ERIC Number: ED479111
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 2003-Apr
Pages: 55
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Providing Technical Assistance to Local School Districts: Lessons Learned.
Hamilton, James L.; Shanley, Judy; Dailey, Don; McInerney, Maurice
This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the Elementary and Middle Schools Technical Assistance Center, which developed and evaluated a technical assistance model using a linking agent approach in which a school district professional or team was trained and supported to implement a change process cycle to effect improved services and outcomes for students with disabilities. The Center compared three model variations: providing salary and expense support for linking agents as well as face to face training and support; providing a $1,000 honorarium for linking agents, face-to-face training, and Center assistance; or providing no monetary support for linking agents, who were trained and supported at a distance through electronic means. Evaluation of the three strategies resulted in the following conclusions: (1) a national technical assistance center can effectively help school districts build ongoing capacity to solve problems; (2) scaling up technical assistance is an interpersonal process; (3) effecting scaling up of technical assistance will utilize technology; (4) less costly forms of technical assistance can be effective; (5) technical assistance users largely drive technical assistance costs; (6) local motivation and capacity are essential elements in school change and improvement; and (7) technical assistance can support the implementation of research-based practices that improve student outcomes. Appendices provide detail on school district samples, instruments used, and student outcome data, and list presentations and products. (DB)
Descriptors: Change Agents, Disabilities, Elementary Education, Inclusive Schools, Inservice Teacher Education, Middle Schools, Models, Program Effectiveness, Research Utilization, Staff Development, Technical Assistance, Theory Practice Relationship
For full text: http://www.emstac.org/home.htm.
Publication Type: Guides - Non-Classroom
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Special Education Programs (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A
Note: Prepared by the Elementary and Middle Schools Technical Assistance Center (EMSTAC).