Systemic Change

The  New Jersey Inclusion Project (NJIP), managed by the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE), is a comprehensive endeavor designed to facilitate systemic change and promote inclusive education in K-12 schools across New Jersey.  NJIP aims to empower educators, administrators, students, and parents by providing tools, resources, and collaboration with experts to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment so all students can be served in their least restrictive environments (LRE). This application is for the three-year partnership between your school and an NJCIE Inclusion Facilitator funded through NJIP. The information gathered through this application will help assess readiness and willingness to make significant changes in placements and practices at a school-based level. 

 
 

Key Features of Systemic Change Facilitation:

If schools are selected to participate in this longer-term partnership, NJCIE’s regionally-based Inclusion Facilitators will provide three years of implementation of science-based, systemic change facilitation. The ultimate goal of this systemic change process is to support schools in their improvement of school-based LRE data and practices that support sustainable and effective inclusive school communities. This process includes support in the following areas: 

  • Creating Awareness and Commitment to Improving LRE Data

  • Collaborative Decision-Making

  • Fostering Greater Awareness of Curriculum and Instructional Adaptations

  • Building Capacity for Individualized Support Using a Trainer of Trainer Model

  • Cultivating an Inclusive School Culture

  • Allocating Necessary Resources and Inclusive Scheduling

Key Responsibilities of Partnering Schools: 

  • Developing and allocating time and resources for the work of the school-based implementation team, which will include monthly meetings and other activities integral to the systemic change facilitation process.

  • Allocating time and resources for the school-based team to work with the overall school staff in large and small groups to gather information related to current functioning and to build understanding, knowledge, and best practices around inclusive education. 

  • Assist NJCIE’s Inclusion Facilitator with gathering and interpreting various sources of data throughout NJIP (e.g., LRE data, survey data, etc.). 

  • Creating opportunities for best practices in inclusive education to be woven into other current endeavors at the school. 

  • Selecting and supporting a school-based liaison (or two) to help build internal capacity to support an inclusive school community to ensure work done is sustainable over time. 

  • Ensuring that all stakeholders in the school have an active voice in the systemic change facilitation process

  • Advocating for inclusive education within their school and district by encouraging open dialogue, fostering a culture of inclusion, and working towards removing barriers to the development of a fully inclusive school community

  • Planning and implementing changes in student's placement so all students are serviced in their LRE at the conclusion of the partnership with NJIP. 

  • Actively participating in the continuous improvement of NJIP by providing feedback, suggestions, and insights to enhance the relevance, process, resources, and usability of all endeavors. 

  • Frequently evaluating efforts to ensure the goals of the school are continuously aligned with NJIP and to determine readiness for change and continued engagement in the systemic change facilitation process. 

Questions? Please email team@njcie.org for assistance.