transition teachers to network and share ideas, projects, and 21st century teaching strate- activities. A transition-related presentation was made at the PA Council for gies. Exceptional Children Convention in November 2009. We also hosted four Videoconference Integration Days, focusing on effective Transportation strategies for utilizing videoconferencing technology for district collaboration When specialized transportation as a related service is needed, a district can and distance learning using the IU8 wide-area network and PAIUnet. Virtual request that IU8 provide transportation for students. IU8 provides transporta- fi eld trips were taken to places such as the Cleveland Museum of Natural His- tion to students enrolled in IU8-operated, district, preschool, and approved tory, NASA, the National Archives, the Battleship New Jersey, the Library of private school programs. The transportation needs of each child are assessed Congress, and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Over 100 teachers took part individually. Transportation includes: 1) Travel to, from, and between schools; in these events. 2) Specialized equipment such as special or adapted buses, lifts, and ramps if required to provide special education for a child with a disability; and 3) Travel In the spring of 2010, IU8 participated in PAIUnet’s Flip Flicks project, through to and from community-based sites for the purpose of instruction and work which we provided 16 of our PAIUnet districts Flip® Video Cameras for edu- experience. During the 2009-2010 school year, IU8 provided transportation cational use. The goal of the Flip Flicks project was to encourage educators and services for 878 students from 25 IU districts. students to share innovative ideas and examples through videos, which were then uploaded to the Keystone Commons website. Vision Impaired Support The Vision Impaired Support staff provides services to blind and low vision Several new trainings were also offered to our districts this year, including Using children from birth to age 21. During 2009-2010, these services were provided Technology to Differentiate Instruction, Discoverystreaming, Smartboard, Think- to approximately 96 children. Types of services included in-home intervention fi nity, and Promethean and Promethean Advanced trainings. for infants and preschoolers and their families, in addition to functional vision assessments, learning media assessments, and assistive technology evaluations. Technical assistance for the development of districts’ Educational Technology Individualized instruction in the use of Braille, adapted materials, assistive de- Plans and EETT (Enhancing Education Through Technology) grants was also vices, and school to adult life and transition support are provided to students provided. with vision impairments. Teachers of vision impaired students offer consultation with school personnel regarding visual impairments and environmental/cur- ESL (English as a Second Language) ricular adaptations. Certifi ed instructors also supply orientation and mobility During the 2009-2010 school year, 13 educators received ESL Program Special- evaluations along with instruction when warranted. 9 6 Curriculum, Training, and Development Services • PA Value Added Assessment System (PVAAS): This year PVAAS Core Team Consultations were 90-minute working sessions in which grade, school, Services to Nonpublic Schools (Act 89) or district teams of administrators and teachers were guided through an Act 89 provided auxiliary services such as guidance counseling and testing, psy- inquiry process to synthesize and analyze their data, looking for patterns chological services, remedial reading and math, and speech and hearing services. in student achievement and growth. IU8 earned recognition from PDE for Direct and consultative services were available to over 3,000 students based 100% participation by all 35 school districts. on planning with the nonpublic school administrators of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, • Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII): In conjunction with IU8’s and Somerset counties. Educational Programs and Services Department, this year we were able to provide technical assistance in reviewing districts’ RtII for Specifi c Learning For teachers in the nonpublic schools, this year we increased the number of Disability (SLD) plans, in addition to the other types of RtII support and professional development opportunities available to them, and began the Title assistance we have offered to our districts over the years. I Nonpublic Professional Development Consortium to expand the scope of • PowerTeaching: This professional development series focusing on a frame- professional development services. work for mathematics instruction was offered over six dates throughout the 2009-2010 school year to 40 teachers in grades 3 through 8. These Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps (PMSC) teachers learned strategies to move from a teacher-centered classroom The PMSC is the local initiative of the national AmeriCorps program. Ameri- to a student-centered classroom through the use of compelling concept Corps is likened to a domestic Peace Corps. Participants serve in the United presentations, assessment for learning techniques, and structured student States, often in their own communities in areas of education, the environment, learning teams. and human needs. Citizens age 17 to seniors turn their ideas, talents, education, • eSP (eStrategic Planning): This year IU8 offered Mid-Point Review train- and life experiences into action. In 1994, Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 began ings for Phase II school districts, updating them in changes on required a 40-member corps that extended across a 10-county region. AmeriCorps reporting, as well as modifi cations to the eSP online tool. We also provided members serve in full-time or part-time positions over a period of up to a year individual, onsite assistance to districts based upon their needs. with various nonprofi t and governmental agencies, in exchange for a modest liv- • PIIC (Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching): For a second year, ing stipend and an educational award. Today, PMSC has grown to a 145 member IU8 supported this initiative, a cooperative effort between the PA Depart- corps that covers 16 Pennsylvania counties. ment of Education and the Annenberg Foundation, which provides a coach- ing framework for schools across the Commonwealth. From the end of PDE Initiatives Supported by IU8 year one to the end of year two, the number of IU8 districts participating in The following is a list of Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) initiatives the PIIC program increased from six to 14. that were supported and/or expanded from previous years by the IU8 Curricu- lum Department this year: New IU8 Initiatives The following is a list of new programs initiated by the IU8 Curriculum Depart- • School Improvement: In partnership with IU8’s Educational Programs and ment during the 2009-2010 school year: Services Department, we provided intensive technical assistance to eight schools in School Improvement I, two schools in School Improvement II, • This year we offered Data 1:1 Consultations for Principals—private, per- and six schools that were designated as Making Progress. IU8 received a sonalized, and individualized onsite data consultations. We helped princi- School Improvement grant from PDE to help fund our work with School pals make sense of the various sources of data—including AYP, PSSA, and Improvement Teams in analyzing their data, looking for root causes, and PVAAS—moving from a “big picture” analysis, in which systems issues are identifying and planning solutions in the Getting Results continuous im- identifi ed by recognizing trends and patterns over time, to a more focused provement process. exploration of school, grade, and subgroup. • PA’s Standards-Aligned System (SAS): This year, fi ve members of the IU8 • Trainers from the Curriculum and Educational Programs and Services De- Curriculum Department were certifi ed as SAS trainers by PDE, and we partments conducted over 15 LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of worked together with SAS-certifi ed trainers in our Educational Programs Reading and Spelling) workshops this year, training over 450 teachers within and Services Department to offer professional development to teachers the IU8 region. and administrators in our IU. • This year we offered a four-day series of trainings by Dr. Susan Hall entitled 7 8
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