IDEA General Supervision Enhancement Grant

The University of Kentucky, through assignment by the Tennessee Department of Education (TNDE), proposes to create a new integrated state-wide, student-level, locally-entered, and webbased data system on IDEA-eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth and the services provided them. This system will provide the state with the information it requires to identify trends and drill down to needs identified in its Self-Assessment, assist in tracking progress in its Improvement Plan, coordinate its monitoring of state and local compliance and results (both Parts B and C), facilitate training and technical assistance efforts to improve the involvement of parents, and help coordinate training and technical assistance efforts to improve the knowledge and skills of service providers. Currently, 16 independent data systems are used for a variety of purposes by the TNDE and other state wide agencies using a variety of electronic and paper data collection and reporting methods. Several of these data systems will be replaced or enhanced by the proposed integrated system. The system will be designed to upload and download information to remaining data systems to ensure coordination across data sets and their supervising agencies. Appropriate safeguard protections to ensure privacy will be integrated at all levels. This project will be administered by a Management Team ofTNDE staff, TN stakeholders, and project staff. Project activities will be based upon scientifically-based effective practices in data system design, implementation, and evaluation. The proposed system will yield collated and interpretable information at the state, regional, and local levels on what areas need significant attention and resources as well as what is working for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, children and youth with disabilities, and their families.