Special Education

2014-2015 Special Education Leadership Academy I (New Administrators with 1-4 years experience)

Achieving Balance: Leading Improvement for Students with Disabilities While Managing Compliance

This nine-day academy is designed to teach proactive leadership and management skills to new special education administrators to ensure positive outcomes for students with disabilities in compliance with state and federal laws. Through a series of interactive workshop sessions, 1:1 and group mentoring, independent assignments and a workshop binder filled with useful materials, participants will become more competent and confident in dealing with their highly complex role and responsibilities. Major topics include:

• How to Implement State and Federal Laws, Policies, Processes and Procedures with Fidelity;
• Development of Effective Programs that Provide Access to the Curriculum;
• Data Collection, State Reports & Grants and Data Driven Decision Making;
• Budget Development and Fiscal Management;
• Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution;
• Personnel Recruitment, Retention and Professional Development;
• Effective Leadership and Management Practices.

Dates: July 15 - 18, 2014, plus five (5) sessions September - May 2015 TBD

Location: The Academy will be held in Natick, MA or other location in Metrowest.

Eligibility and Application: Administrators with up to four years experience as a special education administrator of record in a Massachusetts public school district or charter school are eligible to apply. Applications are due by May 19. Applicants will be notified by June 5th.

Cost: A $300 registration fee covers the cost of lunch at each session. The Academy sessions, mentoring and materials are provided at no cost through a grant from DESE. Lodging will be available for participants at their own expense. For those who are traveling over 40 miles one-way to the conference site, the MA DESE through separate arrangement will pay for lodging.

Institute Requirements: 100% attendance and participation and completion of follow-up assignments.

PDPs and Graduate Credit: 67.5 PDPs will be awarded for successful completion of the Academy. Optional 3 graduate credits are available through Endicott College paid for by participants.

Faculty: All are outstanding leaders in special education with extensive experience working with MA school districts.

For questions or additional information: Contact Susan Rees, Academy Director at srees@accept.org.

ABOUT ACCEPT EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE

ACCEPT Education Collaborative, organized in 1974, is a multiservice organization governed by fourteen school districts in Metrowest. Our mission is to provide exemplary programs grounded in the belief that what matters most in student achievement is excellent teaching and educational leadership. ACCEPT is a leader in design and implementation of professional development programs that meet the instructional, management and leadership challenges that educators face on a daily basis. These programs drive systemic change resulting in enhanced teaching, learning and leading.

This is the twelfth year that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has contracted with ACCEPT to offer this leadership academy.