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

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

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

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 21st Create team of diverse stakeholders to create

improvement plan Timeline: one year