Search

The National Association of State Directors of Special Education has established the Professional Development Leadership Academy to assist states in meeting state improvement plan requirements of the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Professional development is crucial to this endeavor and will be accomplished through interagency, interinstitutional, and interdisciplinary training programs designed to insure systems change in support of educational reform. In its first year, the academy will train two state teams. The second year a cohort of five states will complete two training sessions. Training will expand to two cohorts of five states each per year, with sustained technical assistance for the second year. Through the training process, rural and small school educators, policy makers, administrators, teacher educators, special educators, and parents will have the opportunity to collaborate and form networks. Tables present the academy objectives and outline each curriculum section: strategic thinking, leadership, organizational change, creating collaborative partnerships, and systems of accountability. (TD)

The 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires states to develop state improvement plans (SIPs) that include provisions supporting the professional development of all persons who work with disabled children. The National Association of State Directors of Special Education is establishing a professional development academy to offer a training curriculum and technical assistance that helps states meet the challenges of implementing SIP requirements. The academy will assist states to form partnerships across all agencies concerned with education, foster state infrastructures that support systems thinking, provide new knowledge and skills to state leaders, create networks and learning communities within state systems that promote high expectations for all learners, and provide technical assistance to participating state teams for sustained multiyear educational reform. The academy implementation plan consists of two training sessions per year for up to 10 state teams, with technical assistance provided during the second year. Through academy training sessions and sustained technical assistance, state teams will develop a written plan for immediate use, and the skills and knowledge needed for ongoing implementation of the systems change activities in their SIP. The academy curriculum has five content areas that reflect IDEA requirements. Purpose and themes are outlined for these areas: strategic thinking, leadership, organizational change, collaborative partnerships for professional development, and systems of accountability. (SV)