Access, Intervention, and Student Success

This course focuses on innovation and change in organizations in response to environmental and technological induced disruptions they bring to organizations or systems. Organizational change theories and models, futurist literature, and major world trends in innovation that impact sustainable change efforts in education, health care, social enterprises, for- profit and not-for-profit organizations, and related disciplines are examined. Topics include models and strategies in anticipating, creating, and managing change; collaboration; overcoming resistance to change; and creativity and innovations. Students will investigate applications and practices of organizational change across a diversity of fields and industries such as business, technology, government, non-profits, and education.

Administrators and leaders must know compliance obligations related to the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The landmark Supreme Court Decisions in Special Education and the common mistakes that lead districts into litigation will be discussed. Current issues related to service delivery, fiscal compliance, work with parents and paraprofessionals, assessment, accountability, and inclusive education will be studied.

This course will guide leaders in building and maintaining social emotional support for learners with special needs (gifts or disability) in education, home, and community settings. Best practices for data-based decision making, School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) and Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) designed to enhance the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for all learners will be studied.

This course develops students' skill set in the use of qualitative methods for the study of social research. Students will learn and understand the theoretical basis of qualitative methods and how these methods are applied toward the successful leadership of schools, school districts, and other organizations. The course covers the collection, coding, analysis, and reporting of qualitative data.

This course provides students with exposure and skill development in the use of mixed methods, both qualitative and quantitative, for the study of social research. Students will learn and understand the theoretical underpinnings of mixed methods and the application of these methods for effective leadership in dynamic global settings. The course approaches conducting research and the understanding of research as a key competency for those who will successfully lead schools and organizations in the 21st century. Special attention is given to validity, reliability, variables, constructs and sampling. Students will create research instruments, such as surveys, as a product of this course.

This course will provide students with an overview of quantitative data analysis. Included in this course are foundational knowledge of univariate (centrality, variance, and frequencies) and multivariate analysis (chi square, ANOVA, and linear correlations), levels of data/variables, sample size calculation, codebook creation, and the application of these skills towards understanding data. The course emphasizes utilizing quantitative analysis to promote storytelling that is both visual (e.g., graphs and tables) and narrative (e.g., APA-style statistical language). Students will participate in hands-on learning labs applying statistical analysis tools to real data sets and become skilled in the analysis, interpretation, and consumer use of statistical analysis. A software fee is required. No math skills are required above fifth grade level math.