Special Education Helpful Info
Some Basics About Special Education for Parents
Why Special Education?
Parents and teachers are the most important people in a child's education. When children are struggling in school or have identified disabilities, parents and teachers face challenges to ensure that each child receives the best possible education, services, and interventions to meet his/her individual needs. The special education department is committed to helping parents and teachers navigate the domain of special education to best meet students' needs. This flyer includes some helpful information and answers some 'frequently asked questions' that parents and/or teachers may have about the special education process .
This information was pulled from the NASPONLINE.ORG website, which provides information to School Psychologists across the nation. It can be accessed here: http://www.nasponline.org/
WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT MY CHILD'S PROGRESS?
Start here:
- The first step should be to contact the child's teacher(s). The classroom teachers are well-versed in basic interventions and supports that may be able to assist the student enough to overcome his/her challenges. A teacher conference may be requested as soon as the parent has a concern.
- A parent should not enter the parent-teacher conference empty-handed -- it is helpful if the parent makes a list of concerns and/or questions to be addressed during the meeting. Close collaboration between home and school is essential for student success!
How Do I Ask for 'Special Help'?
What is Response to Intervention (RtI)?
*Please note that multiple interventions may be attempted within the RtI process for your child, which can take time for teachers and RtI members to complete*
What if the interventions don't seem to work?
The Eligibility Process in Special Education
Evaluation Information
An evaluation for special education eligibility is conducted to determine if:
A.) The child has a disability, as defined by federal law
-and-
B.) The child's educational needs related to the disability require specialized intervention that can only be provided through special education services
Children ages 3-21 may be served through special education programs across the United States.
Parents must agree to an evaluation. This can't take place without your consent.
What happens during the evaluation?
At this point, the student will be assessed by a team of school-based, multidisciplinary professionals, with each individual concentrating on his/her area of expertise. This can include the Learning Disabilities Teacher/Consultant, School Psychologist, Social Worker, Occupational and/or Physical therapist, Speech and language pathologist and School nurse, among others.
What happens after the evaluation is completed?
If the child is not found eligible for special education, classroom interventions may continue to assist the student with his/her needs in the regular education classroom.
What happens after the child is determined to be a child with a disability?
Once a child is eligible for special education and has an IEP at school, his/her eligibility status will be reviewed every three years to determine if special education is still the correct placement for reaching the maximum learning potential for that student. Your child's case manager will contact you during this time, and an additional meeting will be scheduled. In addition, each student's IEP is reviewed yearly, and can be amended as needs arise.
Common Vocabulary in Special Education:
- Behavior Intervention Plan or Behavior Improvement Plan (BIP) - This plan contains specific goals and positive strategies used to improve behavior of a student in the classroom.
- Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) - This is a concept from civil rights law, guaranteeing all children, including those with a disability, a free and appropriate public education.
- Individualized Education Program/Plan (IEP) - This document describes the goals/objectives/services for a student found eligible for special education.
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - The maximum extent in which a student eligible for special education is with his/her general education peers. This is why the "push-in method" of special education (SPED teacher comes into the regular education classroom to assist student) is preferred to the "pull-out method" of special education (student is pulled out of classroom away from peers for extra academic instruction).
- Section 504 Plan - This is a federal legislation that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in public schools. If the child's disability does not require special education or related services, then he/she may be eligible for a Section 504 plan that specifically describes accommodations that are necessary for the child to access instruction in the classroom. Section 504 plans are often related to medical disabilities, such as requiring a Gatorade in class for low blood sugar and/or diabetes, or access to an elevator for a physical handicap.