Overview

The Technical Assistance (TA) Center promotes evidence-based practices for improving behavior and reading. These practices include classroom-level activities with teacher and student interaction. To promote these practices as faithfully and efficiently as possible, the TA Center created a statewide system of support that reaches from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to the student.

Systems of Support

MDE to Technical Assistance Center

The TA Center receives funding from the MDE and is aligned with the priorities and practices of the department. The TA Center leadership is empowered to find and promote the best practices for improving behavior and reading in schools.

TA Center to Regional Technical Assistance

The TA Center staff includes implementation specialists who are assigned regions within the state. The TA Center provides specialists with the training and resources needed to work with their districts and schools.

Regional Technical Assistance to ISD Leadership

Through the TA Center program, implementation specialists help intermediate school district (ISD) personnel set up the local systems they need to implement practices in their schools. Specialists also help train anyone identified as a local trainer or coach for behavior and reading practices. The trainers and coaches ensure local expertise.

ISD Leadership to District Leadership

The ISD provides support to its districts so that districts can support their schools. The support provided by ISDs to districts is similar to the support provided by implementation specialists to ISDs. Specialists are also available to support districts directly through the TA Center program.

District Leadership to Building Leadership

The district provides support to its school building leaders with guidance and resources. School leaders are trained on practices by the TA Center, ISD, or district trainers.

Building Leadership to Building Staff

School leaders guide their staff through implementation. Local coaches also provide support for implementation.

Building Staff to Students

School staff puts the practices into action and introduce the behavior and reading supports in classrooms to improve student outcomes.

Framework for Addressing Practices and Supports

The cascading systems address both practices and infrastructure. The closer the person is to the classroom level, the greater their focus is on implementing the practices. The closer the person is to the state level, the greater their focus is on supporting infrastructure.