DC SPECIALEDUCATION CO-OPERATIVE

Helping Charter Schools Develop High Quality Special Education Programs2010-2011

What is the Co-operative?

The Co-operative supports charter schools by providing information, resources, services, and advocating for members at the state level.

First organization of its kind, created by charter school leaders in 1998.

Recognized nationally as an innovative model and has been replicated in states across the country.

A true “co-operative”, the DC Special Education Co-operative is guided by its members through the Board of Directors.

Who is the Co-operative?

25 member schools Each school elects one “director” to sit on

the Co-operative’s Board All staff at member schools can benefit

from membership 2 staff members 1volunteer

Members for SY 2010-2011

AppleTree PCS Bridges PCS Capital City PCS Center City PCS DC Bilingual PCS DC Prep PCS Early Childhood PCS Education Strengthens Families

PCS EL Haynes PCS Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS Friendship PCS Hope Community PCS

HYDE PCS IDEA PCS Imagine South East PCS KIPP DC PCS LAMB PCS Maya Angelou PCS Next Step PCS Potomac Lighthouse PCS SAIL PCS SEED PCS St Coletta Special Education PCS Washington Latin PCS Washington Yu Ying PCS

What do we do?

Compliance and Program Consulting Services Program/file review and development Mentoring Special Education Coordinators Monitoring preparation Special Education staff candidate searches Medicaid application support and billing

services

What do we do?

Professional Development and Training Services Annual conference – Jumpstart ASSIST DC – graduate certificate program with

Catholic University Charter Start-Up in collaboration with FOCUS Training on topics of interest to members

Legal/compliance/policy Program development Staffing Advocacy Working with parents Inclusive practice Special Education Praxis coaching Custom trainings

What do we do?

Advocacy through Frequent and direct communication with OSSE at

policy level program development level professional development level

Testimony at the SEA level The Co-operative organizes/trains members to testify at

public hearings Reviews and submits comments on all new and pertinent

OSSE policies Representation on State-level panels and workgroup

LRE workgroup & Secondary Transition Workgroup State Advisory Panel for Special Education

What do we do?

Provide Information: Website – members only sections with

tools, resources, articles, forms – all specific to the needs of DC charters.

Bi-weekly newsletter Policy briefs and updates from OSSE Group discussion lists for SECs to share

ideas and ask questions (SECs and Co-operative staff only).

Helpline – call or email the Co-operative anytime with questions about policy, practice, parents, EasyIEP, etc.

How we can help:

Your membership entitles ALL staff at your LEA to access Co-operative resources. Call/email us when you have a question Visit the website to find sample forms, policy briefs,

articles about lesson planning, and links to other resources

Use the email discussion lists to get immediate feedback from your colleagues

Read our notes when you can’t make it to an OSSE meeting

Read our newsletter to stay up to date on policies, events, and get tips for improving your special education practice

Opportunities for Collaboration Monthly member meetings on various

topics Webinar training sessions Email lists Advisory Groups Ad-hoc committees to address member

needs DC CAS planning Non public placements Special Education Policies and Procedures

Current and Upcoming Projects ASSIST DC

Cohort 2 possible for Spring 2011 Shared Services

Legal, Related, Sub Pool Advisory Panels

Early Childhood Special Education, Bilingual Special Education, & Secondary Transition

Listserv Launch Special Educators General Educators SST

Member Meetings October 28 – Legal Issues & Compliance

CONTACT US

www. specialedcoop.org

Julie Camerata, Executive Directorjcamerata@specialedcoop.org

202-903-6883

Monica Lesperance, Program Quality Specialistmlesperance@specialedcoop.org

202-904-0249