Help! My child is having trouble at school! What do I do? Rebecca Newfield, Guidance Counselor Nikki Ionescu, Special Education Teacher December 13, 2016

Agenda Guiding Question: What’s the barrier getting in the way of learning for your child? What to do if you and/or the teacher are concerned? Who is involved and how does it work? Tiered supports Next steps and referral process The IEP process

Turn and Talk What do you think of when you hear special education? This is NOT the special education you knew

First Step of the Special Education Process If you’re concerned, reach out to the teacher first The teacher will reach out to you with concerns What to do if you don’t agree– keep talking

Next Steps… The teacher will: contact relevant related service providers (RSPs) RSPs will observe and provide strategies to try Request to attend a PPT (Pupil Personnel Team) meeting

Who are the helpers? Rebecca – Guidance Counselor Nick/Sarah- Occupational Therapists Nikki – Special Education Teacher Torrie – Speech Language Therapist Peter – AIS Teacher (math) Francesca – AIS Teacher (reading) Paraprofessionals – individual/classroom support Maggie - Principal

PPT Teacher reports RSPs brainstorm Strategies to try, small groups Assign case manager Check in with case manager at 4 weeks Check in at 6-8 weeks with teacher Determine next steps– continue, revise, or request an evaluation

What does the help look like? Tier one supports in the classroom Seat cushions, pencil grips, study carrels, fidgets Movement break strategies individual academic tools (e.g., number lines, personal word walls, checklists, etc.) Differentiated work/small group instruction (step- by-step guidelines, modified work) Create a plan with the student Independent work space

Tier two supports Can be in or out of the classroom Peter– math enrichment and support (push in) Nikki- academic support (push in & pull out) Francesca- reading support (push in & pull out)

6-8 weeks later… Decide to continue with program or adjust Or request special education evaluation

The steps of the IEP (individualized education program) process Initial referral or request for referral Evaluation Educational Planning Conference Arranging special education services including goals Annual review/reevaluation

What does an evaluation look like (K – 5)? First: Letter of request is written by parent or school Next: Social Worker takes a social history from birth to present, explains the process, and gets consent from parent Then: School Psychologist does a comprehensive psycho- educational assessment that looks at what your child knows and how he/she learns Also: specialists (OT, Speech) do other assessments as needed In addition: behaviors are documented Finally: We meet to review the results of assessments, observations, and come up with a plan (IEP) Pre-k evaluations look different than K-5 evaluations

EPC Educational Planning Conference Who- general education teacher, special education teacher, district rep (principal), school psychologist, related service providers, parent, older students When- within 60 days of letter What happens? We discuss results of testing and assessments to see if student qualifies for services. Then we figure out the most appropriate classification and services.

Classification What is the student’s biggest barrier to learning? Autism Deafness Deaf-Blindness Emotional Disturbance Hearing Impairment Intellectual Disability Learning Disability Multiple Disabilities Orthopedic Impairment Other Health Impairment Speech or Language Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Visual Impairment

Academic Services ICT (Integrated Co Teaching) SETSS (special education teacher support services) Generally, placement is within our school

Related Services Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Counseling Each related service provider contributes goals and management needs to the IEP

Reporting Progress Yearly meeting to review IEP A parent can request an IEP meeting too Every three years there is a Triennial Re-evalution Every marking period teachers and related service providers update progress on the IEP goals

What questions are you left with?