The Scoop
Special Services Update - March 28, 2022
Frontline and eSchool
- Coded with SPED status "Currently Served".
- Contain correct DOB.
- Contain correct TISD student ID #.
Please help us keep special education enrollment numbers in eSchool accurate by keeping up with the following:
- When EE students enroll, update the the temporary ID # to the new official student ID #.
- Make sure that the student file does not have any PEIMS errors.
- When dismissing a student, go to the "Enrollment Dates" screen, enter a dismissal date and "terminate all services". Wait 2 days before changing the sped status from "Currently Served" to "Dismissal".
- When re-activating a file that was previously in special education, email beth.darbe@tomballisd.net to ensure that the file is set up to correctly sync to eSchool. This would include students previously dismissed, or students were previously withdrawn, and have returned.
End of Year Evaluation Timelines
Please note the following about end of year evaluation timelines. The due dates in Frontline will automatically calculate based on the below legal timelines.
Consent obtained April 7-22 (35-44 school days from last instructional day) - If consent is obtained at least 35 but less than 45 school days before the last instructional day of the school year, the evaluation must be completed and report provided to the parent/guardian no later than June 30th of that year. *Then the ARD committee shall meet no later than the 15th school day of the following year to consider the evaluation.
Consent obtained April 7-22 (35-44 school days from last instructional day) but student is absent more than 3 days – , that period may, with written permission from the Program Specialist for Assessment, or Director of Special Education be extended by the number of school days equal to the absences.
Consent obtained after April 22 (less than 35 school days from last instructional day) – School days from the date of consent will be counted through the last instructional day of the school year and pick up again on the first day of the school year to complete the evaluation.
Children referred from ECI continue to follow the three is three guidelines. If consent is obtained, the child must be evaluated and services (if deemed necessary) provided by the child’s third birthday.
HAND in HAND EXPO - April 9th
Please spread the word to and share this flyer with families! It will be a great event :) Hope to see you there!
Appraisal Meetings Scheduled Soon
To prepare for these meetings, continue to gather evidence of your work towards your goals and the areas of appraisal if you have any. You can upload documents into your file in Eduphoria Strive. If you have any questions regarding this process please feel free to reach out to keriwilliams@tomballisd.net
Although it has been a very busy and not typical type of year, there have been so many things to celebrate with the accomplishments and actions of the Special Services Staff! Can't wait to get to see all of those great things documented and praised!
STAAR Updates
TEA has released guidance on "Special Paper Administration of an Online Test Policy". For tests offered online, including STAAR, EOC, and TELPAS, paper administration will not be allowed unless a request is made to and approved by TEA. Requests for a special paper administration will only be approved if the rationale includes evidence that a paper administration is due to the student's inability to access the assessment or accommodations in an online format.
Changes needed for STAAR testing must be made no later than 2 weeks before the STAAR administration. Please be mindful of this when scheduling ARDS. Timelines to assist in planning are:
· May EOC tests and STAAR Assessments (Grade 3-8): ARD/Amendments need to be completed by April 15th (EOC) and April 22nd (Grade 3-8 STAAR).
Spring Respite Event - April 23rd
This event will be fun for the students and is free for parents :) If you are interested in working this event, please complete the registration form.
An email was sent out to eligible parents to register for this event. Please spread the word to families and make them aware that this event is happening!
ESY Positions still needed! Help Wanted!
The pay for summer positions has been increased by 20% for this year!
If you are interested in working or have questions about ESY/Compensatory positions, please email Kalli Wakefield kalliwakefield@tomballisd.net
C-SEP Training for Diagnosticians and LSSPs
What is C-SEP?
C-SEP (Core-Selective Evaluation Process) is an efficient and comprehensive approach to identify students with Specific Learning Disability (SLD) by determining a pattern of strengths and weaknesses using the core tests of the Woodcock-Johnson (WJ) IV, Wechsler or Kaufman Batteries with additional "selective" testing conducted as needed. Each assessment contains a "core" set of tests that provides a representative survey of abilities measured by the battery. Examiners can selectively administer additional tests to provide greater breadth of measurement in an area of cognition or linguistic competency or in a domain of achievement.
Who is required to attend?
Diagnosticians and LSSPs are required to attend. If you are mentoring a student diagnostician, please invite him/her to join with you. SLPs and other related service providers are also welcome to attend.
We will meet from 8:30-3:30 each day, with one hour for lunch.
Day 1: Getting to Know C-SEP Training & Case Study
Day 2: Organizing Data & Establishing a FRQ & Pattern Seeking
Day 3: Report Writing and Case Studies
Tuesday, Jun 7, 2022, 08:30 AM
Tomball ISD Staff Development Center. 1302 Keefer Road. Rooms 107 & 118
Ruling Roundup by LRP
This week's topic: 5 Key takeaways from Circuit Court interpretations of Endrew F.
LRP Publication, Amy E. Slater, Esq covers 5 Key takeaways form the Circuit Court interpretations of Endrew F. "Although the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District RE-1, 69 IDEAR 174 (2017), clarified the standard of FAPE, it also raised a few questions about districts' obligations under the IDEA." The article covers guidance that has since been provided to better interpret various components of the ruling.
Click HERE to read about
TIP OF THE WEEK - Searching in eSPED for screens
In Frontline you can type the name of a page needed in the clear bar in any of the aps (ARD, FIE, Notices, etc), rather than scrolling down to find. If looking for Parent Contact Log page, start typing in the title and it will show up!
UPAR - Change in how to develop a protocol
Video HERE
Student Support Shout Outs
Shawna Living & Terri D'Agostino- They have demonstrated great teamwork and collaboration on bilingual evaluations. Thank you Shawna for being helpful in providing guidance, giving feedback and drawing conclusions for the team evaluations.
LSSP Team - The LSSP team has been absolutely amazing in helping to cover ARDs, staffings and evaluations at GOES and GLJH. Extra shout out to Pooja for all her work.
Shelbi Redfern - Shelbi has made it a point to educate ALL staff members on how vital the use of AACs are. She has developed a training program for the paraprofessionals and has helped instill the expectation that AACs are the students’ voices and need to be wherever they are. At THS PALS, we have a word of the week and anytime that word is used, it is reinforced by the adult working with that student. It is now the accepted norm that devices go wherever the students go, whether it’s in a PALS classroom, a Gen Ed classroom or an event.
We have seen an increase in verbal utterances as well as augmented communication. This directly supports and increases the inclusion of our students in the campus instructional focus of increasing speaking and writing skills. Shelbi makes a difference in the quality of life of all of our students.Marcia Deleyer - Marcia is a phenomenal educator. The work that she does for her students is amazing. Seeing how her students thrive in the program is incredible. Way to go Marcia! Thank you for all of the passion and hard work that you pour into your students.
More Information
Be sure and check out and read the other Smore Newsletters being produced by Student Support Staff: