Task Force on Blind Student Academic and Vocational Performance 
Blind Task Force (BTF)

Minutes
Regular Meeting of Committee Representatives
November 6, 2018

For information on the BTF, visit http://dese.mo.gov/special-education/advisory-panels.

Members in Attendance:
Geoffrey Barney, superintendent, Missouri School for the Blind
Dr. Stephen Barr, assistant commissioner, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Jennifer Carmack, Consumer Organization: National Federation of the Blind
Linda Coccovizzo, parent of blind or visually impaired student attending public school in Missouri
June Lenk, Consumer Organization: Missouri Council for the Blind
Bonnie Lenz, teacher of the visually impaired
Shari Scott, Institution of Higher Education
Ian Shadrick, program manager, RSB, Department of Social Services
Brent Sharp, public school special education administrator
Louise Whitworth, teacher of the visually impaired
Angie York, employer

Guests Presenters:
Anthony Blades, Blind Skills Specialist, Southwest region, Missouri State University
DJ Butcher, Blind Skills Specialist, Southwest region, Missouri State University
Kristina Cannon, DESE, Special Education, Planner
Jessica Hall, Blind Skills Specialist, Northeast region, Truman State University
Jane Herder, Outreach Director, Deafblind Project Director, Missouri School for the Blind

Members Not in Attendance: 
Donna Borgmeyer, Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
Adrian Marcos, Student
Shari Scott, Institution of Higher Education
Joy Frazier Boyle, parent of blind or visually impaired student attending public school in Missouri

Minute taker: Regina Miller, administrative assistant, OSE, DESE

Call to Order at 10:05 a.m. – B. Lenz

Roll Call – L. Whitworth

Introductions – B. Lenz

Review and approval of November 6, 2018 DRAFT Agenda – B. Lenz
Motion to approve – R. Rippee; motion seconded – L. Whitworth 
agenda approved.

Review and approval of August 7, 2018 Minutes – B. Lenz
Motion to approve with no changes – R. Rippee; motion seconded – L. Whitworth
minutes approved.

Progress Monitoring Update – G. Barney, PowerPoint Presentation, This DATA FUN @ MSB!
•	Questions we need to be asking
o	What difference are we making for the students we serve?
o	Are we giving our students a quality education?
o	What would one-year progress look like and how can we best measure that progress?
o	What are the objectives and how can we best track them?
o	How will we know when we’ve reached our goal?
o	How are we doing?
o	What areas need improvement?

•	Benefits
o	Better prepared to report to state school board and legislators who allocate our budget. 
o	Provide stronger data that clearly reflects improvement and progress in reaching specific goals. 
o	School wide data – not just for teachers anymore. Includes kitchen staff, residential, etc.
o	It’s a lot of work BUT, it’s workable!

•	Measureable Learning Objective (MLO)
o	Make it fun
o	Break it down
o	Chart it
•	Lots of creative ways to focus on and present data
•	Progress charts outside each classroom
•	Data posters displayed in a main area of the building
o	More open and conducive to help focus on specific issues
o	Follow up and follow through  

•	Residential Work Training/Work Experience Program
o	Brochure provided
o	More information to go live on internet at later date. Check with G. Barney for update.
o	How does this compare to SOAR? Students would benefit from both programs. Residential Work Training/Work Experience Program is focused on work training and work experience for students while SOAR focused more in the area of living independently. 
o	What ages are eligible to participate? Preferably 15 and older. However, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) offers this program year round and accepts applicants as young as 14.
o	Issue:  When you put the information out there, please keep in mind that you are not only working for the students, but the parents as well. 

Blind Skills Specialists (BSS) November Reports - Jessica Hall, Blind Skills Specialist, Northeast region, Truman State University; Jane Herder, Outreach Director, Deafblind Project Director, Missouri School for the Blind; DJ Butcher, Blind Skills Specialist, Southwest region, Missouri State University
o	Greatest areas of need?
•	Qualified, certified, vision specialists 
•	Costs, accessibility, and availability issues related to training for TVI’s –for example, issues related to childcare and extended periods of time away from family for training
•	Familiarizing teachers more with deaf/blind student needs and services
•	Assistive technology—just keeping up with the changes
•	Better reporting is needed from First Steps
o	
What is working?
•	Improving and increasing contact, response and follow up with the districts. If goal not being met, triggers discussion with school supervisors on how we can rethink the goal and get the numbers back up
•	Improving the dissemination of information and resources
•	Knowing how and where to access information about services that best addresses the individual child’s needs
•	Finding more ways to offer direct services
•	Telehealth models
•	WebEx
•	Skype 
•	Go to Meeting
•	Making an effort to be more solid in our qualifications with more professional development and team effort
•	Online platform for professional development. Another link with current projects being used to gather resources online.
•	Share, support and populate with invaluable information. Send us your links
•	Working to improve contact using Listserv with follow up
•	Pushing for a professional development library catalog 
•	Create a product library making materials that outreach programs currently own more accessible
•	Quarterly newsletters with monthly resources going to parent advisors
•	Professional Development Listserv (currently 572 professionals)
•	Group emails to parents providing a variety of resources (Medicaid, Web Conferences, collaboration projects among agencies)
•	Partner with RSB and Lighthouse on the web and get more information out

o	What isn’t working? 
•	Current vision specialists are serving under provisional and are not fully certified
•	Lack of follow through (finishing what was started)
•	Rural areas not seeing viable solutions to the TVI shortage and need for services
•	Other means of direct service (see above) takes away from the in-person contact with the student
•	We currently do not have a Blind Skills Specialist in Outreach
 
Missouri Blind Literacy Study for November 2018 - Kristina Cannon, planner, OSE/DESE
•	Biggest change? Format.  
•	Goal is to make information more accessible for the blind and visually impaired. 
•	Feedback encouraged.
•	Eligibility requirement details can be found in Appendix A of MOBLS.
•	The following is a representation of the twelve data elements, data source(s) and 2018 report findings.
o	Data Element 1 - Methodology of the study
•	Three main data sources 
•	American Printing House, Inc.(APH);
•	Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) 
o	Blind Literacy Survey
•	Department of Social Services (DSS), Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB).

o	
Data Element 2 – Percentage of students who read various reading mediums
•	Data source - APH
•	Findings – NOTE: This is the first place you will see decrease in number of total students due to the reporting changes implemented by APH.
•	Non-readers accounted for 33.8% of the total students which is slightly higher than the 2016-17 national average. (32.7%)
•	Increase in use of large print and screen enlargement which has led to gradual increase in percent of visual readers over past five years.

o	Data Element 3 – Number of eligible students with a visual impairment
•	Data sources - DESE MOSIS counts; APH
•	Findings – NOTE - Reporting requirements differ between DESE and APH
•	DESE – Number of blind and visually impaired students ages 3-preK5 and 5-21 in public school decreased 3.4% from last year.
o	Total number of blind/visually impaired students ages 3-21 decreased 2.4% from last year.
•	APH – Slight increase in number of blind and visually impaired students ages 3-21 in 2016-17.
o	Numbers decreased by 11.2% this year – again, due to the reporting changes implemented by APH.
 
o	Data Element 4 – Number of students reading using braille, large print and standard print by grade level 
•	Data source - APH
•	Findings - 
•	7.5% of students use braille
•	Most commonly used reading medium – pre-reader (36.2%) 
•	Least commonly used reading medium – optical devices (2.1%)
•	Non-readers account for 27.7% and pre-readers 36.2%

o	Data Element 5 – Number of braille-reading students who no longer receive instruction in braille, but who receive braille materials and services.
•	Data source - DESE – Blind Literacy Survey
•	Findings – 
•	Total number of braille readers (receiving instruction in braille and not receiving instruction in braille)
•	Percent of non-instructional students decreased 11.1% down from 12.6% in 2016-17.

o	Data Element 6 – Number of certified vision teachers of teachers of the blind and visually impaired. NOTE – 56 districts in 2017-18 and 64 in 2016-17 had at least one teacher of the visually impaired.
•	Data source - DESE MOSIS counts and certification data
•	Findings – Number of teachers of the blind and visually impaired decreased by three teachers from 2016-17.

o	Data Element 7 – Number of students who use a slate and stylus and/or other devices to write braille.
•	Data source - DESE via the BLS (braille readers); APH (braille and visual readers)
•	Findings – Number and percent of braille writers show slight decrease from 2016-17.

o	
Data Element 8 – Number of students in general, itinerant or resource, and self-contained classroom settings, as well as, placed in separate educational facilities by grade level.
•	Data source – DESE MOSIS counts
•	Findings – 
•	54.1% of blind/visually impaired students are inside regular classroom more than 79% of time
•	Out of 482 school age placements, 91.9% are in public schools and 8.1% are at Missouri School for the Blind (MSB).

o	Data Element 9 – Graduation rate for blind/visually impaired students compared to non-disabled students. NOTE – Findings are based on small numbers so slight changes in the data causes a dramatic shift in percentage of increase/decrease.
•	Data source – DESE MOSIS counts
•	Findings – 4-year graduation rate for blind/visually impaired students increased by 16.67% from last year.

o	Data Element 10 – Number of students who dropped out or who did not meet graduation requirements but were terminated from formal education having reached the maximum age of 21.
•	Data source – DESE MOSIS counts
•	Findings – 
•	One blind/visually impaired student dropped out in the 2017-18 school year.
•	No students were terminated having reached age 21.

o	Data Element 11 – Number of students who received services from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB)
•	Data source – RSB
•	Findings – Number to students receiving services remained stable.

o	Data Element 12 – Number of students referred to RSB by a school district.
•	Data source – RSB
•	Findings – Number of referrals increased 30.3% from last year due to two things:
•	Increased partnering activities; and
•	Heightened awareness of RSB programs and services.

DESE Update – S. Barr
•	Budget
o	State – Board-approved proposed budget submitted to Office of Budget and Management to begin development process for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019.  
o	Federal - No changes. Flat funding.

•	State Board of Education/Commissioner 
o	Governor added four members to State Board of Education filling seven of the eight available seats. Appointees are Kimberly Bailey, Raymore; Donald Claycomb, Linn; Carol Hallquist, Kansas City; and Peter Herschend, Branson. 
o	The Board is currently searching for a permanent Commissioner. The application/nomination process concluded on October 19. Four applicants/nominees have been selected for Interviews scheduled for November 19.
o	The next meeting of the State Board is December 6.  
•	
Part B State Plan
o	A draft of the Part B State Plan State Administrative Rules, with proposed changes, was set out for public comment last year. However, this process was disrupted due to not enough members on the State Board of Education at that time to form a quorum. 
o	Due to the length of time that passed with no further actions being taken with the initial draft, the process must be restarted. Though we can benefit from the comments initially submitted during that time, we are beginning the process again and expect to post the recommended changes in late November with the final changes being put in place on July 1, 2019. 

•	IMACS2
o	The Office of Special Education has released new version of the compliance monitoring system.
o	After agency review, the number of indicators to which districts are required to respond has been reduced. 

•	State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report
o	State’s report card - met requirements with no areas identified for concern.
o	State Systemic Improvement Plan received no request for changes.
•	Process begins again with report to OSEP for indicators 1-16 due February 1, 2019 and indicator 17 due April 1, 2019. 
o	The Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) will review and make recommendations related to the draft Annual Performance Report on December 7. 
 
•	Alternate Assessment Participation
o	New statutes under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) now limit the participation of students on the state’s alternate assessment to 1% of total test takers. Missouri’s alternate assessment (MAP-A) is embedded in the Dynamic Learning Maps. Data indicate many districts have reduced their participation rates but the state is still likely to exceed the 1% participation level by a fractional amount (expected to be around 1.09%). Preliminary data indicate the state may exceed the 1% next year so anticipating a request for renewal of the waiver for this year. All districts exceeding the 1% cap were required to submit explanations related to what they intend to do in training, professional development, review of policies/procedures and IEPs to ensure they do not exceed the 1% cap this year. The process provides some leeway for small districts (fewer than 300 test takers) due to small “N” size.  

•	Significant Disproportionality
o	In late June, the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announced they were delaying the implementation of their significant disproportionality regulations for two years. They intend to use this time to review and possibly amend the regulations. Currently implementing requirements using state approved methods and notifying districts that might be identified under the new rules, if no changes occur.

•	Concerns from the field:  Based on email received from Kevin Hollinger, Francis Howell School District dated 11/1/2018. Have invited Mr. Hollinger to attend the February 5th meeting for further discussion with members in attendance, 
o	MAP release items being available in Braille and in UEB including any graphics
“As of last year, braille was not available and each district is left to create the practice test themselves - which likely does not occur or does not occur to the same level of formatting as the actual MAP.”
o	DESE Response
DESE is in the process of converting Grade 3-8 items to UEB and expects a release by January 2019. DESE will tackle End-of-Course (EOC) items next.

o	Accommodations for the MAP test 
“There are kids everywhere using refreshable braille displays for ALL classroom work and district tests and assessments. Similarly, many kids use ZoomText or another screen magnification programs daily, as well just as kids are also using JAWS, NVDA or VoiceOver for screen reading. As of last year, these kiddos cannot take the MAP in a format they are familiar with and in equity with peers.” 
o	DESE Response
A survey from a few years ago indicated no districts were using refreshable braille. DESE will conduct the survey again to get updated information and will make adjustments based on the updated information. Assessments should accommodate many of the magnification programs but districts must have the devices or capabilities to use those specific features.

2019 Sub Committees: Membership and Chairpersons - B Lenz
•	Academic and Vocational Services: Chairperson, L. Whitworth – No report
•	Children’s Vision Summit: Chairman, I. Shadrick 
o	November 2, 2019; Alternate date – Saturday, October 19
o	Hilton Garden Inn, Columbia, MO – have yet to discuss contract terms, bids, etc.
o	Important to note that a base agenda is needed as soon as possible for RSB approval to fund CVS 2019.
o	Suggestions of activities for CVS
•	Archery for Low Vision and Blind – L. Whitworth
•	Contacted coaches for Calvary High School Archery Team who are looking forward to opportunity to present at CVS. 
o	Convene a conference call for Vision Summit committee before next scheduled meeting in February.
 
•	Rules: Chairperson, L. Coccovizzo – No report
•	Student Achievement: Chairperson, B. Lenz – No report

BTF New Members/Vacancies/Updates – B. Lenz
•	L. Coccovizzo opened discussion regarding how to best address the current student vacancies on the BTF. 
o	Issues faced by students are
•	Transportation;
•	time away from classroom; and
•	student participation/feedback
o	Additional questions to be addressed on this subject are 
•	How far after transition can the student qualify as a member? College Age.
•	At what point during the meeting would it be most beneficial to allow the student time to introduce themselves and discuss student related topics/issues?
•	Would a conference call be the best option? 
•	What portion of the meeting agenda could we dedicate solely to the student?
•	Would they be included in all scheduled meetings?
o	B. Lenz suggested that the Academic and Vocational services committee arrange a conference call to be headed by L. Coccovizzo to brainstorm this issue and come up with a proposal that can be discussed during the February meeting. 

2019 Nomination/Election of Officers – B. Lenz
•	Chairperson
o	J. Lenk made motion to nominate L. Whitworth; R. Rippee seconded motion; L. Whitworth accepted the nomination; motion carried.
•	Vice Chairperson
o	L. Whitworth made motion to nominate L. Coccovizzo; R. Rippee seconded motion; L. Coccovizzo accepted the nomination; motion carried 
•	Secretary
o	L. Whitworth made motion to nominate. R. Rippee for a second term as Secretary; J. Lenk seconded motion; R. Rippee accepted nomination; motion carried.

2019 Meeting Dates/Location/Catering – B Lenz
•	Meeting Dates
*Initially proposed February 12, 2019. Later determined to be a state holiday. Discussed with newly elected chairperson, L. Whitworth, meeting date changed to February 5, 2019. L. Whitworth notified members of the change via email dated 11/9/2018.
o	*February 5, 2019.
o	May 7, 2019
o	August 6, 2019
o	November 12, 2019
•	Caterer
o	J. Lenk made motion to continue to use McAlisters Deli for lunch catering. L. Whitworth seconded motion; motion carried 
•	Location
o	Howerton State Office Building, Room 202*, 516 Howerton Ct., Jefferson City, MO 65109
o	*Due to date change, February meeting will take place in Room 201 of Howerton Building. 

Current Workshops/Events – B Lenz
Sept. 19	Welcoming Students with Visual Impairment to Your School: Communication and Emerging Language for Students with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss and Multiple Impairments Workshop, Missouri School for the Blind, St. Louis, Jane Herder, Outreach Coordinator 
Sept 23-25	MoCASE Annual Special Education Administrators’ Conference, Special Education 
	Administrators, Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach.
Oct. 2	Alternative Active Learning Spaces: Use of Vests, gloves, belts, etc. Cost $40.00. D.J. Butcher, Blind Skills Specialist, Springfield.  https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=11005&H=1&I=2824983 
Oct. 4-6	APH Annual Meeting, Ex-Officio Officers, Louisville, Kentucky
Oct. 11-12	Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers Symposium, National Federation of the Blind Institute, Baltimore, MD. 
Nov 7-9	VIISA, Preschoolers, Session I, Chesterfield, MO, Jane Herder, Outreach Coordinator, Missouri School for the Blind 
Nov. 7-9	Hand In Hand Session I: Understanding Deafblindness, Nixa Public School District, Megan Burgess, Project Coordinator, Missouri Deafblind Technical Assistance Project
Dec. 4	Literacy with Students Who Are CVI: going slowly, going from Phase I to Phase 2 to Phase 3.   No Cost. D.J. Butcher, Blind Skills Specialist, Springfield.  https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=11005&H=1&I=2824986 

2019

Jan 24-25	Hand In Hand Session II: Understanding Deafblindness, Nixa Public School District, Megan Burgess, Project Coordinator, Missouri Deafblind Technical Assistance Project
Jan 31-Feb 2	International O&M Symposium, online, TSBVI
Feb. 6	Using iPad with a Switch-helpkidzlearn apps.  Cost $40.00. D.J. Butcher, Blind Skills Specialist, Springfield.  https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=11005&H=1&I=2824987 
Feb. 21-23	2019 Texas Symposium on Deafblindness Conference, Outreach Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Austin Rock Texas
Feb 24-25	National Deaf-Blind Summit, Austin, TX
Mar. 7-9	Young Years Conference, First Step Providers and Early Childhood Educators, Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach. 
Mar 20-22	VIISA, Preschoolers, Session II, Chesterfield, MO, Jane Herder, Outreach Coordinator, Missouri School for the Blind 
Apr. 2	Creating Routes and Instructions Using Book Apps (book creator, story creator, pictello). Cost $40.00. D.J. Butcher, Blind Skills Specialist, Springfield.  https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=11005&H=1&I=2824990 
Apr. 4-5	Hand In Hand Session III: Understanding Deafblindness, Nixa Public School District, Megan Burgess, Project Coordinator, Missouri Deafblind Technical Assistance Project
Apr 8-10	Principals of Schools for the Blind, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Consortium, St. Louis, MO
June 26-29	Midwest Deaf-Blind Transition Institute, Minnesota, Missouri Deaf-Blind Project
Jun 26-28	INSITE, Chesterfield MO, Melissa Moore, Lead Parent Advisor, Missouri School for the Blind
July 24-26	INSITE, Chesterfield MO, Melissa Moore, Lead Parent Advisor, Missouri School for the Blind

Contact: Jane Herder, 314-633-1582, or jane.herder@msb.dese.mo.gov  regarding Outreach/ Missouri School for the Blind and Missouri Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project or Melissa Moore, 314-633-1591, or melissa.moore@msb.dese.mo.gov regarding MoSPIN

Contact: Jessica Hall, 660-785-7428 or jhall@truman.edu dates to be determined for workshops in Columbia, Missouri.

Contact: DJ Butcher, 417-836-8872 or butcher2@missouristate.edu regarding these additional opportunities: 
Fall focus: Google Chrome Extensions
VI PRO Group Springfield, 2nd Friday of each month at Perkins at 2:00 p.m.
VI PRO Group Kansas City, 1st Thursday of each month at Alphapointe. Meeting time TBD 
VI PRO Group Columbia, 2nd Tuesday of each month at Ann Gentry Hawkins School at 3:30 p.m.

Additional items of interest submitted during meeting:
Lighthouse for the Blind, Trenton, MO office is currently planning to restart chapter of AER in Missouri. Meeting is Monday, November 12, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. in St. Louis. Call 314-423-4333 and dial 170 and conference # 46689 to participate. 

MMEA Statewide Conference (Music Braille) will be at the end of January 24-26, 2019. 

National Braille Readers (NFB) for students K-12 December 1, 2018 through February 1, 2019. Go to https://nfbmo.org/ for more information.

Agenda items for next scheduled meeting - Tuesday, February 12, 2019
•	Vision Summit committee conference call follow up report to members. 
•	Academic and Vocational services committee conference call follow up report with suggestion regarding student vacancies/participation in BTF meetings.
•	Topics of concern from the field: Kevin Hollinger, Francis Howell School District 
•	Finalize planning for visit to Center for Braille and Narration in May 2019.
•	Finalize a proposal that I. Shadrick can present to RSB for funding approval for CVS.

Motion to adjourn - Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.