Has the time come to consider the merits of forming or joining a community of practice? CoP, for short. These are proliferating to improve professional practice across the spectrum of professions--groups of people with a common concern who unite to discuss, decide, and pool what they know. Typically, these exchanges take place online. More often than not, any given CoP will also compile a library of resources that members can tap into and use in their own locale.
This page on CoPs looks specifically at CoPs that have formed to improve special education practice and services to children with disabilities. We've divided the discussion and resource lists into two primary parts, as described below. Pick your poison!
What's the buzz about CoPs?
Find materials that explain what CoPs in general are and what they hope to achieve, as well as materials you can use to develop, guide, or strengthen your own community.
Up-and-running CoPs for joining.
Perhaps you're looking for a community that's already working on a topic or challenge of great interest to you. Is there one out there on your topic? Here's a quick list of what's up-and-running.
TAcommunities is the home for CoPs that are supported by the Technical Assistance and Dissemination (TA&D) Network and OSEP. TAcommunities provide resources and TA to states on issues that impact students with disabilities. Here's a quick list of the 10 CoPs.
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Exiting - Part B: Graduation, reduced dropout rates, increased graduation rates, plus transition to postsecondary education, employment, civic engagement, and adult community living.
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
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Identification - Part C: Identification of infants/toddlers, including homeless, foster care, wards of the State, and abused or neglected (CAPTA), or under 3 and affected by illegal substance abuse or prenatal drug exposure.
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Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)-Part B: LRE and access to the general education curriculum.
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Part C Settings-Services in Natural Environments
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Preschool LRE-Part B and 619: Promoting early childhood inclusion practices.
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Response to Intervention (RTI)
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Thinking Through Improvement: Teaches a process that allows participants to develop skills for analyzing and using data to make good decisions and improvements to existing programs.
Read all about these communities and join in the sharing at: www.tacommunities.org
These CoPs are focused on advancing policy and practice in four key areas:
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the intersections of NCLB and IDEA;
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school behavioral health services;
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interagency transition, and
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teacher quality (both general and special educators).
To that end, the Partnership has organized numerous CoPs that are worth delving into. Read all about what CoPs are available at:
http://www.sharedwork.org/
Teacher-to-Teacher Forum of the National Association of Special Education Teachers.
http://www.naset.org/teacherforum.0.html