One Parent to Another
Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting March 14, 2016
Director's Update by Brad Wilson
- Student Assistance Counselor at the middle school
- RI Transition Institute (see smore newsletter on that https://www.smore.com/qg8dx-one-parent-to-another )
- Last two years focused on students participating in their own IEP
- Focus this year: What is that bridge between HS and College/Work Ready (informational 1 day event)
- Question: Is this like the RIPIN one? Similar, but we want to do our own and alter it slightly to match the community
- One parent wanted it to be more specific and detailed
- Question: What is Project Search? http://www.rihealthcarematters.org/index.php?controller=index&module=PromisePractice&action=view&pid=595
- ORS worker for the southern area-we are the highest in the state
- ESY dates need to be nailed down (see attachment); we've had a difficult time staffing ESY and last year it was staffed by folks outside of EG so times were modified and other changes made
- Parents are recommended to attend the RIDE community sessions on the redesign of Secondary Regulations on March 22nd 6:00-7:30 at NKHS
- Cannot find a substitute SLP for MFE speech provider (if you know anyone, please send them to Brad)
Access Brad's Handout here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzT2RvJArom5Y2FvUGlzbHJjWGFfcnpSSHgySWlqaEdyUlZR/view?usp=sharing
Parent Discussion about An Evening with David Kane
- Parents need to know their rights, they need to know what RTI is, what should we do if our child is struggling, we need more information nights like this
- Parents who are not on Facebook wanted to know how they can access these newsletters/information
- Parents might not even know what to ask
- Another parent said it is difficult because you don't know which parents have special needs students to "spread the word" or share information
- Survey feedback-helpful-four said 'yes' and two said 'no'; most heard from the school email, would like-ABC's of IEPs, transitioning out of HS, wanted more Q&A time
- Should we focus on small, targeted groups (e.g. by MS/HS transition, you know the IEP information)
- Parents got the information from the school email (our newletter needs to find avenues like this to effectively reach parents) (discussed posting the smore newsletters on the district website or Supt newsletter)
- On the school website, there is a parent resource for the SEAC but there is very limited information (suggestion to add the Facebook information on that page)
Join the SEAC advisory list serve:
Berkmarinofamily@gmail.com
Scoutbagbetsy@gmail.com
Parent Priority Survey
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/findwhatworks.aspx
http://www.intensiveintervention.org/chart/instructional-intervention-tools
http://www.bestevidence.org/
http://www.fcrr.org/
http://www.samhsa.gov/ebp-web-guide
There is an online module from Vanderbilt University that walks you through understanding what it means to be "evidence or research based" and where to get that information:
http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/ebp_01/
We discussed one parent's experience with ST Math (totally visual).
http://www.mindresearch.org/stmath
What can WE do on this topic:
- Incorporate this into the teacher survey
- Then review that data/see what it shows
ABLE Act Update
Parent Social Get Togethers
Felicia's -Wednesday April 13th at 9:15am, 12:40pm hosted by the co-chairs
Meritage- Wednesday, 6pm
Legislation
The Senate version (S-2391) is scheduled for hearing in the Senate Education Committee this Wednesday, March 9th at the RISE of the Senate (approximately 4:30).
If passed, the following language will be added to the existing law, extending services to students beyond age 21 under conditions outlined below:
(f) A child with a disability as referenced in subsection (a) of this section shall have available to them any benefits provided by this section up to their twenty-first birthday. Provided, in the event such a child with a disability is enrolled in a post-secondary or transitional educational program as part of the services provided to the child by the school committee or local education agency (LEA), and such child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age during a school or program year, then the school committee's or LEA's obligation to pay for the post-secondary or transitional program shall continue through to the conclusion of the school or program's academic year.