Many of us in Mississippi recently returned from the MDE-sponsored 2022 Equity for All…All for Equity conference. Â The conference had several sessions I found helpful. Â I want to share some information with you if you could not attend the conference or attended different sessions. Â Many presentations can be found in the MDE document library in MCAPS under Equity Conference.
One of the presentations I found helpful was one on behavior supports. Â Michelle McClain with MDE Intervention Services shared the ABCs of Behavior. Â Following these guidelines can lead to reduced behavior and improved academic learning.
- Antecedent Strategies: environmental/stimulus changes that happen prior to the behavior
- Behavior Strategies:Â improving skills by teaching new or replacement skills
- Consequence Strategies:Â providing reinforcement to increase appropriate behavior or punishment to decrease future inappropriate behavior.
What I found most helpful for federal program directors were the links to the resources, including those on the MDE website for MDE-approved evidence-based academic and behavior programs, strategies, and supports. Â I hope you will find some of these helpful, as well.
- Â MDE approved list of behavior interventions
- MDE approved list of academic interventions
- Scaffolding Documents
- Intervention Central
- Social Emotional Learning Standards and Resources
- PBIS World behavior interventions
- MS Access for All
Another concurrent session titled “Educational Stability in Foster Caren by Terissa Williams with MDE was helpful.  Some of Ms. Williams’ reminders include the following:
- A school/district should not enroll a student in foster care without the best interest determination (BID). Â The BID is the responsibility of the school of origin and should be completed within five business with input from interested parties.
- Students may be enrolled while working on the BID, and the BID must be received within two days. Â The student must be enrolled within two business days, even without the usually required records.
- Enrollment may be initiated by a local MCDPS representation designee, which may be the foster parent, with express written permission from MCDPS.
- The CPS worker is the only person who can withdraw the child from school. Â The foster parents cannot withdraw the child from school.
- There must be a policy in place for transportation between school districts.
- A preschool plan must be in place if the school/district provides a pre-K education.
Foster parents may hold parent-teacher conferences. Â It was recommended that a foster care meeting be held among teachers, counselors, administration, foster parents, and the student to discuss available supports for the child’s academic and social-emotional learning.
I hope you find some of this information helpful.
We are deep into the holiday season. Â May you have a joyful and blessed holiday season.