Special Education SPOTLIGHT Issue 4
Quarter 1
Quarter 2 Update
Spotlight on Staff
Cara Passentino, Special Education Evaluation Manager
Hi there! Welcome to our 4th issue of the Special Education SPOTLIGHT. I am Cara Passentino, the district’s Special Education Evaluation Manager. This is my second year being in this role; the twenty years prior to that, I was a special education teacher at Byron Middle School. Although I truly miss teaching students every day, as well as my Middle School family, transitioning from the classroom to my new role has been exciting. I am grateful to be continually learning new things as well as spending time with students, families, and staff from all of our Byron schools! I am also a parent in the Byron district with 8th and 11th grade sons who attend the Middle and High Schools. I thoroughly enjoy working as a team to provide the most appropriate education for our students!
What is the Evaluation Process for Special Education?
The student Support Team (SST) meets to discuss all of the information the team has regarding the student and decides what additional information and data is needed for the upcoming evaluation. Using this information, an evaluation plan is created.
An evaluation plan includes
each area that will be assessed
the assessments that will be completed in each area
the evaluator who will complete each assessment
The Evaluation/Reevaluation Plan Prior Written Notice, including a Parental Consent/Objection form, as well as a copy of Procedural Safeguards/Parental Rights, is given to the student’s parents/guardians.
For initial evaluations, the evaluation manager will offer to talk through the evaluation plan with parents/guardians and answer any questions.
For initial evaluations, the school district will not proceed with the evaluation until parental/guardian consent is given.
For reevaluations, the school district will proceed with the evaluation in 14 calendar days (as noted on the Reevaluation Plan Prior Written Notice, unless a parent/guardian objects in writing within 14 calendar days and either requests a conciliation conference, a meeting with appropriate Individualized Education Program (IEP) team members, files an impartial due process hearing, or requests a mediation or a facilitated team meeting.
Once the District has received the signed Parental Consent form (or 14 calendar days have lapsed, for reevaluations only), the District has 30 school days to complete the evaluation.
The District and parents/guardians will set a meeting to review the results of the evaluation and determine if the student is eligible for and needs special education and related services; and if eligible, develop an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plan.
As always, reach out with questions if you have them.
Come See us Shine!
Rochester Raiders
Give the Raiders a follow on facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/RochesterRaidersAdaptedAthletics/
January 17th, 5:30pm - Varsity Floor Hockey vs. St. Paul Humboldt (Dakota Middle School, Rochester MN)
January 25th, 4:30pm - Varsity Floor Hockey vs. Anoka-Hennepin (Andover Community Center, Adover, MN)
February 1st, 4:30pm - Varsity Floor Hockey vs. Brainerd (Maple Grove Middle School, Maple Grove, MN)
February 10th, 8am -10:30am - Raiders Breakfast and Silent Auction will be at the Rochester International Event Center this year
Ticket price: $12/person. Under 3 years: free.
Go Raiders!
Early Childhood Fun
Help Me Grow!
Zumbro Education District has created a Help Me Grow Facebook page to share monthly tips and information with the families in our community. Here is the link if you'd like to follow them:
An early intervention for children birth to kindergarten entrance is Help Me Grow. Follow the QR code or the link below to refer a child.