Professional Development Resources
Least Restrictive Environment
On February 19, 2014, the U.S. District Court issued a statement regarding the case of Disability Rights New Jersey, et al. vs. New Jersey Department of Education, et al. To avoid intensive litigation, the parties agreed to a negotiated settlement as outlined in the February 19 memo. In part, the agreement requires designated districts to complete a Least Restrictive Environment Needs Assessment. In order to assist these districts in completing their Assessment and creating action plans, Centris Group has utilized its subject matter experts and former practitioners to develop the following resource library organized to reflect the questions in the Assessment. This service to our customers is a list of resources that includes vetted websites, documents and video clips. It is expected that this library is a "continuous work in progress" that can be expanded to collaboratively share additional materials from Centris and our users.
Topic Area / LRE Standard LRE Questionnaire #
| Critical Friends: Looking at Student Work | Teachers presenting and analyzing each others' student work. 5 min. | 1.0 | |
| Designing Rubrics | Creating rubrics to assess student learning. 2 min. | 1.0 | |
| Tracking Tools: Assess & Celebrate Learning | Encouraging active participation by tracking student learning. 2 min. | 1.0 | |
| Grading with the Common Core | Assessing learning using the Common Core Standards. 1 min. | 1.0 | |
| Sharing Common Core Language with Students | Using the Common Core State Standards when sharing expectations with students. 2 min. | 1.0 | |
| Analyzing Data in Small Groups | Students working in small groups to review and analyze data from the previous day's lab. 7 min. | 1.0 |
| Response to Intervention (RTI): A Primer for Parents | The essential components of RTI. (LD Online) | 1.4 | |
| Least Restrictive Environment, Mainstreaming, and Inclusion | Education.com introduction to LRE. | 1.4 | |
| Least Restrictive Environment | Danielle Steere Ball State University. Legal history of LRE. 10 pages. | 1.4 | |
| Center on Response to Intervention | Collection of resources providing information about the relationship between RTI and special education. (American Institutes for Research) | 1.4 | |
| OSEP Ideas that Work | A wide range of research-based products, publications, and resources to assist in improving results for students with disabilities. | 1.4 | |
| LD On-Line: RtI | Quick primer on RtI sponsored by LD On-line. | 1.4 | |
| RTI WIRE Resource Guide | Comprehensive internet resource guide for RtI. | 1.4 | |
| Intervention Central: Response To Intervention – RTI Resources | Current, comprehensive resource guide of articles, websites, books re: RtI. | 1.4 |
| Quality Evidence Rubrics | Assessing the quality of math work using a Quality Evidence Rubric. 5 Min. | 2.13 | |
| Using Common Core Language | Using Common Core language in order to have a common ground with students. 2 min. | 2.13 | |
| Aligning Curriculum Within and Across Grades | Aligning curriculum within and across grades. 8 Min | 2.13 | |
| The Instructional Demands of Standards-based Reform | AFT Publication summarizing the dimensions of a standards-based approach. 16 pages. | 2.13 | |
| A Guide to Common Core State Standards-Based IEPs | Provides instruction on a tool that promotes the design of standards-based IEP goals and objectives. | 2.13 | |
| A Seven-Step Process to Creating Standards-based IEPs | This document presents a seven-step process for developing IEPs that are aligned with state academic grade-level content standards. (NASDSE: Ideas that Work) | 2.13 |
| Using CFAs to Improve Teaching and Learning | Creating and using common formative assessments to improve student performance. 6 Min. | 2.14 | |
| Data Walls | Using data walls in tracking interventions and formative assessments and differentiated instruction. 8 Min. | 2.14 | |
| Data Carousels | Staff taking an interdisciplinary approach to address learning needs exposed by the data carousel. 7 min | 2.14 | |
| Analyzing Data in Small Groups | Students working in small groups to review and analyze data from the previous day's lab. 7 Min. | 2.14 | |
| Clipboards: A Tool for Informal Assessment | Taking notes about students' progress. 1 min. | 2.14 | |
| Formative Assessment Using the U-P-S Strategy | Assessing how students understand, plan, and solve problems. 2 min. | 2.14 | |
| Text What You Learned: Using Technology to Assess | Use texting to assess learning through Poll Everywhere. 2 Min. | 2.14 | |
| Daily Assessment with Tiered Exit Cards | Provide quick and effective reteaching with daily tiered assessments. 5 Min. | 2.14 | |
| Making It Click: Assessment with Technology | Frequent assessment using clickers provides valuable information helping students learn from mistakes and build confidence. 14 Min. | 2.14 | |
| Formative Assessment and Monitoring Progress| How a school monitors student progress on a daily basis with ongoing informal assessment followed by timely interventions. 14 Min. | 2.14 | |
| Fist to Five Feedback | Gathering immediate feedback using a 0-5 (Fist to Five) scale. 1 min. | 2.14 | |
| The Appropriate Use of Student Assessments | AFT quick guide on the use of student assessments. 7 pages. | 2.14 | |
| Center for Parent Information and Resources: Present Levels | Primer for development of PLAAFPs as well as examples. | 2.14 | |
| California Division of Special Education Compliance Department: Individualized Education Program Present Level of Performance Training | Training program on the development of PLAAFPs. 35 pages. | 2.14 | |
| Ionia County Intermediate School District: Examples of Present Level of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance Statements | Actual PLAAFPs sorted by content area. | 2.14 | |
| Ann Arbor Public Schools: Guide to writing Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance | Guide to writing PLAAFPs. 13 pages. | 2.14 |
| Center for Behavioral Educational Research | Categorized applicable research on student behavioral interventions. | 1.5, 4.15 | |
| PBIS.org Home Page| Home page for Positive Behavioral Intervention Support. | 1.5, 4.15 | |
| Teacher Channel video: Emotional Check in Strategy | Demonstrates the fundamental PBIS prevention strategy of "Check in". 2 min. | 1.5, 4.15 | |
| Teacher Channel video: Classroom Expectations | Setting and reinforcing classroom expectations (preK - K). 2 min. | 1.5, 4.15 |
| NEA: Determine Classroom Procedures Before School Starts | Beginners guide for setting up classroom routines and procedures. | 4.16 | |
| NEA: Teaching That Emphasizes Active Engagement | Beginners guide for creating an environment of active engagement in the classroom. | 4.16 | |
| AFT: Behavior-Management Techniques for Safe Schools | Quick reference guide for avoiding and addressing bullying behavior. | 4.16 | |
| Teacher Vision: Behavior Management Forms | Comprehensive set of classroom-based forms for teacher use. | 4.16 |
| Using Technology to Understand Acceleration | Using of technology to enrich a lesson. 5 Min. | 4.19 | |
| Podcasting To Personalize Feedback | Personalized feedback via a podcast. 2 Min. | 4.19 | |
| Opening Doors: Technology And Communication Options for Children With Hearing Loss | US Dept. of Education publication on assistive technology for students with hearing loss. 9 pages. | 4.19 | |
| National Center on Universal Design for Learning | Current, comprehensive resource guide of advocacy opportunities, articles, websites, books re: Universal Design for Learning. | 4.19 | |
| OSEP Ideas that Work: Universal Design for Learning | Toolkit on UDL. | 4.19 |
| State of New Jersey - Special Needs Education | The official website for Special Education in New Jersey. | 4.2 | |
| The Teaching Channel | Sponsored by a non-profit organization, a video showcase of effective teaching practices. | 4.2 | |
| The Building Blocks of Project-Based Learning | Understanding how the project-based learning process supports deeper learning. 14 Min. | 4.2 | |
| New Jersey/Implementation of IDEA | Comprehensive site in New Jersey's implementation of IDEA. | 4.2 | |
| N.J.A.C. 6A-14, SPECIAL EDUCATION | New Jersey special education statutes. | 4.2 | |
| What Works Clearinghouse | Research on the different programs, products, practices, and policies in education. | 4.2 | |
| Regular Education Teachers as IEP Team Members | USDE topic brief/guidance on the role of general education teachers in the development of the IEP. | 4.2 | |
| A Guide to the Individualized Education Program | Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services U.S. Department of Education guide to the IEP base on IDEA. 36 pages. | 4.2 | |
| The Educational Benefit Review Process | This process assists educators and families in examining the characteristics of IEPs that increase student access to, participation in, and progress in general education by providing an appropriate education. (State Education Resource Center of Connecticut) | 4.3 |
| The Education Week Spotlight on Differentiated Instruction | 5 articles on strategies for Differentiated Instruction. | 4.14, 4.3, 7.5 | |
| Collaborative Teaching for Interdisciplinary Learning | Classroom teachers working together to plan and co-teach a class. 5 min. | 4.14, 4.4, 7.5 | |
| Think Time and Collaborative Learning | Helping students work independently before working in groups. 2 min. | 4.14, 4.5, 7.5 | |
| Purposeful Grouping for Collaboration | Helping students share and learn from others. 2 min. | 4.14, 4.6, 7.5 | |
| Differentiating in Math Using Computer Games | Using technology to practice addition and subtraction. 6 min. | 4.14, 4.7, 7.5 | |
| New Teacher Survival Guide: Differentiating Instruction | A new teacher's first attempt at a differentiated lesson. 12 min. | 4.14, 4.8, 7.5 | |
| Content Differentiation in 3rd Grade Science | Two differentiated science lessons -- one before coaching and one after. 27 Min. | 4.14, 4.9, 7.5 | |
| Varied Tasks for the Mixed Ability Classroom | Supporting students at different readiness levels with meaningful tasks. 13 min. | 4.14, 4.10, 7.5 | |
| Snowball Technique: Build Knowledge Incrementally | Using group work to build student learning gradually. 4 min. | 4.14, 4.11, 7.5 | |
| Getting Started on Differentiated Instructions | Carol Tomlinson provides an explanation on getting started with differentiate instruction. 5 Min. | 4.14, 4.12, 7.5 | |
| The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners, 2nd Edition by Carol Ann Tomlinson | Published by ASCD, a primer on Differentiated Instruction. | 4.14, 4.13, 7.5 | |
| Differentiated Instruction: What’s Different About That? | Mississippi Dept. of Education: A training program for teachers on Differentiated Instruction. 60 slides. | 4.14, 4.14, 7.5 |
| National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities: Considering LRE in Placement Decisions | Introduction to the consideration of LRE in placement decisions. | 7.3 | |
| Anne M. Hocutt, Ph.D., research article | 1996 University of Miami research article relating inclusion activities to student outcomes. | 7.3 |
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