Strategic Practices for the Advancement of Inclusive Schooling (SPAIS) focuses on increasing access and outcomes for secondary students with disabilities who are Black, Latinx, students experiencing poverty and homelessness, and students with disabilities including students with the most significant disabilities. SPAIS will provide high-quality, research-based professional development within multi-tiered levels of support focused on increasing the educational and transition outcomes for students with disabilities. Professional learning topics are equity-focused and directly related to improving the educational outcomes for Black, Latinx, students experiencing poverty and homelessness, and students with disabilities including students with extensive support needs. SPAIS will partner with local education agencies (LEAs), educator and leadership preparation programs to inform cutting-edge inclusion practices that focus on Universal Design for Learning principles and the Whole Child.
Primary Outcomes of SPAIS
- Increased access and outcomes for secondary students with disabilities who are Black, Latinx, students experiencing poverty and homelessness, and students with disabilities including students with the most significant disabilities in general education settings in Public and Public-Charter schools, and
- Increased access to postsecondary education and employment for youth and adults with disabilities who are Black, Latinx, students experiencing poverty and homelessness, and students with disabilities including students with the most significant disabilities as they transition from K-12 education.
Strategic Practices for the Advancement of Inclusive Schooling is a grant-funded program for the California Alliance for Inclusive Schooling (CAIS) and the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability at Chapman University, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
SPAIS Components:
- Intersegmental Collaborative Workshop Series providing professional learning to PK-12 educators, school administrators, and educator preparation faculty;
- Bridging Convenings that focus on collaborative learning and engagement between schools and educator preparation programs;
- The development of an impact report on quality practices for building inclusive educational structures; and
- Implementation of coaching, feedback and reflection for sustained practices for school districts. Expert coaches will provide virtual and in-person coaching support to help implement the knowledge and skills gained in training.
SPAIS in the News:
For more information about SPAIS, please read the Attallah College blog post: Thompson Policy Institute on Disability Awarded $784,000 Grant to Support Advancement of Inclusive Schooling - Attallah College of Educational Studies (chapman.edu)
