Project Description:
Subcontract to UCEDD from state Department of Education to provide online training, professional development, and in-person technical assistance to urban high schools.
Project FOCUS Academy (PFA) will implement the following goals:
1. Develop a Communities of Practice (CoPs) framework for statewide professional development (PD), using a hybrid approach of web-based and direct training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities for nine (9) high school (HS) grantees and members of their local communities (e.g., educators, youth, family members, and adult service providers).
2. Develop training and technical assistance (TTA) and dissemination materials related to three (3) priority topics: 1) school-wide positive behavior supports, 2) universally designed curriculum, instruction, and assessment strategies that ensure access to and success in the general curriculum and achievement of high standards, and 3) research-based practices for successful post-school outcomes of competitive employment, postsecondary education, and self-determination.
3. Conduct customized TTA (based on TTA action plans) that includes annual conference, web-based strategies related to research-based practices, development of CoPs features (e.g., distance education, video-conferencing, threaded discussion groups, and Youth Leadership/ Family/HS Grantees Networks), and direct TTA events coordinated among HS grantees and relevant statewide & national initiatives (e.g., ODEP State Alignment Grant, Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, ODEP Customized Employment Grant, Office of Vocational and Adult Education activities, DOL, ODEP Youth Mentoring Grant, Workforce Investment Act, and Youth Development activities).
4. Implement a project management structure to ensure achievement of project goals and objectives, including timely and effective execution of TTA activities, continuous feedback process and data collection, reporting requirements, evaluation mechanisms, and coordination of project activities across partners and nine HS grantees.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of project activities in meeting the needs of project participants and in improving the post-school outcomes of youth, using quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods.
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Quality of Life, Other - Leadership, Other
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Urban, Specific Groups
