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UDL Implementation Stories from State Leaders

March 29, 2021

Panelists: Amy Brown, Megan Conway, Susan Veenema, Jayne Bischoff, Mary Lane, Greg Amend

Host: Allison Posey, CAST

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Resources

Digital Handout: bit.ly/UDLStateLeaders

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Introductions

Amy Brown, ACCESS Project, University of Delaware
Megan Conway, ACCESS Project, University of Delaware
Susan Veenema, Education Associate, Delaware Department of Education
Jayne Bischoff, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Mary Lane, NH UDL Innovation Network Project Manager, New Hampshire Department of Education
Greg Amend, New Hampshire Department of Education UDL Scholar, SAU 60 English Teacher

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Our goals for you today

To discuss state-level goals for UDL implementation and how UDL was initiated at state level
To share opportunities and barriers around UDL implementation from a state perspective.
To share resources and next step opportunities.

What are your goals?

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Story 1: Wisconsin

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LEAs from rural, urban, suburban; Elem, M, HS

Eau Claire

Fond du Lac

Green Bay

Rhinelander

Rice Lake

Sheboygan Falls

Southwestern WI

Stevens Point

Sun Prairie

CESAs

Cooperative Educational Services Agencies

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UDL Implementation - Deliberate

UDL Implementation Trials

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Expert Learning, Teaching, and Systems

“...the goal of developing expertise applies to all participants: students, teachers, and all of the personnel in the system itself.”

Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice �(free web edition), page 15

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UDL Implementation Trials - Evolution

Data Tool
Local Context
UDL Impact

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Evidence We Use

LEAs

Scaling: Teams, Schools, District-wide
Learning Growth: From Baseline to End of Trial Cycle 3
Impact Anecdotes from Grant Participants

CESAs

Capacity Use and Regional Outcomes
Professional Learning Resources
Participation and Usability Ratings

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Wins

CAST
Budgets
Learning Focus
UDL Trials

Fixes

Statewide teams
Overt intersection
Conversations
Assessment support

@CAST_UDL | #CASTPL

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Wins

CAST
Budgets
Learning Focus
UDL Trials

Fixes

Statewide teams
Overt intersection
Conversations
Assessment support

@CAST_UDL | #CASTPL

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UDL in Wisconsin

Our vision: Equity

A Principled Approach to Educational Justice

UDL Bass Drum Beat

think like a designer...design for flexibility...meet a goal

As a statewide UDL leadership team, we:

recognize natural human variation and know variability changes based on experiences

predictable variation based on science; cultural backgrounds, intersections of oppressions that include race, and contexts manifest variability

accept people as learners with strengths and assets to build upon

context matters, brain networks/guidelines inform UDL thinking, variability is a benefit assets vs deficits; EC environments/IEPs- shifting deficit language

feature the construction of personally meaningful learning goals to form the basis for learning experiences

humans as goal-seekers, goals with means separated, or if means are necessary, then scaffolded; perception of success

understand that flexibility in materials and methods is required to support learner variability

learner goal anchors the options, UDL guidelines and checkpoints in design to view user experience and to replace barriers with predictable supports

align the design of learner experiences with UDL Guidelines and the expert learner characteristics - what matters most/commitment to UDL

intentional consideration of user, the purpose of the designed experience is to develop the characteristics of expert learners

believe UDL implementation operationalizes educational equity

design based on one-size-fits-all, average, too fixed/narrow, based on audience “label” is inequitable; need intentional and proactive universal design - seeing UDL with and equity mindset - equity is a practice

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UDL Bass Drum Beat for Wisconsin

As a state, we:

-recognize human variation

-build on learners’ assets

-co-construct learning goals authentic to each learner

-require usable, flexible design

-create expertise for learning

-use UDL to advance equitable learning for all

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Story 2: New Hampshire

Mary Lane & Greg Amend

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Our Why

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Our Journey

2014	NHDOE Vision 2.0 & OSW Created
2015	UDL Academy & OSW Framework
2016	3 UDL Cohorts, UDL & OSW, Teacher Voice
2017	ESSA Plan, Ecosystem Innovation, Personalized Learning, Student Wellness
2018	Toolkit Roll Out, Innovation Network, Leadership Academy
2019	Innovation Network, Online Learning Modules, Expert Learners
2020	UDL Credential, Literacy & Accessibility, UDL Consultant

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Our Parallel Leadership Strategy

State Leadership

Personalized Learning
Connecting Bureaus

Local Leadership

Personalized PD
Collaboration

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Meaningful Learning

Excellent Educators
Personalized Experience
Complimentary Supports

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Mindset Barrier

“Sustainable UDL implementation requires educators and leaders to recognize and use political and social influence to address inequalities and learning barriers.”

NHDOE 2016 UDL-IRN @ Towson University

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Story 3: Delaware

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Improving Delaware Teacher Practices with UDL

Middle School Implementation

2017: 10 week pilot, three 7th grade ELA teachers: coaching cycles, lesson planning, modeling, co-teaching

2018: Three grade levels, ELA: school side PD, teacher observations

2019: Math and ELA: state math coach, UDL coach

2020: All content areas: coaching, school-wide PD, teacher observations

2021: School-wide: PD during grade level content area PLCs, learning walks, walk-through tools

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Other Delaware UDL Initiatives

Implementation

First year: 7-8 four inclusion teams, 5-6 math, 1-5 ELA & 6-8 all content
Second year: vo-tech high school (learning support coaches)
Third year: 1-5 ELA & 6-7 all content

State-wide offering

Introduction to UDL professional development
K-4 literacy and UDL cohort
UDL microcredentials
On-demand schoology modules
Webinar series: “UDL remotely”
Inclusion conference

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Overcoming Barriers in the First State

Trust:

Strategic coaching focusing on glows of lesson, private data, non-evaluative structure, help with materials, develop relationships

Teach buy-in or administrative priority:

Build administrative understanding and expectations, capacity building through teachers and coaches

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Our behind the scenes

UDL Implementation Statewide

Part of our ESSA Plan
Embedded in MTSS rollout statewide
SEA intentional about sharing importance of UDL in trainings

Funding

Built into IDEA and Curriculum funding to support LEAs

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Questions and next steps

Explore the resources to learn more, visit our �Digital Handout: http://bit.ly/UDLStateLeaders

More opportunities to learn with CAST, �collaborate with other states, and keep in touch

@CAST_UDL | #CASTPL

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American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Don’t just spend your ARP funds — invest in the professional growth of your staff to address learning loss.

Partner with CAST: �bit.ly/cast-partnerships-arp

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The 2021 UDL-IRN Summit & 7th Annual CAST UDL Symposium

Register today!

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Your UDL Journey

A Systems Approach to Transforming Instruction

By Patti Kelly Ralabate �& Elizabeth Berquist

Save 20% during checkout with the code CASTPL �until April 9

Available from castpublishing.org

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bit.ly/cast-newsletter

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Thank you!

We want to hear from you.

bit.ly/implementation-survey