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SSD in a Snap - March 2020
Special Services Department Newsletter
COVID-19 Updates
We are almost a full week into servicing our students online, and just over a week from when we began crafting instructional support plans for each of our students, contacting parents, and writing IEP amendments. That is an AMAZING accomplishment for just seven days of work! Dr. Cox and I have been speaking to parents and they are thrilled about the support you have given them; providing encouragement, resources, and serving their children. This interaction is the brightest part of the day for many of our students and one parent told me (at the gas station yesterday) that the way we responded to the situation (having a plan, providing Chromebooks, promising internet to do the work "just like normal kids") has given him "hope that things are just going to work out okay." As we have often heard, the work we do today - the seeds we plant - may not produce fruit right away. But someday, these student will look back and remember that you were there for them when they needed you. Thank you for being "the one" (strong adult relationship outside the home) for our kids.
In service to children and families,
Rob
Video Meeting re: ESY Paperwork
Amendments: What Now?
If you have parents that you have been unable to reach for amendment meetings, do not panic. Send me their names and I will work to make contact with them for you. If you have parents that refuse an amendment (I did have one teacher contact me about this), please have them call me and I will handle it. Many times, the parent has "why" and "what if" questions beyond the information you have been given. In those circumstances, let me pinch hit.
Online Classroom Access
Timelines (Initial Evaluations and Reevaluations)
Initial Evaluations
To this point, the USDE and MDE have not released a statement about waivers for missing timelines on students if we are unable to complete their testing. This means that we are required to meet all federal and state-mandated timelines until we hear otherwise. We are responding by ensuring that every in-process evaluation is as complete as it can be so that we can quickly bring to a close (upon our return) any evaluation that lacks assessments due to required face-to-face instruments/interaction (achievement, IQ, observations). Dr. Labat is typing up each open evaluation and including the information/testing that was completed and received to this point. Remember, once we have these initial evaluations completed and (some) students are ruled eligible, we will need to have IEPs written and in place within 30 days.Reevaluations
We are asking special educators to continue ("short form"/no additional assessments) any eligibility that will come due through December 2020 (just to be safe), even if you think that additional assessments may be necessary at this time. When we come back to school, we will address each of those reevaluations individually to determine if we need to open the student up and "conduct a reevaluation with additional assessments." This will allow us to ensure that students with an existing eligibility under IDEA will continue to receive services, even if their eligibility was set to expire during the weeks we are out of school.
MDE Info Regarding High School Students
Graduation for the Class of 2020
Current seniors who meet all district and state requirements may graduate this school year. The requirement that students take end-of-course assessments in Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History has been suspended for seniors because these assessments cannot be administered in spring 2020. Statewide, students are required to earn a minimum of 24 Carnegie units to graduate.
Students Scheduled to Take High School End-of-Course Assessments
Any student in grades 7 through 12 who is currently enrolled in Algebra I, Biology, English II and/or U. S. History during the 2019-2020 school year will not be required to take and/or pass the corresponding end-of-course subject area test(s) or meet one of the options in lieu of passing the test(s) to meet graduation requirements.
High School Credits (Carnegie Units)
School districts shall determine a process for awarding a Carnegie unit credit for courses that are incomplete for school year 2019-2020. Local school boards have the authority to suspend or amend their graduation policies for the 2019-2020 school year, provided the policies continue to meet state standards.
MDE Info Regarding Elementary Students (3rd Grade)
3rd Graders
Current 3rd graders will be promoted to 4th grade for the 2020-2021 school year if the student meets all other district requirements for promotion.
Rob French, Director of Special Services
Rymsky Labat, Psychometrist
Shannon Ladner, Special Services Secretary
Adelia Luke, PCHS SpEd Chair
Savannah Rishel, PCMS SpEd Chair
Martha Hackney, PCES SpEd Chair
Email: rfrench@pc.k12.ms.us
Website: https://www.pc.k12.ms.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1197786&type=d&pREC_ID=1439138
Location: 6457 Kiln Delisle Road, Pass Christian, MS, USA
Phone: (228) 255-6205