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Special Education Update

Special Education Update. 2013-2014. What is Special Education?. Special Education is specially designed instruction and modifications that meet the needs of the individual student.

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Special Education Update

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  1. Special Education Update 2013-2014

  2. What is Special Education? • Special Education is specially designed instruction and modifications that meet the needs of the individual student. • This federally funded program provides a free, appropriate, public education to students with disabilities as set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

  3. When Should I refer a student to Special Education • All educators must provide evidence of strategies, services and accommodations before the consideration of a Special Education referral. • Every school must have a campus team meeting to review strategies and consider additional accommodations before a referral is made to Special Education.

  4. Auditory Impairment Emotional Disturbance Intellectually Disabled Other Health Impairment Speech Impairment Visual Impairment Learning Disabled Deaf Blindness Traumatic Brain Injury Multiple Disabilities Non-categorical Early Childhood Orthopedic Impairment Autism Please note: A student can not qualify for Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy unless they meet one of the handicapping conditions above and show aneducational need. What are the Handicapping Conditions?

  5. How do Students Qualify for Special Education? • Students must have an educational need and, • all students must have a Full Individual Evaluation (FIE) completed by the Diagnostician and/or Licensed Specialist in School Psychology and, • the ARD must determine the student is eligible and needs special education services.

  6. Learning Disability • There are many reasons students under achieve in school. • If a student has a lack of instruction, whether due to absences or high mobility, that student may not be considered a student with a specific learning disability.

  7. New Timelines • School districts now have 45 school days to test from the date of the signed parental consent on an initial evaluation for Special Education services. • If the student is absent for more than 3 days during that time period, the timeline will increase by the number of days the student is absent.

  8. Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Meetings • All Special Education students will have at least one ARD meeting per year. • Parents must have the opportunity to provide meaningful input. • Be cautious of making a recommendation that will cost additional funds. Prior approval is needed.

  9. Admission, Dismissal and Review(ARD) • There is no such thing as an emergency ARD, parents must be given a 5 day notice. • Remember, if the parents waive their 5 business days, there are other staff members who need to be in attendance. • ARD meetings should be set at a mutually agreed upon time.

  10. What should I bring to the ARD meeting? • Grades/progress notes • Attendance record • Information about competencies (Competencies or those task the student can complete successfully) • Samples of work, including evidence of modifications and/or accommodations • Behavior logs/notes, if necessary

  11. Confidentiality • All Special Education student records are to remain confidential. They may only be viewed by school staff members who have a legitimate reason to know. • Substitute teachers must follow the same confidentiality rules as employees.

  12. Behavior and Change of Placement • If a special Education student is suspended or placed in In-School Suspension (ISS) for more than 10 school days, an ARD must be convened. This is a change of placement. • If a student is placed at the Lockhart Discipline Management Center (LDMC), an ARD must be convened. This is a change of placement.

  13. Behavior and Change of Placement • Manifestation Determination must be considered if a Special Education student is going to be out of placement for 10 days or more. • The ARD must decide if the infraction is directly related to the handicapping condition and if the school implemented the IEP correctly.

  14. Transportation • The need for Special Education transportation is an ARD committee decision. • The ARD should consider safety as the primary reason for placing a student on the Special Education bus. • Not every student with behavior needs should be placed on the Special Education bus. • If a student has been suspended from the Special Education bus for 10 days or more, an ARD must be convened. This student is considered out of IEP placement.

  15. Restraint, Confinement and Timeout • A core team of personnel on each campus must be trained in the use of restraint, and the team must include a campus administrator or designee and any general or special education personnel likely to use restraint.

  16. Restraint • Restraint" means the use of physical force or a mechanical device to significantly restrict the free movement of all or a portion of the child's body. • Restraint should only be used when there is a threat of imminent harm to self or destruction of property • Parents must be immediately notified and the restraint must be documented. • All restraints must be reported to Texas Education Agency at the end of the school year.

  17. Timeout • Time-out" means a behavior management technique in which, to provide the child with an opportunity to regain self-control, the child is separated from other children for a limited period in a setting that is not locked or blocked. • This technique can be used without physical force or the threat of physical force, along with an array of positive strategies. • Must be stated as a technique in the IEP.

  18. Confinement • The child with a disability, who receives special education services must not be confined in a locked box, locked closet, or other specially designed locked space as either a discipline management practice or a behavior management technique. • There are a few exceptions related to weapons and law enforcement. • Please read: Texas Education Code § 37.0021. Use of Confinement, Restraint, Seclusion and Time-Out for more information.  

  19. Last Minute Tips • Failure to past the state assessment is not the only consideration for Special Education services. A variety of information needs to be considered. • Homebound services require a note from a medical doctor. • Always consider the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for educational placement. • If a Special Education student is failing, please have an ARD and consider changing modifications and accommodations.

  20. Have A Great Year Contact Information Monica Parks Executive Director of Special Education, 504 and Gifted and Talented 401 Bois D’Arc Lockhart, TX 78644 512-398-0260

  21. Please Click on the Link Below • All Lockhart Professional Staff are required to take the test at the link below: • http://www.lockhartisd.org/forms/special_ed/knowledge_test/

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