SPED 400 Notes 9/17/08
- Least Restrictive Environment to More Restrictive
- Inclusive Classroom, also known as a general education classroom
- Resource Room - student is in general education room most of the day and in resource room (next to or attached to general ed room) to receive individualized education, such as reading instruction. This is mostly used for students with a learning disability
- Self-Contained Classroom - separate special education classroom, mostly for a single type of disability such as those with cognitive disabilities or emotional/behavior disabilities
- Special School - mainly in larger cities with large population of special students and provide access to occupational and physical therapy among other special services. An example is the Eau Claire Academy for EBD students, but most special schools are public
- If a student's behavior is improving, they move up step-by-step. For example, DON'T skip from a special school to inclusive classroom.
- Individualized Education Plan (IEP) - What is included in a student's IEP?
- Current Performance
- Where child's performance is at the time of testing
- Includes how child's disability affects involvement and progress in general curriculum
- Annual Goals
- Short term objectives (benchmarks) over the course of one calendar year based on current level or experiences with student
- Must be measurable goals
- Special Education & Related Services
- Lists resources needed by the student
- Type of classroom (see above)
- Participation w/Nondisabled Children
- Explains extent (if any) to which child will not participate with non disabled children in regular class or school activities
- Participation in State & District Wide Testing
- Ask, what's realistic?
- IEP must state what modifications will be made in test administration or why they can't take a test
- Dates & Places
- When services will begin
- How often services will be provided
- Where services will be provided
- How long services will last
- Transition Services Needs
- Starts at age 14
- Teaching life skills needed for after graduation
- Needed Transition Services
- Starts at age 16
- Must state what transition services are needed to help child leave school
- Age of Majority
- Beginning at least one year before child reaches 18
- Must state that student has been told of rights transferring to them at age of majority
- Measuring Progress
- How progress is measured
- How parents are notified of progress
- Special Factors
- behavior interferes with own learning or that of other students
- limited English proficiency
- blind or visually impaired - must provide Braille
- communication needs
- deaf or hard of hearing
- assistive technology or services
- Reviewing IEP
- check child's strengths
- parents' ideas for enhancing child's education
- results of recent evaluations
- how child performed on state/district-wide tests
9/22/08
Mediation - meeting between parents and school district with an impartial person (mediator) who helps both sides come to an agreement that each finds acceptable
Due Process Hearing - meeting between parents and school district where each side presents its position, and a hearing officer decides what the appropriate educational program is based on requirements in law
Civil Court is the next step but is more expensive and lawyers don't have a lot of knowledge about special education law.
Who is on an IEP Team?
- Student (as appropriate) - look at age and disability, for example, a CD student would not be on the team, but an EBD student would
- Regular Ed. teacher if the student is mainstreamed
- School system representative - psychologist, principal, special ed. director; this person represents the WHOLE school district
- Transition services agency representative - usually in a high school IEP meeting
- Parents - need a signature from one of them
- Others with knowledge or special expertise about the child
- Person who can interpret evaluation results
- Special education teacher(s)/provider
This team doesn't have to include all or as individual job because some can double up such as a special ed. teacher who can interpret evaluation
For first few meetings, have as few people there as possible otherwise it may seem too intimidating
Present Level of Performance - helps new teacher understand student when first seeing student
Each school district can make their own IEP format or can buy one from a company
IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)
- Birth-age 6
- Help in the home, early intervention