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APH Field Services & Federal Quota Info

Responses to the Report of the Educational Services Advisory Committee to the Trustees of the American Printing House for the Blind for Fiscal Year 2003

The committee recommends that APH:

1. Make available to EOTs, upon request, promotional materials already developed.
   
   

   Status: Implemented

   Brief Clarification: We developed a web-based catalog order form specifically for the use of Ex Officio Trustees and their staff members, located under the APH Field Services and Federal Quota Info link.

   Contact: Scott Blome

   
   
   
2. Review the following census issues with the intent to:
   • assist with identification of home schooled students by contact with the National Association of Home Schooling and providing results to the EOTs.
   • clarify grade placement categories by repositioning the phrase "classes for nonacademic students" in the Other Registrants category.
   • allow students in infant and preschool programs to be counted in the reading media category that is most appropriate for the individual child.
   • make reporting of additional reading media mandatory and include these data in future reports.
   
   
   

   Status: Implemented

   Brief Clarification: Home schooling was addressed, for the first time, in the 2004 Federal Quota instructions as follows: In order for blind students enrolled in home school programs to prove eligible for registration in the Federal Quota Program, the home school program should meet guidelines and/or procedures in effect within each individual state.

   Wording in the "other registrants" category was changed to reflect the ESAC recommendation.

   Infants and preschoolers may now be identified by appropriate reading media when known.

   Additional reading media category is now mandatory.

   Contact: Janie Humphries/Bob Brasher

   
   
   
3. Present the APH organizational chart for discussion at the EOT formal luncheon in October.
   
   

   Status: Implemented

   Contact: Bob Brasher

   
   
   
4. Provide additional SRS training opportunities by piloting tutorial training sessions on the website.
   
   

   Status: Under Consideration

   Brief Clarification: Field Services has dedicated time to developing a hands-on SRS training opportunity at APH to encourage the people in each state who gather and enter the census information, as well as order products, to visit APH and learn how those products and services are provided. Participants share and relate census successes and issues, and ask questions of APH staff members and each other. Through these interactive discussions the census process is strengthened for all involved.

   The SRS Program will have to be significantly updated in the near future. The funds needed to develop a web-based training session would be better spent after these changes are made, and we will give further consideration to a web-based tutorial at that time.

   Contact: Janie Humphries/Karen Blaker

   
   
   
5. Pursue expanding the distribution of print and electronic versions of the APH News and other related information vital to the field.
   
   

   Status: Implemented

   Brief Clarification: In September of 2003 the APH News began nationwide electronic distribution to over 2,000 interested APH customers. Additional addresses are added monthly.

   Contact: Bob Brasher

   
   
   
6. In light of the recently revised APH mission statement, APH develop a long range plan that guides the future direction of educational services and products.
   
   

   Status: Implementation in Progress

   Brief Clarification: While the mission statement of APH has been refined from time to time, the mission has remained essentially unchanged since APH was founded in 1858. That is, APH produces products for blind and visually impaired persons.

   APH's planning process includes an annual operational plan, tactical plans every 3-4 years, and a strategic plan every 10-12 years.

   The strategic plan guides APH's future direction of providing products. The annual operational plan concentrates on benchmark goals based on key business indicators from the strategic plan. The tactical plans are proactive, improvement-oriented instruments which cover two- to three-year periods.

   Operations of individual departments remain flexible, are supportive of APH's mission of providing products, and are guided by progress toward the benchmark goals of the annual operational plans. Issues related to departmental process improvement are addressed during the annual budget process and can be addressed through tactical plans.

   Contact: Tuck Tinsley

   
   
   
7. Expand the charge of the Accessible Tests Department to emphasize the accessibility of student practice materials, teacher manuals, and teacher instructions for test administration.
   
   

   Status: Implemented

   Brief Clarification: The updated goal of Accessible Tests Dept. is to provide tests, test preparation and practice tests, test administration manuals, and other test related materials in high quality, accessible media in a timely manner; to promote the inclusion of blind and visually impaired individuals during test development; and to enhance the test performance of blind and visually impaired individuals through research, education, and communication.

   Contact: Debbie Willis

   
   
   
8. APH establish a program that uses experienced Ex Officio Trustees as mentors for new Trustees through email, telephone contacts, and opportunities for personal connections during the new EOT's first annual meeting.
   
   

   Status: Implementation in Progress

   Brief Clarification: New EOTs were introduced to "seasoned" trustees at a special breakfast event during the 2003 annual meeting, as the start of a mentorship program for new trustees. Additional strategies will be developed with ESAC during the 2004 spring meeting.

   Contact: Janie Humphries

   
   
   

©2004, American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.