Professor's research highlighted as part of PACE policy briefs addressing special education needs in California

The PACE (Policy Analysis for California Education) Policy Research Panel on Special Education has released a series of policy briefs summarizing key findings from the project Organizing Schools to Serve Students with Disabilities.

Distinguished Professor George Farkas's article - "Achievement Gaps and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support" - is one of the policy briefs that addresses practices and policies that would improve services and outcomes for students with disabilities in California.

Farkas is a social scientist who studies achievement gaps, educational inequality, early childhood education, and afterschool programs.

​Farkas will be participating in a webinar to discuss his research on March 10, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Registration information. 

​Abstract

This brief examines California’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), which is a framework designed to identify and assist students performing below grade level. MTSS involves at least three tiers of support; Tier 2 includes personalized assistance. Unfortunately, Tier 2 services are not adequately resourced so it is not surprising that California students rank only 38th in the nation in reading and math. To move higher, it is important that the state provide categorical funding for Tier 2 services. California teachers already have a full-time job. To successfully implement MTSS, they need additional Tier 2 personnel (e.g., paraprofessional instructional aides and trained clerical staff to manage student progress monitoring) to assist them.

​Full Text