Breakout Session 2: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
- 2A: Relationships and Belonging: Improving Attendance and Engagement for Students in Special Education
- 2B: MTSS: Imagine if…
- 2C: Proactive Partnerships: Preventing Disputes Through Collaboration
- 2D: CT-SEDS Data and Reporting for APSEP Leaders
- 2E: Inclusive Leadership Practices Aligned to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders
- 2F: Comprehensive Literacy Interventions with Technology Support
2A: Relationships and Belonging: Improving Attendance and Engagement for Students in Special Education
Students receiving special education services, and their families, face complex challenges that impact school attendance and engagement. Join Attendance Works to learn about strategies to address chronic absence, along with key takeaways and resources that help make schools supportive and engaging spaces for students with disabilities.
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2B: MTSS: Imagine if…
Imagine if we designed all our behavioral and social/emotional supports with students and educators who have the greatest support needs truly in mind? How can we collaboratively design supports that set each student, each classroom, each school, each district, and our state up for success? This session explores the essential elements of PBIS—the most evidence-based and widely implemented multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework—at each implementation level (classroom, school, district, and state) to consider how to create positive, predictable, safe, and inclusive environments where each student and educator can thrive.
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2C: Proactive Partnerships: Preventing Disputes Through Collaboration
Families often hear that navigating special education is like entering a battlefield—but it does not have to be that way. This session empowers educators to shift that narrative by fostering partnerships built on mutual respect and open communication—essential elements for improving student outcomes. Join us to explore practical strategies that foster transparent communication, proactive problem-solving, and positive relationships with families.
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2D: CT-SEDS Data and Reporting for APSEP Leaders
The Performance Office Team, who lead data collection and support for CT-SEDS, will provide a presentation specifically designed for APSEP Leaders. The presentation will cover the following subjects: User Types and User Management; New Calendar Information for 2025-26; Restraint & Seclusion; an overview of CT-SEDS functionality and integration with other state systems. In addition, we will provide an open forum for APSEP leader questions and a discussion of best practices when working inside of CT-SEDS.
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2E: Inclusive Leadership Practices Aligned to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders
Presenters: Sharon M.S. Fuller, Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), Talent Office; Michael McGrath, Ed.D., Director of Special Education and Luke Forshaw, Ed.D., Director of Professional Development Services, Cooperative Educational Services (CES)
Transformational leaders inspire and motivate change. In this session, participants will explore Aligning Inclusive Leadership Practices with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, CSDE, June 2025, identify inclusive practices to foster change, and develop a culture of belonging.
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2F: Comprehensive Literacy Interventions with Technology Support
Explore how to implement a systematic, data-driven approach to literacy interventions using MTSS management technology. Participants will learn best practices for identifying students needing literacy support through universal screening, progress monitoring, and diagnostic assessments. Discover how technology streamlines the intervention process by organizing student data, tracking progress across tiers, and facilitating collaborative decision-making among educators. Learn how digital platforms support evidence-based literacy interventions from Tier 1 classroom instruction through intensive Tier 3 supports while maintaining fidelity to research-backed practices and enabling real-time adjustments based on student response to intervention.
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