Important Special Education Update
August 13, 2020
Good Evening,
This is a follow-up email regarding Special Education services in the Wentzville School District. The Special Education Department is restructuring our service schedules for students in order to prepare for the District's opening at Level 2 (blended learning) on August 24. Additionally, we have amended our timeline to account for these changes and needed preparation. Please be assured that we are working to provide you with correct and comprehensive information in a quick and transparent fashion. The following steps are being taken to ensure Special Education services for our students. We are currently working in collaboration with each building to ensure the revised building and Special Education schedules are complete and compatible. We are also creating individual student schedules for Special Education, and then we will be able to assign and confirm case managers. Based on those components, this is what to expect in the coming week:
During the week of August 17th, the Special Education teachers will contact parents to introduce themselves, share the individual student schedules for Special Education services, and gain a brief amount of information that will help them plan for the upcoming revision of your student's IEP. The following questions will be part of the conversation. Please review these questions on behalf of your student:
Based on virtual learning last spring, what did your child experience?
Amount of time able to focus
Frustration level
Ability to independently handle assignments
Ability to attend to pre-recorded video versus live virtual instruction
What types of activities worked well?/What did not work?
During virtual learning, will someone be able to assist your student, or will your child be working on his/her own?
Does your student/family have adequate technology (including Wifi, computer, internet service) to handle virtual learning?.
What is the best form of communication for you? (email, text, phone, something else)
Do you as a parent need additional support with virtual learning? (Example: a video to learn how to use Google Meet or Google Classroom.)
What are the best days/times for you to participate in a revision meeting of your child’s IEP?
The Wentzville School District Special Education Department has been diligently problem-solving for all of the students who receive Special Education and will continue to do so. Parent questions and feedback have been helpful in navigating our current situation and providing ideas to best meet the needs of our students. Thank you for your continued trust and patience as we prepare and plan for the opening of schools.
Thank you,
The Special Education Department