The IT Kit: Thinking Through Improvement is for a wide range of audiences, including state agencies, local education agencies, and early childhood service providers. It teaches a process that will allow participants to develop skills for analyzing and using data to make good decisions and improvements to existing programs. Thinking Through Improvement is divided into three parts: Thinking About Connections, Thinking About Data, and Thinking About Results. For more information about these resources, contact North Central Regional Resource Center:
Part One: Thinking About Connections explains how participants are connected to educational accountability. Activities focus on understanding the federal-state-local connection and how local agencies can meet the responsibilities of IDEA 2004.
Part Two: Thinking About Data explains what data may be considered during the improvement planning process and how local agencies can address data quality issues. Activities focus on the interpretation and use of data as it relates to the local improvement process.
Part Three: Thinking About Results explains the PIER process [Prioritizing areas of improvement, Identifying improvement activities, Evaluating process and impact, and Reporting results] for establishing and maintaining local improvement efforts. Activities focus on prioritizing areas for improvement, setting local targets and benchmarks, selecting effective improvement activities, evaluating the Thinking Through Improvement process and impact, and reporting progress on local improvement efforts.
The Missouri Resources Website (MORE)
The Missouri Resources, (MORE) is a searchable database containing resources about the special education outcome indicators (SPP) specified by the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). It is designed to provide assistance to results teams who are seeking information to improve outcome data.
The database contains information on the following topic areas: Academic Achievement; Disproportionality; Dispute Resolution; Dropout; Early Childhood Outcomes; Early Intervening Services (EIS)/Three Tiered Models of Intervention (RtI); Graduation; Least Restrictive Environment (preschool age and school age); Parent Involvement; Post-secondary Transition; and Suspension and Expulsion. Each topic has eight information types including academic literature, definition, evidence-based practice, exemplar, and online resources.
C to B Transition Training
?Connecting the Dots? is an online early childhood special education transition training developed by the North Central Regional Resource Center. This training is designed to help Service Coordinators, LEA staff, and service providers understand aspects of early childhood transition, including: IDEA 2004, State Policies and Procedures, Roles and Responsibilities, Recommended Practices, Relationships with Families, and State-specific information on transition. If you would like more information on this web-based training, please contact Ann Bailey at
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State Performance Plans and Data Reporting
SPP Directory
The SPP Directory functions as a virtual workspace for those who work with SPPs, allowing for collaboration and networking. It is designed to serve as a Community of Practice Sharing and Work Space in which States in Region 4 are able to be in contact with each other relative to specific indicators. Users can search for contact information of state personnel responsible for each indicator in the SPP for each state in Region 4. Users can also post specific tools, strategies, and documents developed for the various indicators to the Directory. In addition to searching and posting information, users can create, edit, and save documents on the Directory. This allows multiple users to work on a document collaboratively from remote sites. The Directory has three main components: Contacts, Documents Library, and Discussion. Each is divided into two categories: Part B and Part C. The Contacts Section and the Documents Library Section allow the user to filter by indicator. The Documents Library also allows the user to filter by indicator and within each indicator the user can filter by state. The Discussion Section allows users to post comments and questions relative to the indicators and general SPP items. If you would like more information or login information, please contact
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Icons and Metaphors - Data Representation in Dashboard Format
Icons and Metaphors refers to a means for public reporting beyond data profiles (i.e., one-pagers on topics, public meetings, briefs, etc.). Dashboards permit the dynamic representation and comparison of the core data in an intuitive manner. Sample dashboards created by the NCRRC for Part B and C reporting are available at the above link. Login information is required, and can be obtained by contacting
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Fiscal Calculators
The Fiscal Calculators are web-based electronic calculators developed at North Central Regional Resource Center. These three tools offer a streamlined process for researching the federal regulations and appendices related to each calculation, as well as completing the specific calculations each calculator addresses. They can be easily referenced by both LEAs and SEAs, and enable the user to manage large amounts of data in an easy to ready graphical interface. The ability to explore the outcomes of various scenarios and the ease with which the tools can be updated to conform to any changes make them an invaluable resource for state and district teams.
The Iowa Transition Assessment provides resources and tools to assist in the identification of the interests, preferences, strengths and needs of students with IEPs, so that the student will be better prepared for employment, further education and independent living. The information on this website has been developed by a team of educators from Area Education Agencies, Local Schools, University of Northern Iowa and University of Kansas, and the Iowa Department of Education.
