Beginning of the Year Update

2023-2024

START’s Compelling Why

Ensuring equity because all students need to be taught in inclusive settings with peers by caring staff prepared to deliver evidence-based educational and behavioral supports.

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Follow START on Social Media

• Facebook STARTProjectMI

Closed RCN Group (START Project – RCN Group)

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RCN Updates

• A few changes this year:
• Increased frequency of RCN Updates: You will receive a RCN Update from START two times a month.
• Shorter emails: Condensed emails so they are easier and quicker to read.
• RCN-specific information: The RCN Update will contain information that is specific to the RCN.

RCN Updates

Reminder! Enter your Fiscal Agent Information, Report Contact Information, RCN Leadership, and District Representatives on the 23-24 RCN Contacts spreadsheet located in your RCN Google Drive Folder.

START will send RCN update emails to the District Representatives and RCN leadership.

Watch for Exciting Updates to the Website

gvsu.edu/autismcenter

Welcome Lindsey Harr-Smith!

The Autism Education Center is thrilled to welcome Lindsey Harr-Smith to the START Project full-time!

Please join us in welcoming Lindsey to the START Team!

Peer to Peer Playbooks, Effective Teaming and Meeting Mechanics Resource Manuals, and START-er Kits

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START is pleased to make the following resources available for ordering at no cost to the RCN:

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• Elementary Peer to Peer Playbooks
• Secondary Peer to Peer Playbooks
• Effective Teaming and Meeting Mechanics Resource Manuals

*Use the START Project Order Form to place an order

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• START-er Kits (a mixture of 45-50 START-ism branded items)

*START-er Kits will be available later in the year once they are updated

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Contact Andy West at westan@gvsu.edu if you have any questions

Inclusion and Belonging

Share your Points of Pride at the Fall Leadership Day Showcase

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Celebrations of all size welcome! Tell us about your trainings, resources, persuasive techniques, and most definitely your stories and wins for students.

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More Information to Come!

We are learning alongside you!

• Continuous work in progress
• This work doesn’t end
• We are committing to embracing non-closure
• Our learning is evolving - you may see changes
• Discomfort and uncertainty is okay!

We encourage you to revisit the Critical Questions to expand your thinking! START is also committed to the ongoing provision of resources and dialogue to support our audience toward authentic inclusivity.

Effective Practices Leadership Initiative (EPLI) �

Summary of Exciting Updates!

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• Moving away from module-specific trainer designation
• Offering two Bootcamps:
• Essential Foundations - Integration of training modules and resources (For Applicants, Inactive Trainers, Current Trainers, Coach Leaders)
• FAPE in the LRE (For Current Trainers of START Content only)

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Effective Practices Leadership Initiative (EPLI)

Essential Foundations Bootcamp

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• The Bootcamp will consist of four days of content and coaching and two days of Trainer Days (in-person), which are collaborative days intended to strengthen training and presentation skills, for a total of six days.
• Applicants and inactive trainers required to attend all six days
• Current trainers encouraged to attend as many days as possible
• Coach Leaders are invited to attend the four days of content and coaching

Effective Practices Leadership Initiative (EPLI)

FAPE in the LRE Bootcamps

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• For Current EPLI Trainers of START Content only
• Two options: Fall and Spring
• Requirement for 10/05/23 Fall Bootcamp:
• Must have attended FAPE in the LRE training during the 2022-23 year or attend the 09/20/23 training

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What is New with Peer to Peer?

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• Peer to Peer Secondary Curriculum: Reimagined
• 2nd Semester is live on the Google Site
• Updated Materials:
• Elementary and Secondary Fidelity Checklists
• Pillars of Peer to Peer (found in playbooks)
• On the Horizon:
• Revamping Case Conferences: new name, purpose, and structure
• P2P Surveys
• Elementary Curriculum

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Peer to Peer Training Dates

• Level up your Peer to Peer Program
• October 3, 2023 in Lansing
• Foundations in Peer to Peer
• October 18, 2023 in Gaylord
• Foundations in Peer to Peer
• December 7, 2023 on Zoom

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Level up your Peer to Peer Program!

• Level up your Peer to Peer Program and our first P2P CoP:
• October 3, 2023, Lansing
• Registration is open! START is thrilled to offer this training to P2P CoP members at no cost. Use the coupon code "P2PCOP" during registration.
• We also encourage you to invite 1-2 colleagues to attend this training with you.
• Note: the above coupon code is only intended for P2P CoP members. Your colleague(s) should register standard attendee.

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Peer to Peer Data

In 2022-2023, we had 514 buildings with Peer to Peer programs in the state!

Use your Dashboard to celebrate your programs and/or dream about the future of Peer to Peer!

Any questions?

• View: Peer to Peer Data Collection System Video
• Contact: Stephanie Pulido

What’s new with the CETA?

#1 - A slight name change (CETA-R → CETA)

#2 - Language and formatting changes on pages 1 & 2

#3 - Slight changes to the phrasing of indicators in the PBIS section (Differential reinforcement) and the Peer to Peer section

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Check out the changes on the START Website - CETA

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Community of Practice (CoP) Meetings

START is excited to welcome back members of the Communities of Practice (CoP) and also welcome new members! START is facilitating the following CoP in 2023-2024:

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Coaching CoP

Early Childhood CoP (Information coming soon!)

Peer to Peer CoP

PFA-SBT CoP

Secondary Transition CoP

Sexual Health CoP

RCN Contract 2023-2024

• RCN Application and Forms page

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• Available mid-September
• Contract Activities Worksheet
• Available late September
• Baseline Focus Student Survey Link
• Mid/End-of Year Contract Reporting forms

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RCN Contract Activities Worksheet and Mid/End of Year Reporting

• Updates to…
• the Contract Activities Worksheet to reflect the changes to the RCN contract and to transition to a Google document
• Mid-End of Year Reporting to reflect the changes to the RCN contract
• Note…
• Peer to Peer Data Collection forms will be due March 1 Coaching Capacity Tool will be due May 20

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Plan Ahead

• Contract Activities Worksheet – October 27
• Focus Student Beg of the Year Data – November 3
• Mid Year Report – February 2
• Peer to Peer Data Collection - March 1
• Coaching Capacity Tool, CETA Reflection Form and Focus Student End of the Year Data – May 20
• 23-24 End of Year Report - June 28

Check the RCN Application and Forms page of the website

Focus Student Data

• “Target Students” are now referred to as “Focus Students”
• Only K-12 Focus Student Data will be collected this year.
• Data Snapshots and Profiles for Focus Students will be made available again this year.