From Shannon Watters
What should I do if one of my SPED students is not participating in school?
Scenarios:
- Parents have told you they do not wish to access services:
- Respond to this email, making me aware of the family’s decision. Please do this before Thanksgiving Break.
- List all contact with the family in the Student Contact Log.
- Reach out to General Education teachers letting them know that the student is not currently accessing Special Education Services. Check with General Education teacher every 4 weeks on student progress.
- Complete a PWN of non-attendance in AdHoc (#21).
- Complete a FAPE letter, linked here. One is for students who only have an IEP due this school year. The other is for students who have a 3-year Reevaluation due this school year.
- In the FAPE letter, list times that the student could attend: Either for group sessions that align with SDI/goals/grades or for office hours. Also list the Webex link where these sessions are held.
- Send FAPE letter to RCC. They will send the FAPE letter, PWN, and Procedural Safeguards home to parents.
- Parents are not responding to repeated contact attempts:
- Every school has a school and family engagement team. The purpose of this team is to problem solve student and family needs. I.e.: connectivity, troubleshooting tech issues, non-attendance, etc. The case manager should bring the student to this team and problem solve.
- Questions to ask: Have you checked in with the general education teacher? Is the student attending their sessions, accessing any classes? If so, the SPED teacher will need to keep reaching out and documenting.
- If after problem solving the student with the school team and continued attempts to engage ie: case manager has texted, called multiple times, emailed and sent the schedule and links to student sped WebEx groups, as well as documented offers for services; and student is still non responsive:
- Respond to this email, making me aware of the situation. Please do this before Thanksgiving Break.
- Complete a PWN of Non-attendance in AdHoc (#21)
- Complete a FAPE letter, linked here. One is for students who only have an IEP due this school year. The other is for students who have a 3-year Reevaluation due this school year.
- in the FAPE letter, list times that the student could attend. Either for group sessions that align with goals/grades or for office hours. Also list the Webex link where these sessions are held.
- Send FAPE letter back to RCC. They will send the FAPE letter, PWN, and Procedural Safeguards home to parents.
- Every school has a school and family engagement team. The purpose of this team is to problem solve student and family needs. I.e.: connectivity, troubleshooting tech issues, non-attendance, etc. The case manager should bring the student to this team and problem solve.
Things to Know:
- Students will remain on your portfolio. These students will not have a dropped enrollment per Ready Schools, Safe Learner guidance. Therefore, the student will still show in your portfolio as actively enrolled.
- We continue to be responsible for completing the IEP by the due date as well as the Re-evaluation.
- Things to include:
- in the PLAAFP and PWNI, clearly outline what efforts you have made to contact parent or if parent has requested no services currently.
- You may not have current information for goals: you may need to carry goals forward with the last information on progress you do have.
- Things to include:
From Behavior Coaches
Bend – La Pine Virtual Break Space!!!
Trying to find ways to integrate regulation tools and a calming space into your classroom? Follow these simple steps to launch a Virtual Break Space designed for your K-5 classroom.
WHY DOES PREDICTABILITY IN A CLASSROOM MATTER?
Consistency and predictability are imperative to students experiencing a safe learning environment. The importance of using consistent routines and expectations with students impacted by trauma cannot be overstated, as they need a school environment which counters the lack of predictability and safety in their lives outside of school.
Investing in consistent and predictable rituals, routines, and procedures will substantially reduce the likelihood that students will become dysregulated because they are anxious or uncertain about what comes next.
Each week in the Special Edge we will be highlighting one of our Top 10 Behavior Coaching Tools for reducing challenging behavior. Because of its importance, we will be starting with PREDICTABILITY (something all of us could use more of right now!)
Tool #1: Predictable Visual Schedule (along with Predictable Expectations and Routines)
How does the student know what is going to happen next?
- A classroom or student’s visual schedule could include: Times, Activities, Break Plans (Words or Pictures), Easy/Medium/Hard Ratings, Goals, Incentive Plans, etc. Consider creating visual supports and plans for non-typical events as well.
- Tools: Google Docs or Google Draw, Boardmaker; Visual Schedule with Pictures; Visual Schedule with Technology Expectations; Blank Visual Schedule; Visual Schedule in Spanish
- Virtual Tools for Predictability: WebEx Classroom Management; WebEx Etiquette Visual, Visual Routines for WebEx Groups, COVID Visuals, Daily Schedule Google Slides, Weekly Planner Google Slides
Stress, Trauma, and the Brain: Insights for Educators – The Neurosequential Model By Dr. Bruce Perry
Over the next several weeks, we will be highlighting Dr. Bruce Perry’s work, The Neurosequential Model in Education. Dr. Perry’s work is based on an understanding of the structure and sequential nature of the brain, which can help educators increase their students’ engagement in learning and mitigate behavioral problems. Listen as Dr. Perry describes the model and its significant impact on how we interact with our students, our own children, and each other. The video is 7-minutes long and will change how you think about your students.
”Tier 1 and More” Blog
The Behavior Coaches blog is full of resources for PBIS, Social-Emotional Learning, Trauma-Informed Practices and more.
Who is Where Quick Guide
Have you ever wished that you had a comprehensive list of all support staff organized by school location? The answer is just a click away. Save and/or print for future reference.