Welcome to the MITTIN Memo

This edition of the MITTIN Memo highlights the research, assessment and evaluation initiatives taking place to examine MITTIN's innovative curricular resources. Knowing the benefit of both internal and external evaluations, below you will read about two MITTIN assessment projects -- one is in partnership with Dr. Emily C. Bouck and her team of researchers from Michigan State University. They are using single case design studies to examine the efficacy of the MITTIN project; and the second is with a group of 20+ amazing educators who make up our Assessment Cohort PLC who are piloting and exploring standardized assessments to see which best captures student learning on MITTIN resources.

We are also fortunate to have partnership with Public Policy Associates who provides MITTIN with research, assessment and evaluation services.

Thank you for your interest in MITTIN as we continually strive toward excellence for the benefit of a learner's transition to independence.

Best Regards,

Dr. Derek Cooley,

MITTIN Committee Chair

Under the direction of Dr. Emily C. Bouck, Program Director of the Special Education Program in the College of Education at Michigan State University, MSU researchers are undertaking three single case design studies examining the efficacy of the MITTIN project. Working with a teacher and her students in Michigan, the researchers are evaluating the students for needed life skills corresponding to the skills available within the MITTIN modules, conducting baseline on independent accuracy in completing the steps of the task analysis for the targeted life skills, and beginning intervention for students. The researchers are finding positive results from students with the MITTIN modules. For example in the research study using the stove module, students are experiencing over 90% independent accuracy after about five intervention sessions. 

Public Policy Associates

Continually striving to implement research-based practices and evaluate our innovative digital and curricular resources, we value our partnership with Public Policy Associates (PPA) and the work of Daniel J. Quinn, Chief Strategy Officer, and Dirk F. Zuschlag, Senior Research Consultant. Dr. Quinn is a valued member of the MITTIN Leadership Team and brings with him prior experience as executive director for the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, and also as an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville and Oakland University. Dr. Zuschlag has supported MITTIN with literature reviews, survey construction and a variety of research roles involving research design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. We are fortunate that his experience prior to joining PPA includes serving as an education and labor law attorney, litigator, and counsel in private practice; being a high school teacher, teacher leader, and instructional coach/staff developer; and conducting doctoral research.

MAASE Welcomes Ben Hicks

Ben Hicks is the new Associate Executive Director of Training & Development for MAASE. Ben has extensive experience in not only special education administration, but a history with MITTIN, MAASE and other national and state associations. Ben was a former member of the MITTIN Committee and currently on the national CEC Board of Directors. He has also been the Michigan CEC President and was the chair of the Special Education Instructional Leadership Network (SEILN) last year. We are excited about his new role and look forward to his leadership and support of MITTIN.

2024 SLIP Winter Conference

SLIP has been supporting, guiding and offering their expertise to MITTIN from the very beginning. If you are interested in learning more about SLIP and networking with fabulous educators from around the state, join us for the annual SLIP Winter Conference supporting the needs of supervisors and teachers of low incidence programs and center-based programming. The SLIP Winter Conference will provide information regarding Essential Elements/Curriculum, Alternatives to Seclusion/Restraint, Building Capacity in Staff and other struggles/concerns for low incidence population staff. Attendees will learn from presenters, listen/discuss topics with other attendees, and then designated time to complete action items.