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Methodology

In the early stages of IDEA, the required forms were created before the process had been determined. In many cases, the forms began dictating how a teacher or administrator's daily process would unfold. Limitations developed - in terms of efficiency and being able to retrieve the special education data that was gathered. Furthermore, forms limited the teacher's desire to create content-rich IEPs and execute robust student progress monitoring.

With our suite of products, we separate the forms from the process. Users follow a logical sequence of events which ends with the proper paperwork being outputted - as opposed to beginning with confining forms. This system greatly reduces redundant record keeping and data entry, streamlines the district's workflow, and allows users to enter data without limitations.

Now more than ever, school districts are looking to make data driven decisions. Our robust reporting modules allow school districts to recall data at rapid speed and make critical decisions in real time. Progress monitoring, goals and objectives, and required state and federal forms are all provided to your district with our software product suite and are available to you wherever an internet connection exists.

The end results of a process based system are clear: reduced paperwork, a more efficient workflow, and enhanced results for your administrators, teachers and students.

Implementation Process

Through our well planned change management system, we go to great lengths to make sure the transition to our products is smooth and accepted readily by your school district. Our implementation process follows four easy steps:

1. Plan
2. Configure
3. Deploy
4. Support

Throughout each step of the process we set goals and milestones and diligently monitor progress. With scheduled, collaborative meetings, such as Joint Product Reviews, we work as partners with you to deliver to your school district not only an outstanding product but a smooth transition to new technology.

Our experienced implementation team has delivered many successful product adoptions from both ends of the spectrum. Former real-life product users and administrators themselves, our sales and account management staff provide unparalleled perspective and understanding to the change management process

Compliance and Regulations

Since the original IDEA regulations concerning exceptional education students was brought about in 1996, PCG has been proactive in monitoring regulatory changes and legislation regarding the field. PCG frequently attends seminars and legal conferences (such as LRP) to stay up-to-date and involved with any legislative changes in IDEA. This effort translates into our suite of products and provides our users tools to manage their data in a fully compliant system.

Our product suite gives your school district the framework to create compliant IEPs. With mandatory fields and color coded areas for required information, your school district's use of our products allows you to create credible and defensible plans. Within our modules, we include a "status dot" feature which visually indicates the level of compliance the entered data meets within the application and whether the proper procedural steps within the special education process have been followed. A simple click on the dot will indicate to the user which fields of information are missing and/or what steps have been missed. Teachers and administrators using our suite of products can rest assured that they have the framework to enter compliant, defensible and searchable data.

Technology

One of the key advantages of the product suite is our dynamic interface. Aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate, our interface utilizes high end web based graphics, icons and tools. Our product’s interface was collaboratively designed with educators to be an easy and intuitive tool to use. Using a tabbed navigation system, the special education process is clearly delineated into a logical and sequential progression. The program is a simple as knowing your left from your right, and up from down.

On the back end, we use the most modern data tools and coding languages, including Oracle and SQL. Not just another pretty interface, our robust system applies practical logic to data reporting and data tracking.

Security

Our product suite is built upon a highly secure, encrypted platform. Whether the client chooses to have a license or hosted version of our product, we provide the utmost in data center security and program architecture.

Our product suite uses a 128 bit SSL (Secured Sockets Layer) between the user's browser and the application server. The application also permits role based access levels for users that are set by the school district's program administrators. With our product suite, the customer is in control of their data and users.

At our secure data center, our vast array of applications servers are housed in a fully redundant, fire resistant room. Our servers are backed up frequently and our expert team works tirelessly to ensure full 24 hour access to your data.
Our product suite has the following security features:

• Assures record confidentiality.
• Allows for password and multiple security levels to maintain system security.
• Allows login and access security.
• Implements a role-based security model.
• Allows for an automatic sign-off based on inactivity time.
• ASP hosting facility is FERPA compliant with a complete disaster recovery plan, redundant power and dual machine images, and bandwidth on demand.
• Hosting site has regular scheduled backups with on and off site storage.
• Complete generated back up power.
• Uses digital signature with encrypted packet transmission for security provision between the application and school district.

Account Management

To ensure that we understand the special education marketplace, our entire account management team is composed of former special educators and administrators. With over 100 years combined education experience, our account management teams understand what it is like to not only work in a paper based system, but also to use our products in real life school environments.

Friendly and personable, our account managers are responsible for training your district on how to use our software products, receiving your active feedback, and maintaining the overall customer relationship. As active partners with school districts, our account management team looks to form lasting bonds with our clients.

Training

PCG offers a variety of training vehicles to ensure that school districts are getting the maximum benefit of our products. After all, what good is a product that nobody uses? Utilizing a "Train the Trainer" model, we train your lead individuals and administrators on how to use our software product suite so that they can in turn train your product users. In addition to face to face "classroom" style training, we offer a variety of refresher courses and alternative, low cost training sessions.
Training is divided into the following categories:

• Teacher training - Teachers receive initial training in the navigation and use of our products. This training also includes the use of support tools available online, including online help, and online user manuals. Teacher training is structured to train a class of up to 20 product users to be proficient in the use of the product suite. It is the goal of teacher training for each teacher to acquire the skills to successfully enter and produce special education records in iep.online™ with the aid of the online user manual and online help.
• Administrative training - The goal of training for the admin.online™ module is to educate the District administrative staff on the setup and support of this module. Through the training session, district administrative staff is instructed on the use of the admin module capabilities which include configuration of user accounts, access rights, reporting, and district specific settings.
• Champion's training - Champion's training is an extension of our "Teach the Teacher" philosophy, in which on-site personnel from your district become technical advisors to the product suite, and can train other users in your district on the use of the program. Champions will be selected by your administration and receive special training designed to help them teach the use of the product modules.

Additional training options include:

Training may be conducted in a variety of styles, jointly agreed upon by Xperts, Inc and your district. Training options may include, but are not limited to, online training, video conferencing or presentation/lecture style.

• Refresher training - After the initial deployment training of iep.online™, districts may request refresher training to further develop the teacher as a mature user of the product suite. The prerequisite for refresher training is the use of our products to produce special education documents for at least 3-6 months.
• Working lab training - The goal of the working lab training session is to create a collaborative atmosphere where teachers can learn together in a computer lab to create drafts of various special education documents.
• Focus Group training - Focus group training provides the district with the option of specialized training targeted to a specific work group within the district. Some examples of focus group training include:
  1. Teacher training for the variety of uses for applying annual goals and objectives
  2. Psychologist training on the use of evaluation templates
  3. General education staff training (guidance counselors) in the use of the referral module
  4. Support services staff training on the use of the 504 module

Customer Support

At PCG, it is our mission to provide the ultimate customer experience. With our support module, Help Desk, we provide our clients an outstanding method to submit, track and answer any issues that should arise while using our software products.

Not only used as a system to submit issues, Help Desk also provides a historical record of previous issues that allows users to search and recall pertinent information. This greatly improves problem solving time as step by step instructions are included to help product users. Items such as announcements, release notes, training manuals and program changes can all be found online within our Help Desk system.

Once you become an iep.online™ customer, we want to ensure that you receive the ultimate in customer care. With Help Desk, you can rest assured that we have the best tools in the industry to provide you rapid response to your most pressing issues and concerns.