Guide to Services - Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District

Traverse Bay Area
Intermediate School District
Guide to Services
leadership
collaboration
support
efficiency

Dear Friends,
The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) is pleased to offer our Guide to Services.
As the region’s educational service agency, we provide leadership and support to all public,
private and parochial schools within Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau
counties.
Our mission is to “enhance educational effectiveness” throughout the system of education within
the Traverse Bay area. TBAISD is committed to continually seeking the most effective ways to assist
school districts with delivering quality education for all students. We also establish centralized
and collaborative programs that provide significant cost savings to schools. We are proud of our
collaborative efforts with local districts and other constituents. We are truly a shared community
resource, focused on leading lifetime learning for the region.
We invite you to learn more about TBAISD by reading our Guide to Services.
We welcome your comments, input and ideas to support our continuous improvement
efforts.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Hill
Superintendent, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
Contents
TBAISD Overview ........................page 3
TBAISD Area Map.........................page 4
General Education.........................page 5
Business, Technology
and Administrative Services.....page 9
Special Education..........................page 11
Career and Technical Education....page 14
Contacts
Superintendent’s Office......(231) 922-6212
Special Education Office.....(231) 922-6228
General Education Office...(231) 922-6349
Career-Tech Center.............(231) 922-6273
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
P.O. Box 6020 •1101 Red Drive
Traverse City, MI 49696-6020
(231) 922-6200 • FAX: (231) 922-6270
www.tbaisd.k12.mi.us

Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
This guide is intended to assist you with
understanding the many programs and services
provided by TBAISD. Whether General Education,
Special Education, Career and Technical Education,
Business, Administrative, or Technology Services,
our goal is to be of assistance in increasing student
achievement and maximizing services on a regional
basis. Evaluation of our services is paramount to our
work. Please share this information with others in
your workplace and within your community.
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
(TBAISD) is one of Michigan’s 57 intermediate
school districts. Established by the Michigan
Legislature in 1962, Intermediate School Districts
(ISDs) act as regional education service agencies.
TBAISD serves public, private and parochial
schools within the five-county area of northwest
lower Michigan.
Our mandate is to support teaching and
learning by providing services, personnel, and
materials to local school districts. ISDs also keep
abreast of state and national educational mandates
and research. Schools look to ISDs to disseminate
information, seek funding, and provide training on
their behalf.
TBAISD provides targeted general education,
special education, career and technical education,
technology, and business/administrative services.
We also coordinate a number of programs and
services that are best delivered regionally, for cost,
size, efficiency and quality advantages.
We are proud of the role we play in the
educational progress of our area. TBAISD’s motto,
“Leading Lifetime Learning”, reflects our ongoing
commitment to providing educational opportunities
for all learners throughout our region. We invite
you to learn more about the Traverse Bay Area
Intermediate School District through this guide and
by visiting our website: www.tbaisd.k12.mi.us
It is the mission of TBAISD to Enhance
Educational Effectiveness. Our mission dictates
that we will:
• Provide organizational and instructional
leadership.
• Help local school districts capitalize on
change.
• Pursue continuous improvement in
teaching and learning.
• Work to make every learner succeed.
It is the vision of TBAISD to be a dynamic force
for quality education and lifetime learning.
In pursuit of this vision we will:
• Become skilled at using data.
• Take intelligent risks and nurture
inventiveness.
• Maintain organizational flexibility.
• Enhance our customer focus.
• Seek ideas that make schooling better.
TBAISD goals
• To capitalize on the educational
opportunities presented by our continually
changing environment.
• To identify and proactively support
instructional ideas that enhance student
achievement.
• To aggressively and collaboratively pursue
efficiency in the delivery of educational
services.
•To continue modeling and supporting datadriven
decision making.
•To effectively engage TBAISD staff and
constituents in the school improvement
process.
www.tbaisd.k12.mi.us
3

TBAISD
TBAISD departments share a common goal— to improve student achievement
across our region. Our services are aimed at assisting districts with answering
three essential questions for teaching and learning.
• What do students need to know and be able to do? - Curriculum
• How will we know they have learned it? - Assessment
• What strategies work for all students and what will we do for students who
have difficulty learning? - Instruction
TBAISD serves:
School districts within
Antrim, Benzie,
Grand Traverse,
Kalkaska and
Leelanau
counties.
Leland
Public
Schools
Northport
Public School
Suttons Bay
Public Schools
Elk Rapids
Public
Schools
Bellaire
Public
Schools
N
Alba
Public School
Glen Lake
Community
Schools
Kalkaska
Public
Schools
Mancelona
Public Schools
Benzie County
Central Schools
Traverse City Area
Public Schools
Excelsior
#1
Frankfort/Elberta
Area Schools
Buckley
Community
Schools
Kingsley Area
Schools
Forest Area
Community
Schools
TBAISD data:
• Michigan’s largest ISD in number of counties
served (5)
• 5th in number of school districts served
16 public school districts
3 public school academies
14 parochial and nonpublic
• 8th in geographic area (2,138 sq. miles)
• 18th in total K-12 student enrollment (28,000)
4
www.tbaisd.k12.mi.us
TBAISD has a seven member Board of
Education. Members are elected by our
constituent districts throughout our fivecounty
service area. The TBAISD Board
meets once a month—the first Tuesday of
every month at 7:00 p.m. during the school
year and at 8:00 a.m. during the summer
months.

TBAISD Programs and Services
General Education
The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District’s Office of Instructional Services offers a variety
of programs and services designed to support student achievement, meet state and federal legislative
mandates, and enrich school programs throughout the five-county service area. The Instructional Services
Team provides leadership and expertise to teachers and administrators, connecting regional and site based
objectives to research based programs, appropriate resources, and the highest standards of professional
development.
Students and educators across our region continue to achieve, grow and succeed with a focus on:
• Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction.
• Professional Development embedded in Professional Learning Communities (PLC).
• School Improvement.
General Education Programs and Services
No Child Left Behind
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) is
designed to improve student achievement and
change the culture of America’s schools. It is built
on four common-sense pillars: accountability for
results, an emphasis on doing what works based on
scientific research, expanded parental options and
expanded local control and flexibility.
Local districts look to TBAISD to provide
leadership regarding the requirements of NCLB
and to offer the necessary resources, services,
and professional development to ensure that our
constituent districts are in compliance with the
legislation.
Our efforts focus on management and analysis
of achievement data, providing research-based
training for teachers and staff, assisting teachers with
understanding and attaining the requirements for
being considered “Highly Qualified,” and providing
updates to the law.
School Improvement
The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
(TBAISD) Instructional Services Team, in partnership
with local districts, facilitates long-term, broadbased
school improvement planning. This includes
research-based practices in curriculum, assessment
and instruction, as well as assistance in meeting state
and federal program mandates.
Education YES!
“Education YES!” is the accreditation system created
by the Michigan Department of Education for every
public school building and all charter schools in the
state. The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act
requires each state to have an approved accountability
system and to set target goals for Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP). Education YES!, created by the State
Board of Education in December, 2001, measures
both Michigan Educational Assessment Program
(MEAP) scores for grades 3-8 and Michigan Merit
Exam (MME) scores for grade 11 as well as each
building’s self-assessment as rated on the rubrics for
the School Improvement Framework. The Michigan
Department of Education releases a “Michigan School
Report Card“ for every school building to show how
our schools are doing with making Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP).
TBAISD assists local districts with understanding
the complexities of the Report Card; analyzing their
building MEAP and MME scores; and with a variety
of school improvement efforts to meet target goals.
Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
TBAISD is focused on leading our districts forward
with the Professional Learning Community model
of school improvement. Current research on school
improvement indicates that small groups of educators
working collaboratively around student achievement
data can achieve the highest gains in improvement.
Extensive professional development, across time, has
been designed and delivered by TBAISD to move
schools forward with PLC. In addition, our staff
models collaboration and the use of data to inform
instruction in our work within schools.
5

General Education
Data Management and Analysis Services
The timely collection, analysis, and sharing of
information about student achievement are common
elements of high performing schools. In response
to this, TBAISD is supporting its local districts in
developing systems for assessing student progress,
collecting and analyzing that information, and
sharing results. A secure and confidential, webbased
Performance Management System has been
developed for our districts. MEAP, MME, NWEA, and
common formative assessment results are collected
and analyzed. These results inform teachers and
administrators about how schools are doing at the
student, classroom, district, regional and state levels.
In addition, TBAISD provides models and templates
for the effective use of student achievement data for
decision making within the context of Professional
Learning Communities.
All schools have access to:
•Reports of their performance across time on
MEAP compared to the state and all other regional
schools.
•Reports of their individual progress across time
on MEAP, other standardized assessments, and
common assessments.
•Specific desegregation of achievement data upon
request.
•Support to all elementary buildings in assessment
of early literacy, including a regional reporting
format to track student literacy progress across
time within buildings and across the region.
Professional Development
In support of school improvement goals,
educational initiatives and teacher development,
TBAISD delivers a wide variety of Professional
Development offerings.
A Regional Staff Development Board (RSDB),
comprised of representatives from each district in
our region, meets throughout the year. This board
selects quality topics and presenters based on
regionally identified needs. An annual Regional Staff
Development Day is held in the fall of each year for
educators in the five-county area.
SB-CEUs
TBAISD is an approved State Board-Continuing
Education Units (SB-CEU) sponsoring agency. We
provide application instructions and forms for
school districts, departments and agencies wishing
to award SB-CEUs for attendees at approved
workshops, trainings and conferences. SB-CEUs are
State Board approved inservice, workshop, training,
6
or conference credits that are used for the renewal
of selected certificates issued by the Michigan
Department of Education.
Literacy
The following goal was set by Superintendents
throughout our region: “All children will be
reading at grade level by the third grade and will
continue to make adequate reading progress
throughout their schooling.”
TBAISD has embarked on an ambitious literacy
initiative in support of this goal by providing
extensive sustained professional development on
reading philosophy, methodology, and assessment.
Ongoing professional development is offered for
Michigan Literacy Progress Profile (MLPP), and
Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and
Spelling (LETRS)/Foundations, as well as the Teacher
Reading Academy, writing workshops and curriculum
development initiatives. A focus on early childhood
literacy is provided through TBAISD’s way to grow
program.
Literacy Contacts from each district meet regularly
to assist with developing systems for assessing student
progress. TBAISD has developed and provides a
reporting format to monitor student literacy progress
across time within buildings and across the region.
Online Tools for Instruction and Student/
Teacher Collaboration
Consistent with the educational needs and strategies
emerging in the 21st century, TBAISD is providing
all local districts with web-based tools to deliver
classroom instructional and assessment resources
and support collaborative work among the region’s
students and teachers. Through the 2007-08 school
year, SharePoint Services will be made available to
all area teachers and students. It includes:
• Tools for creation and delivery of web-based
instructional content and web-based assessments.
• Tools for teachers and students to store/share
documents, do online research, and create,
track, and turn in assignments.
• Networking tools to support teacher and student
learning including blogs, vlogs, podcasts,
wikis, and personal web spaces.
• tools for creation and editing of web content
(e.g. WebQuest, RSS feeds, online simulations,
performances, and games).
• Web work spaces for teacher collaboration in
Professional Learning Communities.

General Education
Early Childhood
way to grow is a collaboration of area schools and
agencies under the auspices of the Traverse Bay Area
Intermediate School District. The program is designed
to engage all families with children age birth to five
years by enriching the preschool years and providing
school readiness. Opportunities include: the “Read to
Kids Zone” project, activities for families, home visits,
groups for parent education and support, parenting
information, preschool information and “Parents as
Teachers” curriculum.
“Read to Kids Zone”
TBAISD’s Early Childhood Services team developed
the “Read to Kids Zone” project to increase
awareness that reading to all children is essential. The
goal of the “Read to Kids Zone” project is to create
opportunities and support an environment where
every child will be read to each day. To accomplish
this goal, we have reached out to parents, educators,
service organizations, businesses—the entire
community—to establish opportunities for children
to read or be read to daily.
Media Services
TBAISD houses one of Michigan’s 22 Regional
Educational Media Centers (REMC). REMC 2 Central,
located at the TBAISD Career-Tech Center, serves
schools within six intermediate school districts
covering 14 counties.
REMC 2 Central offers a cooperative bid program
which saves TBAISD local districts approximately
$700,000 per year. Schools may order supplies,
materials and equipment at a significant cost savings
over purchasing independently.
Area school districts utilize video conferencing
equipment to connect to content area providers and
to other classrooms anywhere in the world. REMC 2
Central provides technical and scheduling services
to help integrate this technology into the classroom.
School districts have access to a video bridge
scheduled through REMC 2 that allows multiple
locations to connect.
TBAISD also hosts a video server with over 5,000
full-length films and 50,000 clips. Teachers and
students may stream videos directly to the classroom
or download them for digital projects.
In addition, school districts may access a
curriculum resource library, including media and
print resources; online booking system; technology
trainings; video, DVD and CD duplication; color
copying; courier service; laminating services; teacher
workroom; and satellite downlinks.
Youth Health & Wellness Center
TBAISD, in partnership with Grand Traverse County
Health Department, offers a full- service Health Care
Center, located on the campus of the TBAISD Career-
Tech Center in Traverse City. The goal of the Youth
Health and Wellness Center is to achieve the best
possible physical, intellectual, and emotional health
of area youth by providing services that are high
quality, accessible and acceptable to all students.
Serving adolescents ages 10-21 and the children of
parenting teens residing in the five-county area, the
Center offers:
•Care for Minor Acute Illnesses or Injuries.
•Coordinated care with physicians for chronic.
illnesses such as: Asthma, Diabetes, or Allergies
•Immunizations.
•Sports and Job Physicals.
•Assistance with mental health issues such as
depression, ADHD, and eating disorders.
•HIV/STD Testing and Counseling.
•Preventative and diagnostic dental services.
Talent Development
TBAISD assists districts with differentiating
instruction, planning, implementing, and facilitating
programs that best meet the needs of accelerated or
advanced learners. Information is also distributed
regarding academic, creative, leadership, artistic, and
performing arts opportunities for students.
TBAISD Math/Science Center
TBAISD Math/Science Center, a part of the Michigan
Mathematics and Science Centers Network (MSCN),
is one of thirty-three mathematics and science
centers in the State of Michigan. Our Center provides
leadership, curriculum development, professional
development, community outreach, resources, and
student services to the K-12 community.
Road Test Service
TBAISD started as a third-party tester organization
in July, 1997. In addition to passenger car tests,
Commercial Drivers License and Motorcycle exams
are available. All examiners have attended rigorous
training sessions, and have been granted certification
by the Secretary of State to conduct road tests. Tests
are conducted by appointment at the Career-Tech
Center, on weekdays and Saturdays.
7

General Education
School Health and Safe & Drug Free Schools
and Communities
TBAISD coordinates a consortium of schools
participating in the Safe & Drug Free Schools &
Communities program (SDFSCA). Schools are
assisted with funding to provide substance abuse and
violence prevention programs that meet the state and
federal guidelines for SDFSCA. Teachers and school
staff within the Consortium receive support in drug
and violence prevention and student assistance.
Starting with the 2007-08 school year, TBAISD
will support local districts with administration of
The Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY).
This online survey developed by the Michigan
Departments of Education and Community Health,
provides student results on health risk behaviors
including substance use, violence, physical activity,
nutrition, sexual behavior, and emotional health in
grades 7, 9, and 11.
TBAISD also coordinates the Comprehensive
School Health program which services 14 counties
in northwest Michigan. Health materials, technical
assistance, support, and teacher trainings are
available to local schools. Services focus on:
• Michigan Health Model K-12 • Sex Education
• Substance Abuse Prevention • Violence Prevention
• HIV/AIDS Education • Student Assistance
• Legislative Mandates • Wellness Programs
• Nutrition and Physical Activity
• Coordinated School Health Programs
• Medicaid Outreach/MI Child; Healthy Kids Insurance
Career Preparation
Students in our region are supported in their career
preparation through a variety of experiences
and integrated lessons that uncover and develop
personal skills and interests, and by opportunities to
explore careers throughout their K-12 education.
A four-year high school Educational Development
Plan is created by students beginning in 8th
grade, and is revised annually. Courses are chosen
each year of their high school career that will enable
them to meet their postsecondary goals. A student’s
plan evolves as he or she deepens their understanding
of their own unique interests and career goals.
TBAISD purchases the career exploration and
educational development planning tool Career
Cruising for all of our constituent districts. Career
Cruising is a web-based service that assists students
with identifying interests and abilities, provides a
list of career matches, constructs a student’s Educational
Development Plan, and links students to appropriate
college and training options and financial
aid information to fulfill their postsecondary plans.
Adult Education
The commitment to provide an educational
opportunity for all adult learners is the goal of the
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District’s Adult
Education program. Adult education services are
available through the cooperative efforts of TBAISD,
the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments,
local school districts and Northwest Michigan
Works!
The program operates six Learning Labs in
northwest Michigan and a high school completion
program at the Career-Tech Center for area adults ages
20 and older. The labs offer individualized, computerbased
instruction in basic academic skills, English as
a Second Language, high school completion, GED
preparation, computer operation and use of business
software.
Alternative Learning Options
TBAISD is involved in researching best practices
and products that take student learning beyond
the traditional classroom experience for students.
The use of technology by both staff and students
is essential to building 21st century schools and
for preparing students to be successful with future
careers in our global economy.
Our staff assists with finding resources, providing
professional development in the use of technology,
including web based tools, assisting districts with
developing site specific programs, and providing
ongoing support for the delivery of a variety of
alternative learning options. Examples include the
use of online courses or modules, the use of videoconferencing
systems to share classes between
districts, web based information sharing tools, or the
integration of virtual field trips into curricula.
We also aid school administrators with state and
federal legislation compliance for the use of dualenrollment,
work based learning, service learning,
and other alternative learning options for students.
Online Learning
Choosing the right online experience for students
often requires a great deal of research into the many
options available. TBAISD has experience with using
courses offered by: Michigan Virtual High School,
CYberEd Specialists, and Florida Virtual High School
to provide online course content for middle and high
school students.
Courses are available in math, science, language
arts, and social studies, as well as career planning,
foreign languages, art, health, business, computer
science, and other electives. Online courses are
also available to help students prepare for the
Michigan Merit Exam, and the General Education
Development (GED) test.
8

Business, Technology and
Administrative Services
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District is
a model in the use of technology, administrative,
and business services to support school district operations.
We offer individualized and cost effective
regional coordination of a multitude of services.
Project Interconnect
TBAISD and local school districts are connected
via a fiber-optic cable network that provides a wide
area data network. Each school district has mobile
interactive equipment allowing them to originate
and receive programming for training and classroom
instruction.
Data Processing Services
TBAISD, in partnership with Macomb Intermediate
School District, supports and maintains the Macomb
Information System (MIS) for 12 local districts and
the intermediate school district. The system provides
for accounting, personnel, asset tracking and student
accounting. MIS provides modules for State of Michigan
reports, including the Registry of Educational
Personnel (REP), Financial Information Database
(FID), Office of Retirement Services (ORS), Single
Record Student Database (SRSD), as well as Registry
of Special Education Students (ROSES).
TBAISD has staff on-hand to assist district personnel
in the completion of these reports. It is anticipated
that more local schools will migrate to this system
over time. Through the Macomb Intermediate School
District partnership, we are able to offer enhancements
and support to our local districts that have
purchased SASIxp student accounting interactive
software. Regional, quarterly training meetings are
held at TBAISD for all users of MIS with Macomb
Intermediate School District programmers. This is a
very cost effective way for all districts to receive MIS
training and updates. TBAISD Technology Services
continues to work with Instruction Services on the
development of a Student Performance Management
Database.
Technology Services offers off-site backup of data,
Internet content filtering, firewall and e-mail services
to a number of local districts.
Truancy Reporting
TBAISD assists local districts in notifying the various
county truancy officers, courts and parents of student
attendance issues.
Pupil Accounting
TBAISD assists districts in maximizing their State
Aid revenues. We offer pupil accounting auditing
services, training, and consultation regarding current
laws, rules and procedures.
Substitute Training/Automated Calling
Eight districts and the ISD participate in the use of
the automated SubFinder System. There are currently
655 substitutes and 1,010 employees registered.
SubFinder allows employees to enter their absences
60 days in advance either by phone or through the
internet. Substitute teachers can access jobs 24 hours
a day, seven days per week. Substitutes are added
weekly to the system. Recently, at the request of our
local districts, an arrangement with a private vendor,
PCMI, was put in place to hire, train and place substitutes
using the automated SubFinder System. Districts
should realize a reduction in substitute placement
costs as a result of work with PCMI-WEST.
Payroll Services
A variety of business services are offered to local
districts. Currently TBAISD is processing payroll for
three districts. This service includes quarterly and
annual reporting as well as producing biweekly
paychecks.
Budgeting and Accounting
Our business office staff assists several districts in
budget development and amendments during the
school year. Audit preparation and financial statement
review services are offered at the end of every
fiscal year. Many federal and state grants flow
through TBAISD to local districts. It is the responsibility
of the business office to work with districts to
ensure the proper expending and reporting of these
funds. Bank reconciliation, cash flow analysis, property
tax information, and state aid calculation and
review services are offered on an as needed basis
to districts.
Medicaid
Business office staff interfaces directly with the
Medicaid consulting firm, PCG, on behalf of our
region. Group training sessions for special education
resource room teachers are held throughout the year
regarding proper documentation and billing procedures.
Telephone and email support for staff members
is offered on a continuous basis.
9

Business, Technology and
Administrative Services
Human Resources
Bloodborne Pathogen and other on-line training is
available to our districts through the TBAISD website.
TBAISD has arranged for the state contractor,
Identix, to process fingerprints on a weekly basis at
the Arnell Engstrom Administration Building.
Cooperative Purchasing
It is a goal of the support departments to assist local
districts in obtaining goods and services in the most
cost-effective way possible. Cooperative bidding of
teaching supplies, technology equipment and software,
health insurance, and appraisal services are
examples of regional initiatives.
Professional Associations
A variety of regional initiatives and professional
associations for school boards, school administrators,
and other school personnel are coordinated
through TBAISD. The following groups enable educational
personnel to work together to prepare for
the changes that will benefit schools, students and
communities.
• Regional Boards of Education Association
• Superintendents Association
• School Business Managers Group
• Secondary Principals Association
• Middle School Principals Association
• Elementary Principals Association
• Regional Staff Development Board
• Information Services Consortium
• Regional Educational Media Center
• Technology Representatives Group
• Transportation Consortium
Information Services
TBAISD Information Services is the communications
arm of the intermediate school district. Communication
specialists are available to assist with the
collection, preparation, writing, dissemination of
information, and the design of marketing and publicity
materials for educational events at both the ISD
and local district levels. The Information Consortium
provides funding to the local districts for the production
of newsletters and other informational materials.
A bimonthly newsletter is published for and about the
staff of TBAISD. It is available at our website: www.
tbaisd.k12.mi.us
Fiscal Management
TBAISD is the fiscal agent for several educational
programs and organizations. The Business Services
Department manages the following:
•TBAISD Math/Science Center (see General
Education for descriptor).
•Early-On, a joint effort of the Department of
Education, Public and Mental Health and the Department
of Social Services, provides resources and direct
services to families with special needs children age
0-3.
•Michigan Works! (Northwest Center) is a part of
a statewide workforce development system that prepares
people for work. Youth and adult job seekers
are provided job placement, job search assistance,
training, and career and educational counseling.
•Northern Michigan Learning Consortium is
comprised of thirteen intermediate school districts
in northern Michigan who collaborate to provide
research-based professional development opportunities
and create models and processes to enhance
teaching and learning..
What is an ISD?
Intermediate School Districts (ISD) are vital
partners in Michigan’s educational framework.
By pooling resources and providing regional
services, ISDs provide cost-effective, high-quality
results to their core customers— K-12 school
districts. Together, the ISD and its local district
members determine the services needed to
improve all student learning, serve children’s
special needs, develop teachers’ expertise, and
connect with the greater community.
Each ISD customizes its product mix, depending
on its staffing and budgetary resources,
to maximize benefits. To learn more about ISDs,
log on to www.
g o m a i s a . o rg .
This site offers
information and
links to ISDs in
Michigan.
10

Special Education
TBAISD Special Education staff and parents have
developed an exemplary program that can begin at
birth and continue until age 26 as required by state
statute. Our programs provide children and young
adults with special needs the opportunity to achieve
their goals.
TBAISD teacher consultants, therapists, social
workers and psychologists offer direct service on site
at local district school buildings in the areas of:
• Speech and Language Impairment (S/L)
• Hearing Impairment (HI)
• Visual Impairment (VI) and Deaf/Blind
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (AI)
• Physical Impairment (PI)
• Severe Multiple Impairment (SXI)
• Moderate Cognitive Impairment (MoCI)
• Severe Cognitive Impairment (SCI)
• Learning Disabilities (LD)
• Emotional Impairment (EI)
• Early Childhood Development Delay
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Other Health Impairment (OHI)
Early Childhood Special Education Services
Birth to Five Years
Our Early Childhood department provides quality
services to infants with disabilities and their
families. Service providers work directly in family
homes. Program offices are located at Cherry Knoll
Children’s Center.
The following specialty services are available:
• Speech Therapy
• Social Work
• Psychology
• Physical and Occupational Therapy
• Visual and Hearing Consultation
Three to Five Years
Early Childhood classrooms are available for SXI
and AI students requiring a classroom placement.
Classrooms are staffed by certified teachers of early
childhood and teaching assistants. The services noted
above are also available to children in this program.
TBAISD maintains classroom sites within the Traverse
City Area Public School District.
Early On
Early On, a joint effort of the Department of Education,
Public and Mental Health and the Department of
Social Services, provides coordination of resources
and direct services to families with special needs
children ages birth to 3 years. TBAISD is the fiscal
and coordinating agency.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Services
TBAISD offers several classrooms for students who
are identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Classrooms are based on the most recent research
and teaching techniques. Our staff employs a wide
variety of teaching styles and techniques based on
visual learning. TBAISD has been recognized by the
State of Michigan and Grand Valley State University
as a leader in educational programs for students with
Autism. In addition, a grant has been awarded allowing
TBAISD to be a demonstration site for northern
Michigan educators.
A new resource tool has been developed by
TBAISD called the Systematic Assessment System
for Autism, level I, level II and level III.
Hearing Impaired Services
Students with hearing impairments are introduced
to a program of total communication, which
includes both signing and oral (using the voice). The
elementary center is located at Central Elementary
School in Traverse City. Most students return to their
home schools and attend regular education classes
with the aid of an interpreter/note taker.
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Special Education
Cognitive Impairment Services
TBAISD operates 11 programs for students with
moderate to severe cognitive impairments. Students
learn at their own pace and, hopefully, become
fully independent, working members of our society.
Students participate in a wide spectrum of work
activities ranging from our Paperworks program
to Career Exploration, and work experience in a
community-work site placement. Job coaches are
an integral part of the success of our community
work sites.
Emotional Impairment Services
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District’s New
Campus School is a seven classroom K-12 center
for students from our five counties who require a
more controlled, secure environment in which to
learn. The programs combine academics, behavior
management and intensive group and individual
counseling. Statistics from around the state show
that 12 percent of students in intensive programming
return to regular education classrooms. TBAISD’s
return rate is 30 percent and growing.
Physical or Other Health Impairment Services
Our elementary-aged program for students with
a variety of medical conditions is housed within
Traverse City Public Schools. These students need
intensive training in their early years to become as
independent as possible in taking care of their own
medical needs. All students are returned to their
home schools by Junior High or are enrolled in a
center-based program
Center Programs and Classrooms
Districts from throughout our five-county region
utilize TBAISD Center Programs, schools, and
classrooms for students with severe disabilities:
Adult Work Center (AWC) serves students ages
16-26 who are Mildly, Moderately, and Severely
Cognitively Impaired, Severely Multiply Impaired,
and students with Autism. Through community-based
instruction and vocational training, students learn
to live and function as a contributing member of
their community. One program option for students
is Paperworks Studio.
Paperworks Studio combines the manufacture of
premium art papers and products with a vocational
training program for young adults with special needs.
Located at the TBAISD Adult Work Center, it is run
as a business not only to teach a skill but to develop
work ethics, appropriate work behaviors and attitudes
necessary to prepare students for employment. Many
of the processes have been adapted to allow students
who are more physically impaired to perform the
work. Higher functioning students act as mentors
allowing learning on both ends of the spectrum.
Please feel free to explore the Paperworks
website: www.tcpaperworks.com
New Campus School offers K-12 instruction for
students with Severe Emotional Impairments.
Academics combined with unique opportunities
for personal and emotional growth contribute to
the school’s high rate of returning students to their
regular school.
Cherry Knoll Children’s Center offers programs for
students ages 6-14, with moderate cognitive and
disabilities and houses the program offices for the
Infant Toddler program.
Oak Park School houses self-contained classrooms
for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Severely
Cognitively Impaired (SCI) students in Traverse
City.
The Traverse Heights Program offers classroom
programs for students with Severe Cognitive
Impairments (SCI) and Severe Multiple Impairments
(SMI).
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Special Education
Other Special Education Services
TBAISD’s Special Education Department offers local
districts a number of other services:
• Diagnostic and Consulting Services
• Curriculum planning and development
• Transition Planning and Monitoring
• Agency Coordination
• Professional Development
• Continuous Improvement Monitoring System
(CIMS)
• Special Education Administration
• Transportation
Curriculum Services
Working closely with other districts, TBAISD Special
Education Curriculum Services offers curriculum
development, coordination of professional training,
and curriculum consultation services for centerbased
special education programs and local school
districts.
The following are the essential components of
the curriculum services format:
• Curriculum planning and development
• Materials and methodology evaluation
• Analysis of student achievement
• Development of instructional guidelines
• Coordination of management systems
• Facilitation of inservice training
Planning and Monitoring Services
TBAISD’s Coordinator of Planning, Monitoring
and Data Collection provides technical assistance,
monitoring, and compliance services. These services
include the development of an Intermediate School
District Special Education Plan, investigation of
formal special education complaints, development
of forms and procedures that enable local districts
to provide a free appropriate public education to
students with disabilities. TBAISD collects data
regarding the number of students with disabilities
and reports to state and federal agencies.
Technical assistance is provided to school
districts, parents, and agencies regarding programs
and services available to students who are suspected
of having a disability or are disabled. The annual
monitoring of special education programs and
services collects a “snapshot” comparing actual
program and service delivery to the standard
established in rule and law. The Coordinator of
Planning, Monitoring and Data Collections assists
local districts with Due Process Special Education
Hearings and serves as a resource to both parent and
district.
Transition
School-to-Work Transition prepares special education
students for work in the “real world” by developing
employability skills through career exploration, and
work experience opportunities. Job coaches support
students through a partnership with area employers
and agencies.
SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory
Council)
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District is
proud to work with parents representing our school
districts. Parents meet the second Saturday of each
month during the school year to discuss special
education issues and to learn more about special
education challenges.
Special Education Terminology
ASD...................Autism Spectrum Disorder
CC.....................Curriculum Consultant
CI.......................Cognitive Impairment with Mild Trait
.......................... (previously EMI)
.......................... with Moderate Trait
.......................... (previously TMI)
.......................... with Severe Trait
.......................... (previously SMI)
CIMS..................Continuous Improvement
.......................... Monitoring System
ECDD................Early Childhood Development Delay
.......................... (previously PPI)
EI.......................Emotionally Impaired
HH....................Homebound/Hospitalized
HI......................Hearing Impaired
IEPT...................Individual Educational Planning Team
IEP.....................Individualized Educational Plan
ISD....................Intermediate School District
LD.....................Learning Disabled
LEA....................Local Education Agency
MDE..................Michigan Department of Education
OHI...................Other Health Impairment
.......................... (previously POHI)
O/M ................... Orientation & Mobility
OT.....................Occupational Therapist
PI.......................Physical Impairment
.......................... (previously POHI)
PT......................Physical Therapist
SEPAC................Special Education Parent
.......................... Advisory Council
SLI.....................Speech/Language Impaired
SSW...................School Social Worker
SXI.....................Severely Multiply Impaired
TBI.....................Traumatic Brain Injury
TC .....................Teacher Consultant
VI.......................Visually Impaired
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Career and Technical Education
TBAISD’s Career-Tech Center (CTC) is a secondary
career and technical education school serving
approximately 1,150 students from 19 high schools
in the five-county Grand Traverse region.
Students are educated in 23 occupational areas
utilizing the latest technology and state-of-the-art
equipment. Students are prepared for immediate
job placement, college or postsecondary technical
training.
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Programs Offered:
•Accounting/Office Technology
•Agriscience/Natural Resources
•Auto Body Repair
•Auto Mechanics
•Automotive Technology Academy
•Career Exploration
•Computer Programming/Web
Programming & Design
•Construction Trades
•Cosmetology
•Culinary Arts
•Early Childhood Education
•Electrical Occupations
•Information Technology Academy
•Health Science Technology
•Less-Than-Class Size
•Manufacturing Technology Academy
•Power Equipment Technology
•Precision Machining Technology
•Public Safety/Protective Services
•Skilled Trades
•Teacher Academy
•Therapeutic Careers in Medicine
•Visual Imaging Technology
•Welding & Fabrication
Academic Achievement
Each program at the Career-Tech Center offers
academics embedded with technical training, where
academic credit may be granted. The curriculum for
each program has been aligned with the Standards
and Benchmarks for academic disciplines from
the Michigan Curriculum Framework (MCF).
Alignment to the new Michigan Merit Curriculum
is in progress.
Career Preparation
All students who complete a Career-Tech Center
program will exit with a complete career preparation
packet including: resume, cover letter, interviewing
skills, and diversity training.
Work Ethic
All students have their work ethic performance
documented through daily or weekly worksheets,
and participate in related work ethic activities.
A student’s work ethic performance represents
approximately 30 percent of the final grade in all
programs.
Scholarships
The Traverse Bay Area Career-Tech Center annually
awards over $20,000 in scholarships to seniors. Our
annual TBAISD Career-Tech Center Scholarship Golf
Outing, held each September, provides the majority
of this funding. Thirty-nine additional scholarships
totaling over $15,000 are awarded by postsecondary
institutions, community groups, organizations and
individuals. Students who receive CTC scholarships
can attend any college, technical school or university
of their choice.
Business Partnerships
Nearly 500 individual owners, managers, technicians,
and other employees representing local businesses
make up Career-Tech Center’s partnership network.
All CTC programs have business advisory
committees that provide input and direction
regarding curriculum changes/direction, equipment
purchases, and trends in their business area.
CTC business advisors serve on panels and task
forces, volunteer as student competition judges,
attend CTC’s School Improvement Committee
meetings, and contribute donations of equipment,
and training to CTC programs. CTC students are
welcome at area businesses for job shadows, field
trips, work experiences, co-op jobs, apprenticeships,
and part-time employment.
Articulation and Co-Enrollment
The Traverse Bay Area Career-Tech Center has
articulation, special enrollment, advanced placement,
and co-enrollment programs with numerous
Michigan universities, colleges and technical
schools. Northwestern Michigan College, Ferris
State University, Grand Valley State University, ITT
Technical Institute, Central Michigan University, and
Davenport University are among the schools that
have agreements with CTC. Other postsecondary
schools grant credit on a case-by-case basis.

Career and Technical Education
Student Organizations and Clubs
Student organizations promote occupational
excellence, leadership, and citizenship. The Career-
Tech Center offers its students:
· • BPA: Business Professionals of America
· • CTC: Student Council
· • FCCLA: Family Career and Community
Leaders of America
· • FFA: Agricultural Science (Future Farmers of
America)
• HOSA: Health Occupations Students
of America
· • MITES: Michigan Industrial Technology
Education Society
· • NTHS: National Technical Honor Society
· • Skills USA
Other Career-Tech Center Onsite Services
Discovery Children’s Center
Discovery Children’s Center is a daycare program for
children six weeks to five-years of age. In operation
since 1976 as a preschool, the recent update now
combines early childhood learning with a daycare
format. The five-day-a-week, year-round program
emphasizes age-appropriate, early learning activities.
The Center is open to the general public from 7:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
World Class Café
World Class Café is a full service restaurant managed
by the Career Tech Center’s Culinary Arts Program.
The restaurant is open to the public for breakfast
and lunch during the school year. The café is also
available for banquets. The students operate all of the
restaurant services and positions, including cooks,
wait staff, bakers, pantry workers, dishwashers and
managers.
School of Cosmetology
Enrollment in the TBA School of Cosmetology is
open to adults with a high school diploma or GED
certificate. Students complete the 1,500-hour program
between September and July. Students who
graduate from the program have a thorough knowledge
of the theory and skills needed to pass the
Michigan State Board Examination required for
the licensing of cosmetologists. Graduates of TBA
School of Cosmetology with grades of 80 percent or
better, have the opportunity to earn a small business
and entrepreneurship BS degree (15 credits of free
electives) from Ferris State University.
Nondiscrimination Statement
The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) Board of Education declares it to be the policy
of this District to provide an equal opportunity for all students, regardless of race, color, creed, age, disability,
religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, place of residence within the boundaries of the district, or social
or economic background, to learn through the curriculum offered in the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate
School District.
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
P.O. Box 6020 •1101 Red Drive
Traverse City, MI 49696-6020
(231) 922-6200 • FAX: (231) 922-6270
1107
www.tbaisd.k12.mi.us
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