Illinois ASPIRE
llinois ASPIRE (Alliance for School-based Problem-solving and
Intervention Resources in Education) is a coordinated, regionalized
system of personnel development designed to increase the capacity
of school districts to provide early intervening services, aligned
with the general education curriculum, to at-risk students and
students with disabilities. This system consists of four regional
Illinois ASPIRE Centers established by the Illinois State Board of
Education, and each is responsible for activities to support the
following project objectives:
- Deliver standardized research-based professional development in
Problem-Solving, including Response to Intervention (RTI);
scientifically-based reading instruction; and standards-aligned
instruction and assessment through:
- A coaching model to targeted demonstration districts in each
region,
- Large scale trainings throughout each region, and
- Ongoing technical assistance to schools.
- Increase the participation of parents in decision making.
- Incorporate the professional development content into
Institution of Higher Education (IHE) general and special education
preservice and graduate curricula.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of project activities.
Illinois ASPIRE is operated under a State Personnel Development
Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special
Education & Rehabilitation Services. All funding ($1.85 million
annually) is from federal sources.