The purpose of the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), as a system, is to increase the capacity of districts to implement and sustain the use of evidence-based practices addressing Kansas State Department of Education Special Education and Title Services (KSDE SETS) identified priority areas and practices. This professional learning and technical assistance system comes out of federal requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) which both require the state education agency to provide direct support to districts addressing these special populations. The overall goal is to improve the quality of education and outcomes for students who receive Title services and students with disabilities. These students are general education students first. They spend a majority their time in general education settings and receive core instruction from general education staff. Therefore, many of the supports provided by TASN target instructional methods and approaches that occur in the general education classroom.
VISION
To provide coordinated evidence-based technical assistance to Kansas school districts is coordinated, based on sound data, and leads to improved outcomes for children and their families.
MISSION
TASN supports Kansas districts’ systematic implementation of evidence-based practices by establishing and maintaining communication and work alignment among all technical assistance providers in the network.
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
TASN is an evidence-based operational framework KSDE SETS uses to systemically deploy resources and direct and indirect supports for improvement planning to districts across the state. The system uses implementation science to guide how improvement plan development and implementation support is provided to district staff. All KSDE SETS staff and internal and external grant projects, contractors and/or other state agencies funded (partially or fully) have a role in TASN.
The role of the system and the actions of all providers within the system are focused on providing coordinated technical assistance resulting in the development and/or implementation of a district improvement plan that results in sustained practices that positively impact student success. The improvement plan developed during the provision of technical assistance is not a specific form. It can be any implementation plan, including improvement or corrective action plans associated with any accountability, accreditation, or improvement system that results in the creation of a set of coordinated actions for the expressed purpose of building, supporting, and sustaining evidence-based instructional practices for the expressed benefit of students who receive Title services and students with disabilities.
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