National Evaluation of the IDEA Technical Assistance &amp; Dissemination Program. NCEE 2014-4000
Author: Daley,Tamara C.
Date: 2013-10-00
Type: Reports - Evaluative
Subjects: National Programs,National Surveys,Technical Assistance,Program Implementation,Program Effectiveness,Accessibility (for Disabled),Needs Assessment,State Agencies,Infants,Toddlers,Students,Participant Satisfaction,Interviews,Activities,Profiles,Institutional Characteristics,Intervention,Audits (Verification),Special Programs,Disabilities,Federal Programs,Federal Aid,Program Descriptions,Related Services (Special Education)

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Technical Assistance and Dissemination (TA&amp;D) Program is the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) primary vehicle for providing technical assistance (TA) to individuals and organizations responsible for serving children with disabilities and their families. The evaluation is part of the National Assessment of IDEA,  which was authorized under 664b of IDEA to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of programs and services supported under the law (IDEA, P.L. 108-446). This evaluation provides an independent description of the role that the TA&amp;D Program plays in supporting state agencies in their implementation of IDEA and also a systematic survey of needs for technical assistance related to IDEA across all states. This includes examining the needs of both state agencies that focus on infants and toddlers (Part C) and those that provide services to school-age students (Part B). In addition, the evaluation provides detailed information about technical assistance accessed by state staff for 16 specific topics identified by the study team, allowing for comparisons across topics as well as in-depth understanding of technical assistance needs within topics. The specific research questions guiding the evaluation are as follows: (1) What are the primary technical assistance activities of the TA&amp;D Program? (2) What are states' needs for technical assistance and to what extent are these needs addressed by TA&amp;D program centers or other sources? (3) To what extent are states satisfied with the products and services received from TA&amp;D Program centers? The TA&amp;D Program Evaluation was designed to assess state needs for technical assistance, state access of assistance from centers funded under the TA&amp;D Program, and detailed information about the national TA&amp;D Program centers that are identified as part of the TA&amp;D Network. The focus of the evaluation was on the activities of the topical and specialty centers, Regional Resource Centers, PEPNet centers, and state deaf-blind projects. The study team gathered data for the evaluation through surveys and interviews (see appendices C through J for data collection instruments). At the state level, data collection focused on the 2010-11 school year or (for Part C) fiscal year, with survey questions asking about state needs for and receipt of technical assistance during that year only. This period was selected to allow respondents to provide data on the most recent fully completed academic or service year. Centers were asked to provide descriptive data concerning their goals and activities from the beginning of their current grant, rather than for a specific year, since center activities are aligned with their funding cycle rather than a particular year and because funding cycles vary across the centers (see exhibit 1-6 for funding periods by center). Chapter 2 of this report presents findings for the evaluation by each research question, while chapter 3 presents a profile of each of the 27 TA&amp;D Program centers. Appendices A through P present data collection instruments and additional data tables for reference. Appended are: (1) State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicators for Part C (Infants and toddlers) and Part B (School age); (2) Relationship Between the TA&amp;D Program Evaluation, the TA&amp;D Program, and the TA&amp;D Network; (3) Grantee Survey; (4) Grantee Interview; (5) State Lead Survey (Part C-Infants and toddlers); (6) Part C (Infants and toddlers) Topic Area Descriptions; (7) State Lead Survey (Part B-School age); (8) Part B (School age) Topic Area Descriptions; (9) State Specialist Survey (Part C-Infants and toddlers); (10) State Specialist Survey (Part B-School age); (11) Technical Development of Topical Areas for Lead Survey and Grantee 
Survey/Interview; (12) Technical Development of Selected Topics for the State Topical Surveys; (13) Technical Development of Technical Assistance Intensity Variable; (14) Data for Territories and Outlying Areas; (15) Supplemental Data Tables; and (16) TA&amp;D Program Centers Specifically Identified by OSEP to Provide Technical Assistance to States on State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicators. (Contains 34 exhibits and 26 footnotes.) [This report was prepared for the Institute of Education Sciences under Contract ED-04-CO-0059/0032.]