The Scoop
Special Services Update - September 12, 2022
Communication, The Scoop & You!
Cross Talk: Friday, September 16th. Breakfast starts at 8:00. We will take a TEAM PICTURE at 8:30. Please wear your Gray Student Support tshirt (I am because we are #Ubuntu) on Friday for the picture. If you are new this year, we may have a tshirt for you. If you do not have a Student Support tshirt, you can wear any gray shirt or any tomball isd district or campus tshirt.
There may be a lot of information in the SCOOP that you are responsible for knowing. We want to limit all the separate group emails, so we condense most of our communication into this newletter for you and for easy reference to go back and find. Please be sure and read each edition of the Scoop carefully and let us know if you have any questions.
Have a great week!
~Keri
Recap of Last Issue:
Be sure and look back if needed for any information on:
- Updated Procedural Safeguards. Everyone should be using the newly updated procedural safeguards with the contact information included. If you have any questions regarding these, please contact your lead or PEIMS clerk.
- Being a homebound teacher is a great way to help kids, make a difference, and earn a little extra income in the process. Please fill out the Homebound Interest Form if you are interested in providing Homebound services to students during the 2022-23 school.
- ALL PIEMS errors MUST be corrected by snapshot in October. This means any student coming in without finalized eligibility or with an out of date NCEC or Elgibility not recognized in Texas, testing and ARD must be completed BEFORE snapshot even if timelines allow for longer.
- eSped Frontline Fatal PEIMS errors help video HERE
- SSES+ Medically Fragile Program (New August 2022)
Families with students identified as medically fragile are now eligible to receive additional funding through SSES+. Families should apply for SSES+ Medically Fragile using the same application as the original SSES Program. To Apply for both the SSES+ Medically Fragile and SSES Programs, go here to apply: sses.tea.texas.gov.
- On September 1, 2022, TEA posted a To the Administrator Address Letter: New and Updated STAAR Redesign Resources. Beginning with the spring 2023 administration, STAAR will be redesigned to align more closely with effective classroom instruction. There will be more updates on this at Cross Talk
TEA recently published guide for severe behaviors includes topic-specific resources and templates from the Texas Behavior Support Initiative.
Download the guide here.
- ECSE and Pre-K Collaborative (PKC), please refer to this guidance document for ARDing students for District testing (i.e. Circle vs. Brigance). If you have any questions, please contact your Student Support Specialist.
Extra Duty Special Education Evaluations & Saturday Testing Clinics
Extra Duty Special Education Evaluations
The purpose of Extra Duty Special Education Evaluations is to provide timely and compliant special education evaluations to students currently in the process of initial or re-evaluation for special education in Tomball ISD. District Diagnosticians, LSSPs, SLPs, and related service providers who wish to participate in extra duty testing outside of their contracted hours. The sign-up and more information can be found here.
Saturday Testing Clinics
The purpose of Saturday Testing Clinics is to provide timely and compliant special education evaluations to students currently in the process of initial or re-evaluation for special education in Tomball ISD, as well as to provide opportunities for Educational Diagnostician graduate student interns to accrue required practicum experience. More information on how to participate can be found here.
Assessment, Behavior, & Communication (ABC) Collaboration
ABC meetings designate a time that assessment staff come together to review and reflect on evaluation cases that may need additional guidance or support.
When is it mandated that I participate?
Mandatory participation for the following cases
· Suspicion of autism in Asian students, including initial and re-evaluations. All evaluation staff involved must participate twice. The first meeting will occur when evaluation consent is obtained, to plan the evaluation. The second meeting will occur when all data has been collected, to review the data and evaluation report.
· Cases where the student is going to be a DNQ (does not qualify). This does NOT include Speech Only. For speech-only students who do not qualify then you are welcome to come to present the case if you feel support is needed.
What if I do not have a case mandating participation?
· All evaluation staff must participate at least once per semester. If you do not have one of the cases mandated above, choose a challenging case where peer collaboration would be beneficial.
· Staff can participate in as many meetings as they would like.
ABC Sign up
Update Notice eSTAR ARD/IEP
The following updates have been made to Frontline.
FEATURES
• Edit button added to records on Residential Facility Tracker screen
• “Limited English proficiency” changed to “emergent bilingual” on many screens and reports
Link to Notice: Frontline Notice of Changes
GameChanger Challenges for the Week
Opportunity to win team points this week:
- There will be a team challenge at Cross Talk and multiple oppotunities for points. See you there!
Check out our team points counter below. Points added this week:
Team Infinity: 6 points
Team BullsEye: 3 points
Team Titan: 4 points
Team Progress Makers: 3 points
Team Goal Diggers: 2 points
Team 2Legit: 2 points
Team Misfits: 1 point
Don't forget the team with the highest points by each Cross Talk will host the #TISDGameChangers trophy for the month and receive prizes! Let's have some fun at work!
#TISDGameChangers ....
#Team Titan
#Team Infinity
#Team Progress Makers
Tip of the Week: Ensure IEP team members are working together effectively
"When forming an IEP team, there are certain members who need to be included. Generally, this consists of the student's parent, the general education teacher, a district representative, a special education teacher, and another person capable of interpreting evaluation results. 34 CFR 300.321 (a).
But what happens when the team itself isn't working well together? An unproductive IEP team may develop entrenched disputes and possible due process complaints, said Lenore Knudtson, an educational consultant with Pingora Consulting, LLC. Ensuring IEP teams are working together effectively will allow districts to keep disputes low and students' needs at the forefront of meetings.
Knudtson shared insight into what contributes to an IEP team working cohesively and productively:"
Click HERE for more tips on this topic
CASE FILE: Child's slow progress on behavior goals doesn't justify challenge to IEPs
Ruling: The U.S. District Court, District of Colorado held that the IEPs of a grade schooler with autism, Down syndrome, and hearing and vision impairments were appropriate under the IDEA. It upheld an administrative law judge's decision concluding that the district offered the student FAPE. The court also affirmed the ALJ's conclusion that the district was required to reimburse the parents for an independent educational evaluation.
Click HERE to read the full article.
We Will Miss you Kalli!
A note from Kalli Wakefiedl
I wanted to take a moment to let you all know that I have resigned from Tomball ISD. My last day in TISD will be Friday, September 23rd.
I have an opportunity to do something that I have dreamed of since I was a little girl. This has been a very difficult decision as this has been home for 7+ years but it is something that I cannot pass up and feel called to do. I love working in Tomball ISD and working closely with all of you amazing teachers. I will miss everyone greatly. Thank you for allowing me to help support your classrooms and the LIP programs over the years.
Tomball ISD is a great place to be and I cannot see the wonderful things that happen in the coming years.
Thank you, Tomball ISD.
SECOND WEEK OF SCHOOL SHOUT OUTS!
Rosmari Boyrie - She went out of her way to complete the language dominance evaluation for one of the students at Timber Creek on a very short notice. Rosmari is always ready to help and share her vast knowledge!
Beth Goodrich - for being a great communicator and for organizing a fun lunch with our team!
Dr. Le - joined our circle meeting this morning to explain Ring to the LSSPs, as it requires paperwork from MDRs. She did this last minute, and I appreciate her joining us to tell us about it, and that she always works with us on MDRs to ensure we are in the loop.
John Day - for his continual support with the AB program at TJHS. He works with staff and students to build plans, relationships, and learning!
The PALS team at CPJH - who demonstrate excellent patience and work ethic every day. You can see their heart in their work.
New diagnostician group - You are a great team, and I love hearing your ideas and feedback at our team meetings.
Kim Day - for her support of our SLL classroom at LES!
Kelly Robles, Jennifer Rodriguez, and Kim Day for pulling #TeamInfinity together for pictures last week and along with them, Nancy Newton for being the team tweeters.
Jacy Warren and Shelbi Redfearn - for adjusting in a shared space at THS during this transitional period.
Audra Arnold - for supporting RES in their new adventures!!
Lucinda Marcia - for supporting our ECSE teachers on campus.
Whitney Perdomo - for supporting the team at RES!
Jessica Mueller is fantastic at her job. She really knows her role and does a great job with families. She is compassionate and listens to any concerns that team members, families and advocates may have.
Tiffany Taylor - has jumped right in and is doing a fantastic job as the new Diag at Creekview.
More Information
Be sure and check out and read the other Smore Newsletters being produced by Student Support Staff:
The LIP Ledger - new
The Specialized Support Snippits - coming soon