The Scoop
The Student Support Weekly Update - September 16, 2021
Reminder for HB 548 (SELA)
Please remember any student who meets eligibility for AI or DB who is 8 years old or younger must be assessed following the HB 548 guidelines annually.
Overview: The 86th Texas Legislature acknowledged children who are deaf or hard of hearing are often at risk for language delay. As a result, legislators passed House Bill 548 last year to generate and monitor data on the language acquisition of children eight years of age or younger who are deaf or hard of hearing. With parents permission, our district will assess children who meet this criteria annually and share the results with The Texas Education Agency (TEA), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and Texas School for the Deaf. The data collected from the language acquisition assessments does not apply towards special education eligibility, grades, or promotion to the next grade level.
Please review this spreadsheet and add to this list for for your campus. The guidance on procedures for Student Support Staff and Cy Fair RDSPD Staff is HERE. (links viewable only by TISD staff with appropriate log in). The students seen by an itinerant teacher from Cy Fair will have their evaluations completed by the Cy Fair itinerant teacher. That list will be emailed to Student Support Staff.
SHARS Update
In an effort to keep you updated as information comes in on SHARS/Medicaid, the most recent information from Angela Foote from TEA speaking with TCASE resulted in the following two major updates:
1. The effective date of the SHARS updates has been moved from October 1 to November 1, 2021
2. HHSC is giving a one year grace period for the *NPI issue.
*The NPI requirement for the prescribing or referring providers on OT/PT/Speech/Audiology therapy and evaluation claims is now effective November 1, 2021 instead of October 1, 2021 and has a one year grace period.
When updates are given to us by TSBS on our procedures for this, I will share them with you. Next steps for Student Support Staff is to continue as you were trained in August and SLPs may begin being proactive by aquiring their NPI numbers if one is not currently held. Numbers do not need to be placed on any documents at this time.
Appraisal Guidance
Parent Resource
English Language Learners
Please work with your campus LPAC representative to collaborate on this process.
CHOOSE WORDS IN A PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE CAREFULLY
A few words can make all the difference in a prior written notice. So choose your words carefully, said Melissa Hatch, a school attorney with Hatch & Cesario in California.
Double-check dates, keep sentences simple, and always use phrases that distinguish a parent's concerns from the district's proposal, advised Hatch.
For example, a recent case hinged on the precise wording of a PWN, which included a statement from the parent that her son's bus ride must not exceed 40 minutes one-way.
Although the IEP team didn't agree on a time limit, the way in which the parent's concern was included verbatim in the notice made it appear as though the time limit was part of the district's offer. The district was bound to the time limit provision written in the PWN, the hearing officer concluded. Seattle Pub. Schs., 115 LRP 30211 (SEA WA 05/21/15).
A simple phrase such as, "the parent's concern is..." or "the parent reports that..." could have cleared up this issue, Hatch said.
At its core, a PWN should clearly state who is making a proposal and what the district's decision is, she said.
Remember these essential pointers when you craft your next notice letter to a parent: Click HERE to read the full article.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Test LRE placement determinations
Student Support Shout Outs!
Lucinda Marcia - Lucinda created a new brochure for parents to help explain the early childhood evaluation process in parent-friendly language. Thank you Lucinda!
Find the brochure HERE.
Esmeralda Mansoor - did a fantastic job on an evaluation report that was needing to be expedited. The report was clear, concise, and contained multiple data sources and there was no sacrifice of quality for speed. Specific recommendations were written for the IEP/BIP. We are so glad Esmeralda decided to join Team Tomball.
Be sure and check out and read the other Smore Newsletters being produced by Student Support Staff: