Partnership Grant Helps Improve Student Outcomes

The Mid-Hudson Regional Partnership Center (RPC) received a grant of $10.6 million from the New York State Education Department’s Office of Special Education, funding the RPC’s work based at Dutchess BOCES through the 2028-29 school year.

“Our primary purpose is to support schools by helping to improve outcomes for students with disabilities,” shared Ruairi Gribbon, the systems change facilitator at the Mid-Hudson

RPC.
It is one of 12 grant-funded RPCs across the state and has been at Dutchess BOCES, in various forms, for over 20 years.

The grant allows the RPC to staff a team of 10 specialists and one program assistant to do this work. The organization supports a large geographic area, covering Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. This area includes about 20,000 students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). The state identifies which schools the RPC will work with, and they receive the support at no cost.

And it works. With the help of the RPC, Dutchess County English language arts proficiency rates on New York State exams for students with disabilities went from 7% in 2019 to 14% in 2024.

Gribbon explained that there are three ways he and his team provide support. “In some cases, we go into the district, visit classrooms, meet the principals, and become part of the school. One or more specialists might be there during the week,” he shared. “In other instances, we bring schools together that have common issues. For example, if a group of schools all have low graduation rates for students with disabilities, we will bring them together and do professional development around helping to improve those graduation rates,” he added. “Finally, we do trainings in the Dutchess BOCES Conference Center that are available to everyone.”

Transition specialist Monica Baron’s work focuses on helping schools help their students prepare for post-secondary life through a variety of assessments. “When we progress monitor and see the growth that occurs, I think that’s where the big difference can be seen. My favorite part of my job is making a difference for students,” she shared.

“The RPC has been invaluable in helping us move forward in many ways, and has become a highly trusted partner to us as we strive for continued improvements and growth for our students and schools,” said Iris Goliger, executive director for students with exceptionalities at the Poughkeepsie City School District”

Taconic Hills Central School District Superintendent Lynette Brunger shared, “The promotion of quality components that improve student outcomes was enhanced by leadership outside of the district. Their knowledge, patience and balance of ‘pushing and pulling’ educators to build a growth mindset and be willing to shift practices allowed the work of change efforts to be embraced sooner and receive ‘buy-in’ from the various stakeholders. I fully support the Mid-Hudson RPC staff and services with a renewed contract. Without their involvement, the systems change that needed to occur would not have moved at such a strong, consistent pace.”