“The Colorado Department of Education provided the San Luis Valley BOCES an opportunity to improve literacy across our 14 member districts through an initiative called Increasing Achievement and Growth Grant: Literacy for All Students with Disabilities. We decided to create a partnership with Lindamood-Bell. This initiative has allowed us to provide personnel with professional development in research-validated programs. We have been able to provide mentoring, coaching, support for students and staff. We have been given a common goal and process for success.

The results from our first year implementation showed we increased proficiency rate for students with disabilities on state assessments in reading by 7.5% of the population. As an administrator, it was amazing to see the students grow and the teachers receive the professional development and coaching supports they need to be successful. Now that makes me feel like a good instructional leader. I am finally giving to staff and students the tools to grow.”

Nita McAuliffe is the  Executive Director of Exceptional Student Services for the San Luis Valley BOCES, which oversees special education services for their 14 member districts in the San Luis Valley in Colorado.  The BOCES is currently in its last year of a 4-year initiative to provide professional development for its faculty in delivering quality, intensive literacy intervention for their special education students and students at-risk of requiring special education services.