1 / 18

Westat’s Evaluation of the SIG Program: Findings from the Leadership Study

Westat’s Evaluation of the SIG Program: Findings from the Leadership Study. Alison Langham, Westat AlisonLangham@westat.com Presentation to the SIGnetwork SPDG Directors’ Session April 16, 2010 Project Funded by: Office of Special Education Programs U.S. Department of Education.

ivanbritt
Télécharger la présentation

Westat’s Evaluation of the SIG Program: Findings from the Leadership Study

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Westat’s Evaluation of the SIG Program:Findings from the Leadership Study Alison Langham, Westat AlisonLangham@westat.com Presentation to the SIGnetwork SPDG Directors’ Session April 16, 2010 Project Funded by: Office of Special Education Programs U.S. Department of Education AlisonLangham@westat.com

  2. Presentation Outline • Overview of the SIG Program • Overview of Westat’s Evaluation of the SIG Program • Brief explanation of the Leadership Study • Results from the Leadership Study • Summary and implications AlisonLangham@westat.com

  3. Background on the State Improvement (SIG) Program • IDEA ‘97 • Joint effort of the feds and states to improve results for children with disabilities • Money to states on a competitive basis • Professional development, information dissemination, TA…SYSTEMIC CHANGE AlisonLangham@westat.com

  4. Background on the SIG Program Evaluation • Commissioned by OSEP in 2000 • Five-year cooperative agreement, that continued for six years • Formative • Focused on the overall SIG Program, not individual states—but individual SIG projects were the unit of analysis • Not intended to provide technical assistance to projects • Instead, intended to describe what states were doing to inform OSEP, and the states themselves AlisonLangham@westat.com

  5. Background on the SIG Program Evaluation • Premises of the SIG Program that guided our evaluation • Systems change is necessary to effect significant statewide improvements • Improving systems requires comprehensive planning that involves multiple individuals, agencies, and institutions • SEAs need to play a leadership role in engaging partners and bringing about the systems changes AlisonLangham@westat.com

  6. Background on the SIG Program Evaluation • Multiple evaluation activities • Logic Models • Cross-state comparisons • Systemic Evaluation Inquiry Model • Model of Theory of Systemic Change • Outcomes Study • Administrative Leadership Study AlisonLangham@westat.com

  7. Administrative Leadership Study: Framework AlisonLangham@westat.com

  8. Administrative Leadership Study: Methodology • Nine states • Iterative data collection and analysis • Telephone interviews and document reviews • Qualitative coding AlisonLangham@westat.com

  9. Administrative Leadership Study: Results • Influence • Persuasion • Guidance • Authority • Use of position or title • Control of funds • Accountability • Setting expectations • Establishing standards of performance AlisonLangham@westat.com

  10. Administrative Leadership Study: Results • Influence Strategies Strategy A: Implementing professional development (PD) as a systemic tool for change Strategy B: Communicating a vision of change Strategy C: Creating local buy-in Strategy D: Integrating PD efforts with general education reform Strategy E: Using collaborative working partnerships that promote joint learning AlisonLangham@westat.com

  11. Administrative Leadership Study: Results AlisonLangham@westat.com

  12. Administrative Leadership Study: Results • Authority Strategies Strategy F: Asserting delegated authority Strategy G: Setting direction Strategy H: Justifying actions by evoking a higher authority Strategy I: Providing support for partners and subgrantees who buy-in AlisonLangham@westat.com

  13. Administrative Leadership Study: Results AlisonLangham@westat.com

  14. Administrative Leadership Study: Results • Accountability Strategies Strategy J: Standardizing the evaluation methodology Strategy K:Prioritizing the tasks associated with accountability Strategy L:Using accountability data to justify changes in project AlisonLangham@westat.com

  15. Administrative Leadership Study: Results AlisonLangham@westat.com

  16. Administrative Leadership Study: Summary and Implications Administrative Leadership Study Findings: • Every SIG director used multiple leadership strategies • SIG directors used influence strategies most and accountability strategies least • Awareness of self, Project/Program, current events and culture influenced which strategies SIG directors used AlisonLangham@westat.com

  17. Administrative Leadership Study: Summary and Implications Levels of Awareness AlisonLangham@westat.com

  18. Administrative Leadership Study: Summary and Implications • Most important SIG Evaluation finding: strong leadership coincided with strong SIG project outcomes • Implication: leadership will matter in SPDG projects, too AlisonLangham@westat.com

More Related