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Meet the The PROGRESS Center (Promoting Rigorous Outcomes and Growth by Redesigning Educational Services for Students with Disabilities.) After opening in November 2019 under the leadership of Dr. Tessie Bailey and Dr. Rebecca Zumeta Edmonds, the PROGRESS Center is the newest member of the Office of Special Education Programs Technical Assistance Network.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs and housed at the American Institutes for Research, the Center’s goal is to provide information, resources, tools, and technical assistance services to support local educators and leaders (kindergarten through transition age) in developing and implementing high-quality educational programs in public, private, and charter schools. Their approach centers on developing a robust knowledge base about what works, partnering with a select group of local educators to build capacity for high-quality programs, and providing a variety of resources through their website. They aim to ensure all students with disabilities have access to free appropriate public education which allows them to make progress and meet challenging goals, consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017).
With support from partners like the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Council of Chief State School Officers, Evergreen Evaluation & Consulting, as well as 10 distinguished advisors with decades of experience in Special Education, the PROGRESS Center brings together a team with extensive expertise in evidence-based practices, special education law and policy, and engagement with educators, families, and leaders. Within their first year, the Center created over 60 new resources and tools, reviewed 57 states or territory websites for a state policy scan, developed 19 new products, and reached over 6,900 users on their website.
Learn more about The PROGRESS Center by checking out their website and keep up with their work by following their Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube channel.
