Center for Technology in Education

Designed as a comprehensive approach, the Maryland State Improvement Grant III (MSIG III) employs four interconnected change tactics: Collaboration for Capacity Building; High Quality Professional Development; Maryland Special Education Portal; and Empowerment Evaluation.  These change tactics power five solutions designed to meet the professional development needs across the State and achieve performance-based outcomes. The five solutions are: Maryland’s Approved Alternative Preparation Program (MAAPP); Professional Development Online Tracker (PDOT); Maryland Co-Teaching Network; Online Data Driven Decision-Making Tools (OD3T); Preschool/Kindergarten Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Decision-Making Module; and the Family Support Network.

The MSIG Project Evaluation Plan documents the efforts and evaluates the effects of the implementation of the five Solutions to achieve the goals and outcomes as set forth in the Maryland State Improvement Grant (MSIG). The Evaluation Plan serves two purposes: 1) as a mechanism to ensure fidelity to and accountability for the implementation of the project’s activities, and 2) as a process to determine changes in the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors of professionals that ultimately impact student performance.

CTE has adapted its Online Learning Management system (OLMS) for MSIG to support the MD Division of Special Education in delivering high quality statewide professional development that helps general and special education personnel acquire content knowledge and collaborative skills needed to meet the needs of children with disabilities. The OLMS enhances the ability of educators to use a full range of effective practices related to cognitive strategy instruction, positive behavioral interventions, cooperative learning, student performance monitoring, and instructional planning in order to help students with disabilities access and succeed in the general education curriculum.