Systems Foundation

Every system needs a solid foundation built for sustainability so it can adjust as needed to meet the ebb and flow of change in regards to demographics, finances, legislative and community needs. At the heart of the systems foundation, are:

Communication
Collaboration
Collective Responsibility

These three C's are necessary because creating systems foundation requires a District Level Problem Solving Team that will analyze the Data that includes multiple data points and informational resources.

This image represents the many layers needed to ensure sustainability for the MTSS Framework. The social and emotional learning, academic needs and behavior supports are in place for ALL is the heart of every layer. Collaborative Culture & Climate, Effective Teaching/Learning Practices, Assessments, Data Based Decision Making can only happen if Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Professional Preparation/Continuous Learning surrounds it. This layer can only be in place if the systems surrounding it are sustainable, aligned and integrated. These can only be defined if we are committed to providing prevention, enrichment and intervention for all students so they are prepared for success in College, Career or the Military.

This team will utilize the Data Based Decision Making Process to design and implement a system which they will then Progress Monitor to make changes as necessary.

Below are topics that need to be considered when developing your systems foundations.

School Safety

What is School Safety? School Safety is every system involved that protects the safety, security and mental well being of the staff and scholars. School Safety is actually comprised of multiple components. Each component as important as the next one. Topics under School Safety include, but are not limited to:
- Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method
- Youth Mental Health First Aide
- Emergency Operation Plan
- Threat Assessment
College, Career, Military Readiness (CCMR)

Every child should graduate from high school ready for their post-secondary life regardless of what "label" they have tagged to their name when they leave the PreK-12 school system. As educators, we do not know what path our scholars will take when the leave the safety of our schools. Life paths have a funny way of diverting from the road map that was originally mapped out. The College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) layer is the one that should be addressed for all students and should be started with scholars and their families as soon as possible.

“Every child, prepared for success in college, a career or the military.”
— The Texas Education Agency
How do we promote Culturally Responsive Education? This is an important layer that needs to be addressed in the Systems Foundation and should be considered as Universal Support.

"When we speak of the achievement gap, we include the disparities that have been well documented and exist among cultural and socio-economic groups. But we do not stop there. We also speak to the achievement gap of children and youth who are locked in insulated school systems that provide them with a sanitized curriculum that shelters them from learning about the rich history, literature, art and music of people who are culturally different from them."
— "Culturally Proficient Coaching; 2007"
Delores Lindsey, Richard Martinez, Randall Lindsey
Foster Care

The Texas Education Agency has provided the Guiding Principals found below.

"Collaboration between the education and child welfare system is an important component to improve the education outcomes of students who experience foster care. The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (PDF) encourages coordination between education and child welfare.

The guiding principles below assist in guidance of successful collaborative and coordinated efforts amongst education, child welfare and community partners:
- Guiding Principle # 1: Children and youth in care are entitled to remain in the same school when feasible.
- Guiding Principle # 2: Children and youth in care experience seamless transitions between schools.
- Guiding Principle # 3: Young children in care receive services and interventions to be ready to learn.
- Guiding Principle # 4: Children and youth in care have the opportunity and support to fully participate in all developmentally appropriate activities and all aspects of the education experience.
- Guiding Principle # 5: Children and youth in care have supports to prevent school dropout, truancy, and disciplinary actions, and to reengage in the education experience.
- Guiding Principle # 6: Children and youth in care are involved, empowered, and prepared to self-advocate in all aspects of their education.
- Guiding Principle # 7: Children and youth in care have consistent adult support to advocate for and make education decisions.
- Guiding Principle # 8: Children and youth in care have support to enter and complete post-secondary education. " - The Texas Education Agency's Foster Care & Student Success - Collaboration

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