Over the last few years, we’ve been honing our model, approach, and content to understand best how to support schools and districts in developing authentically inclusive communities and teams that meet the needs of all students. We set out to develop a logic model describing our interventions’ inputs, outputs, and outcomes. However, we soon realized that our whole school approach isn’t linear – schools and districts have different starting points and foci for improving special education, and context matters for the journey. But the goal is ultimately the same – to develop anti-racist schools, systems, and leaders.
A breakthrough came when we landed on a theory of change. A theory of change describes the path to a more preferred state. It describes the value-add of our services, the journey partners take, and the short, medium, and long-term outcomes that can be achieved. By outlining how we transform special education, schools and districts can (1) get a better understanding of their role in this work, (2) see how the specific supports we offer can lead to specific practices and outcomes for staff and students, and (3) draw out a sense of possibility from seemingly intractable, systemic inequalities that can, in fact, be transformed.
As we continue to develop our resources and support for partners, we invite you to join us in the work. Take a look at our theory of change and let us know what resonates most with you, what raises questions, and what has the potential to truly move the needle for students with diverse learning needs.
