Exceptional Education Newsletter
February 2022
IN THIS ISSUE
Kindness Motivational Video
Compliance Corner
Teacher Tip
Vertical Transition
Assistive Technology Tip of the Month
Message from Transition Teachers
SEAC
Professional Development Opportunities
Shoutouts
Previous Issues
COMPLIANCE CORNER
All students must have an assigned case manager in VA IEP. If you have a student who is in the initial eligibility process, assign the ICC as the case manager until the process has been completed.
Continue to work on obtaining signatures from parents to finalize and bring the IEP process compliant in VA IEP. Here are some ways schools have obtained parent signatures:
1. Use Parent Portal.
2. Schedule a time for parents to come to the school to sign.
3. Use the Office of Engagement as a resource.
4. Add all February contacts made to acquire parental signatures on the Out of Compliance Spreadsheet under the ICC Comments.
Continue to work with your case managers to ensure all annual IEP and eligibility meetings are scheduled for students. Each student must have a compliant and up-to-date IEP and eligibility. ICCs and principals will receive a February analysis of current out of compliance students.
February Updates:
February updates to the December 1 Child Count, Indicators 9, 10, 11, and the Out of Compliance Spreadsheet are now due on February 25, 2022.
Instructional and Compliance Coordinators (ICC's) should indicate "none," followed by the month of submission when there is no new information to report.
Revisions to the Out of Compliance Report should be captured each month under the ICC Comments. All students listed on the spreadsheet should have an update. If there is no update next to each student the spreadsheet will be deemed non-compliant.
As schools hold IEP meetings for English Learners, Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) teachers should be invited to participate as team members.
February ICC Meetings
The Elementary and Secondary ICC meetings for February have been canceled due to our Vertical Transition meetings. Please make sure you are attending meetings as scheduled. If for any reason a meeting is not held during the scheduled time both ICCs involved in the meeting should collaborate to reschedule. Invite parents to of the ALL transition meetings.
The January and February Playbook session has been canceled until further notice.
VERTICAL TRANSITION
Vertical Transition meetings are around the corner!
Rising 6th Grade: February 22 - February 28
Preschool-K Transitions will be scheduled with the Preschool Instructional Specialist and select elementary schools
Please prioritize these meetings!
TEACHER TIP
Discipline Tip #1
When the behavior of a student with a disability impedes the student’s learning or that of others, the IEP team must consider the use of positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports to address the student’s behavioral needs by either:
- Developing IEP goals and services specific to the student’s behavioral needs; or
- Conducting an FBA and determining the need for a BIP to address the student’s behavioral needs.
See 8 VAC 20-81-160(A)(2).
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TIP OF THE MONTH
Assistive Technology for Math
Readily available math notation and manipulative resources
EquatIO is an online editable math program to scribe math and scientific equations; also includes speech-to-text:
Teachers can sign up for a FREE teacher license to trial and use in their classroom:
Customizable graph paper to download and print:
Virtual Math Manipulatives & Visuals:
SEAC
If you have any questions, topics of discussion, or would like a copy of the agenda, please email seac@rvaschools.net.
MESSAGE FROM TRANSITION TEACHERS
Many Thanks to Karen Young and the Boushall Middle School Exceptional Education Department for our Newsletter Graphic!
Your Transition Mentor Teachers are a supportive resource to help ensure compliance and viable transition plans for our students. Feedback is given on transition sections to case managers prior to IEP meetings when we are made aware of the meeting.
We are here to help and provide support.
Transition Tip of the Month:
Increase Student Involvement with the Transition Process
A great way to build self-determination for a young adult with a disability is through the IEP process. To do this, initiate student IEP involvement early. Assist students with communicating his or her needs, wants and dreams, but let their voices be heard!
Encourage students to attend their meetings.
Learn students’ abilities, interests, needs and preferences.
Support students in expressing their dreams and aspirations.
Urge students to participate in the decision-making process.
Kaitlynn Rollins
Armstrong High School & Martin Luther King Middle School
Karen Young
George Wythe High School, Boushall Middle School & Lucille Brown Middle School
Darlene Slade
Huguenot High School & River City Middle School
Selina Wilson
John Marshall High School, Henderson Middle School, & RAS
Rebecca Parks
Thomas Jefferson High School, Albert Hill Middle School & Binford Middle School
The Transition Mentor Team Welcomes
Ms. Rebecca Parks
Ms. Rebecca Parks received her Master’s in Exceptional Education over twenty years ago from VCU where she was a member of the women’s basketball team. Upon graduation, she began living and working in the city, serving students and their families through various nonprofits. After directing the Workforce Investment Program for Chesterfield County Public Schools, Rebecca joined Richmond Public Schools as an Exceptional Education Teacher at George Wythe HS. Since then, she has taught at Broad Rock Elementary School and, most recently, Fairfield Court Elementary School.
Welcome to the TEAM!
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Please continue to reach out to your specialist for professional developments that your school staff may need.
New Special Education Teacher Cohort - the cohort meets bi-weekly at 6:00 PM on Tuesdays. The next meeting is Tuesday, February 22nd at 6 pm. It is a virtual session and you may join using this link meet.google.com/fjm-ppwh-mrp Please reach out to Carol Smith (csmith27@rvaschools.net) for more information.
Dual M.Ed. in Spanish Language and Culture for Educators
The program leads to a M.Ed. with a concentration in Spanish Language and Culture for Educators degree from James Madison University and a Salamanca Masters for Teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language degree from University of Salamanca, Spain. The program format includes one summer at JMU, one summer at USLA, and three additional academic semesters online. Applications due by March 15.
Build a Plan for Family Engagement
You will not have to leave your division to attend SURN’s 2022 Family Engagement Academy. This semester, Steve Constantino leads participants in three online workshops deliberately designed to provide the foundational and timely professional learning to finish this year strong while developing a plan for even stronger family engagement next year. Details about dates, times and costs are available from SURN. Register yourself or a team by March 7.
VAAP Standard Setting: Additional Assistance Needed
The Office of Student Assessment is in need of additional assistance for VAAP standard setting that will be occurring in April. As a reminder, the standard setting committee members are responsible for recommending minimum scores that will reflect the pass/proficient and pass/advanced performance levels on the new VAAP assessments. Educator input is critical to this task, and this could include teachers or division-level staff with experience working with students with significant cognitive disabilities.
The deadline for nominations has been extended through Friday, February 25th. School divisions are encouraged to nominate more than one individual for participation in this process. Please review the attached testing memo and share this information with other division and school leaders.
If you have questions, please contact the Student Assessment staff at Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2102.
SHOUTOUTS
- Thank you to the Richmond Virtual Academy (RVA) for presenting at the SEAC Special Session in January! They provided insight on how RVA provides instruction and services to our students and answered a lot of questions from our committee members. Thank you, RVA, for your commitment and dedication to RPS virtual learners.
- Shout out to Ms. Tomeka Liggans, the ICC at River City Middle School for her devotion to providing Exceptional Education support to the largest roster of students in RPS on the Middle School level.
- Chris Angeles, Middle School Instructional Specialist, goes above and beyond every single day! Chris is a phenomenal coach for his teachers and ICCs, and imparts the value of quality instruction. Chris is always willing to help out his peers and schools, often at the drop of a hat! He can be counted on to do what is best for students, through empowering others to grow with glows! Chris, you are greatly appreciated!