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Illinois ASPIRE

Alliance for School-based Problem-solving & Intervention Resources in Education
An Illinois State Board of Education Initiative

Illinois 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:

  1. 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:
    1. A coaching model to targeted demonstration districts in each region,
    2. Large scale trainings throughout each region, and
    3. Ongoing technical assistance to schools.
  2. Increase the participation of parents in decision making.
  3. Incorporate the professional development content into Institution of Higher Education (IHE) general and special education preservice and graduate curricula.
  4. 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.