SSD in a Snap April 2020 Part III
Special Services Department Newsletter
Continuing to Consolidate Communication
I'm adding some more information in "Part III" of the April 2020 Newsletter. We will keep adding information in newsletters as much as possible as questions arise. If we need to get things out right away, info will go out in an email and we will try to drop that info in the next newsletter (as "reminders." Remember, all annual IEPs and ESY meetings must be held by this Friday, May 1, 2020.
When you start to think about all that you are doing right now, be sure that you are focusing on the four things in the image below. If we are doing these four things well, we will be in good shape. Again, thank you for everything you have done, are doing, and will continue to do for our kids.
In service to children and families,
Rob
Vaulting Files
Inventory
Information About ESY and Compensatory Services
Students on your caseloads will be broken down into one of four groups.
- ESY Only
- Compensatory Services Only
- Both ESY and Compensatory Services
- Neither ESY, Nor Compensatory Services
Originally, we had planned to serve both ESY and students needing compensatory services using a schedule similar to this.
- ESY Only: Served in the AM (8-11)
- Compensatory Services Only: Served in the PM (12-3)
- Both ESY and Compensatory Services: Served in the AM and PM (8-11... lunch... 12-3)
- Neither ESY, Nor Compensatory Services: No services needed
However, MDE made the following statement in their guidance. "Compensatory services are to enable the student to make progress and should be determined after normal school operations resume."
What we do not have is a good understanding (yet) about what "normal school operations" means. At first glance, it sounds like we need to wait until August to hold meetings about compensatory services, meaning there would be no compensatory services over the summer. From a different angle, though, that phrase might be tied to the governor's decision about closing schools. If he comes back in a few weeks and makes a declaration to "open up the state," including schools, that might mean that we could hold meetings right away regarding compensatory services. We will know more in the near future and I will share that info with you.
As of right now, we are still planning to primarily tie our ESY services to the weeks of the summer reading/learning camps. If those camps get moved back due to the schools still needing to be closed, then we will likely move ESY back as well. The exception to this point is speech-language services and counseling. As of now, we are planning to do all services that CAN be provided online (such as these two) online. So, if ESY gets moved to July due to school closures, it might not affect speech or counseling services. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.
There are more ideas that we will explore if we have to move all compensatory services to August or beyond. One of those includes an "extended day" format where we might extend the school day for those that need compensatory services for an hour, two days a week. Again, this is just a backup plan at this point. Services rendered in the summer or in an "extended day" format would not necessarily be a part of your contract.
Like ESY, we will have to look at the need (after compensatory services IEP meetings) and decide how many staff we need to effectively provide compensatory services. Some staff members may be willing/able to work either ESY or provide compensatory services. Some may be willing/able to do both and some may not be willing/able to do either. We have a backup plan in the event we run into staffing issues, but I am not quite ready to share that yet. After all, we may not even need it.
Previous Guidance from MDE:
If an LEA determines that they want to provide special education services during the school closures, what should they do?
The student’s IEP Committee, or the personnel responsible for ensuring FAPE to a student for the purposes of IDEA, can be utilized to assist with the effort to determine if some, or all, of the identified services can be provided through alternate or additional methods. Accessible technology may afford students, including students with disabilities, an opportunity to have access to high-quality educational instruction during an extended school closure, especially when continuing education must be provided through distance learning. Many of the online learning options available to districts have accommodations embedded in lessons. Each student’s special education needs should be determined on an individual basis and outlined in the student’s IEP.
What will happen if a student is not able to receive certain special education services during school closures?
Based on the current circumstances and the highly individualized nature of special education services it is possible that in some cases it may be very difficult to fully implement a student’s IEP. If that is the case, IEP Committees should make every effort to meet and make any necessary revisions or additions to the student’s IEP.
Any need for compensatory services related to school closure or inability to fully implement a student’s IEP can be addressed after school resumes and should be addressed on a case-by- case basis. This might include discussions of compensatory education and extended school year (ESY) services, made on a case-by-case basis. When your district resumes standard operations, the district should collect student data to determine any student progression or regression on annual IEP goals. This data can be used to inform IEP Committee decisions and assist in compensatory service decisions.
Will all students qualify for ESY based on the current COVID-19 extenuating circumstances?
No. All ESY determinations must be made on an individual basis by each student’s IEP Committee.
When determining if a student requires compensatory services do those begin immediately or can ESY be utilized as compensatory services? What are some specific examples of compensatory services and how do we pay for these if we have limited resources?
Upon resuming normal operations, the IEP Committee will determine the need for compensatory services on an individual basis. Information and recommendations regarding compensatory services will be forthcoming.
End of Year Teacher Survey
Please complete the end of year teacher survey no later than May 22, 2020. This survey covers the following...
- Ensures that you have completed all IEP related tasks (annuals, ESY, vaulted files, etc.)
- Specific needs for your classroom or student(s)
- Teacher's summer contact information
- Professional Development Needs
It is estimated that this survey will take you approximately five minutes to complete. Click here for the survey.
Changing Grade Levels and School Assignments in SEAS
REMINDER: Service Documentation
Reminder: Annual Parent Surveys
We definitely want to think about how and when to share the survey link, like waiting until an IEP meeting to send it so the parent is reminded to look for it. If you have already held the annual IEP and the ESY meeting, you might choose to send out each email and then use the parent's preferred method of communication (phone/text/Remind/School Status/etc.) to let them know you sent the link in an email.
You COULD consider sending one group email with a pre-typed message and the link, but you would need to use "Bcc" for each of the parents' email addresses. You would put your own email address in the "To" section. To parents, it would look like the email was sent from you to you, but the message would start with "Dear Parents..." Remember, if a parent replies to that email, you would need to check to be sure they did not "Reply to all" which could put you in a FERPA situation if you replied back to all. You may need to make a note that it is a group email and they can contact you with questions in a separate email, phone, text... whatever you prefer.
Let's use a SOFT DEADLINE of May 1st to get these complete. That means we would need to send the survey link sooner so parents have time to complete them. We also want to try to get confirmation from parents that they have completed the survey. I understand that might be difficult. Try using the regularly scheduled times/methods you already have in place for natural communication so that you do not have to make a bunch of extra calls/texts/etc. If you have questions, or if Dr. Cox and I can help you, please let me know.
https://cspr.mde.k12.ms.us/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=74K04l4K
REMINDER: *NEW* IEP Guidance Document
REMINDER: Add/Drop/Update Surveys
REMINDER: Online Classroom Access
***VERY FEW SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS HAVE DONE THIS. PLEASE CONNECT US IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.***
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