The Special Edge

ESY Case Managers

Here’s your link to this summer’s ESY paperwork.
We are still waiting to hear what the locations/hours/days will be for the TLC Summer Enrichment Program (which ESY be incorporated into like last year).

Once I have that information, I’ll update the Checklist/Timeline document.
I do know it will be K-8 for Summer Enrichment, K-12 for ESY.

I’m also still waiting to hear from Parks and Rec for their GRO EXCEL programs. That info will show up once I get their flyer.

From Shannon Watters

Supported Decision Making

WHAT is it?

• Supported Decision Making is the understanding that a student with a disability can access people in their community to assist with decision making. A person uses trusted family, friends, or professionals for support to understand, evaluate, and communicate their decisions.  It’s not a document, it’s a series of relationships, practices, arrangements and agreements.  Supported Decision Making is a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.

WHAT do I need to do?

• Discuss at each IEP meeting that includes post-secondary goals.
  • Discussion points:
    • understanding that a student with a disability can access people in their community to assist with decision making
    • a series of relationships, practices, arrangements and agreements
    • a less restrictive alternative to guardianship (may not be appropriate for all disabilities)
  • Add the template to “Additional Present Levels”
    • Using Templates
  • Use RCC to create meeting notice.
    • They will send home the brochure along with Procedural Safeguards
  • Mark the checkbox on the Attendance Sheet
  • Mention in the Meeting Notes

RESOURCES:

Flyers/Brochures

• Parent Flyer
• Student Flyer
• ODE Site
• English Brochure
• Spanish Brochure
• Russian Brochure
• Simplified Chinese Brochure
• Vietnamese Brochure
• Somali Brochure

IEP Paperwork

• Fillable Attendance (Download from Google as Microsoft Word to your computer to be fillable)
• Procedural Safeguards combined with SDM brochure
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Russian
  • Chinese
  • Somali
  • Vietnamese

From Colleen Funderburg

All of the Early Childhood Special Education documentation is now available for school teams to review!  

All pre-K students are currently enrolled in Synergy SE (Special Programs Tracking School), all supporting documents are uploaded into Synergy. Read through this document for detailed information and next steps!

If you are new to the district you will be automatically enrolled in a Canvas course for Early Childhood Special Education. Your assigned coaches will follow up with you regarding questions about the course. Anyone who would like to participate in the course may do so by clicking this link. 

Hold the following dates on your calendar in February 2/22-2/25.  These are the agreed dates for evaluation planning meetings held with our ECSE partners. If a student is due for an evaluation our ECSE partner will be scheduled during this time and will need one representative to attend.

From Shannon Watters

Progress Reports: 

• Hi all! Progress Reports are due this week.  You should be able to go to Synergy through either Firefox or Chrome. 
• Here is the Progress Report cheat sheet 

Some reminders: 

• All students receive a progress report, unless in the initial process or Private/Home School Refusals. 
• It is up to each school/Case Manager to get them distributed.  Talk to your school to determine how Report Cards are sent to parents.  You can send your progress reports the same way. 
• Progress Reports are available in ParentVue.
  • BLP Website for ParentVue 

From Special Programs Office

January 12^th – tomorrow, Wednesday – will be our second Educator Network Day (END’s). Certified Staff will need to attend. All sessions will be virtual with one exception, the OPTIONAL Inclusion EA session.

ELEM Learning Specialist: Facilitated by Britni Mason, Matty McDermott, Samantha Bushnell

• 1:30- 3:00 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/britni.mason
• Topic: Data Collection and IEP Goals

MS Learning Specialist: Facilitated by Haley Gembarowski

• 3:15 – 4:30 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/haley.gembarowski
• Topic: BRYT/SPED Intersection Lessons Learned, Data Collection Tools

HS Learning Specialist: Facilitated by Erin Berg

• 2:30 – 3:45 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/erin.berg
• Topic: Supported Decision Making, Transition Assessments, What is the 18-21 program?

Speech Pathologist: Facilitated by Carrie Deaver

• 1:15-3:15 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/carrie.deaver
• Topic: OSHA Review

School Psychologist: Facilitated by Jill McKae

• 1:30-3:00 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/jill.mckae
• Topic: Revisit MTSS and IPS systems

New Hires (Elementary ONLY)

• 1:30- 2:30 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/sara.young
• Topic: Synergy and Progress Monitoring

Inclusion EA’s – OPTIONAL – IN-PERSON (Your Learning Specialist can determine if you need to attend).
(Group size will be less than 15 staff and mitigation measures will be followed)

• Elem: 1:30- 3:00 PM, HS 2:30-4:00 PM, MS: 3:00-4:30 PM
• Location: HDMS Media Center
• Topic: Boardmaker Training
• Sign Up in Performance Matters!
• Supplies Needed:
• Computer
• Boardmaker login (you will need to get this from your supervising teacher, they are shared)
• The most recent version Boardmaker 7 downloaded
• Boardmaker downloaded onto their computer (Directions on how to download here)
• A student in mind!

From Shannon Watters

1. Progress Reports:

Just wanted to get this out to everyone as we are nearing Progress Reporting time. 

1. 1. It would be best to start progress reports using Chrome, rather than Firefox.  We are still getting reports of an error stating another user is making changes.  Hopefully, the fix is coming in the patch that will be installed later this week. Progress Report cheat sheet
   2. Some reminders:
      1. All students receive a progress report. 
      2. It is up to each school/Case Manager to get them distributed.  
      3. Progress Reports are available in ParentVue.
2. Personal Goal Library
3. 1. Synergy has the capability for you to save your goals to a library, so they can be access at a later time.  This allows you to tweak previously used goals rather than have to create new goals each time.  Personal Goal Library cheat sheet

Please reach out if you have any questions or difficulties!

From Sean Reinhart

The National Down Syndrome Society and Down Syndrome Education International are thrilled to announce the availability of a new resource for enhancing inclusive education for students with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome: Guidelines for Inclusive Education aims to improve the development and educational outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome from birth to adult life by providing educators, therapists, early interventionists, parents, and school districts with a guide to evidence-based practices. The publication is available for free on the NDSS website (https://www.ndss.org/inclusive-education-guidelines/). 

Please help spread the word to families, local schools and districts to ensure teachers, administrators, and parents have the most up-to-date research and best practices to support students with Down syndrome.

From Colleen Funderburg

Other Agency Participation at IEP Meetings

To increase community participation of our partners at IEP meetings we have collaborated with Deschutes County Intellectual/Developmental Disability services to curate a list of currently eligible students and their service coordinators.
Each case manager with a currently eligible student will be receiving an email with the service coordinator’s name.  We are also adjusting the scheduling Google meeting invite form that goes to Records Clerks so that we can increase our service coordinators’ participation at IEP meetings.

Who is eligible for I/DD Services?
Individuals with diagnosed intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The disability is expected to last a lifetime and it must impact at least 2 everyday living skills (ie: self-care, communication, learning, socialization, mobility, and self-direction). The onset of the condition must have occurred before age 22 and students with an ID diagnosis must be eligible before age 18. 

How do students qualify for I/DD services?
There is an application process through Deschutes County.  There are specific criteria required to determine eligibility.  This is discussed with an eligibility specialist.  You can read more about the eligibility process and application at THIS link.

Why would we include service coordinators at IEP meetings?
We are required, beginning with the first IEP in effect for transition (grade 8 in BLP), to identify any other agency that would be invited to the IEP meeting with parent consent. Our service coordinators at I/DD meet this requirement.

How do service coordinators support our students and families?
They support planning for the student’s future, they can develop goals, collaborate, coordinate and support at school IEP meetings, as well as help families with relief and respite care. For our adult students, they support the transition from school to adulthood.  They will assist the individual with connecting to housing services, In-Home services, vocational services, and community resources.  Having service coordinators at our IEP meetings is another way to make connections between the transition portion of the IEP as well as outside agency coordination.

Keep an eye out for an email. If you have any questions regarding students and I/DD service coordinators please reach out to Denise Sevigny at x1065 or [email protected]……..

From Stephanie Smith_Krista Baker

We’re reaching out to remind everyone that the Hydroxyl Machines that were delivered to the former Life Skills programs at the start of the pandemic are a great way to help keep your classrooms air filtered. It can be a tool used to share between your classrooms. One of the best ways to utilize it is by simply plugging it in and turning it on to run throughout the evening. Remember to NOT run the Ozone part of the machine, that is to be done only by the Building Maintenance team. If you have any questions on how to operate the machine, please feel free to reach out to me, I am happy to help.

Click on “Classroom Cleaning Checklist” should you need one.

PD OPPORTUNITY – Classified Inclusion EAs

Here is an amazing PD opportunity for classified Inclusion EA’s to learn how to use Boardmaker, or enhance their skills if they already know the basics.

Wednesday Jan. 12th – Educator Network Day.

Elementary 1 to 2:30p.m.
Middle School 3 to 4:30p.m.
High School wander in between the two times as it works in the release schedule.

Location:  HDMS Media Center

Please sign up in Performance Matters

For the Boardmaker Training, staff will need to bring the following:

From Sean Reinhart

Hi all,
Our Student Services leadership team has been working on the K-5 Social & Emotional Intervention Support Continuum.  This document details the various levels of support offered to K-5 student and includes embedded resources (e.g.  Top 10 Trauma Responsive practices, data collection forms, The Nest entry/exit criteria and process).

From Shannon Watters

Your friendly reminder of our annual count date.

December Child Count less than a month away.  Each year, we need to count as many of our students as we can, especially those that are in the Initial process.   You will be receiving an IEP Due Date report and an Evaluation Due Date Report Friday as well as the following four Mondays.

Information regarding December Child Count:

• For us to report accurate data to ODE,  case managers need to continue doing what you have always done:
  • An IEP with a due date which falls ON or BEFORE Dec. 1 MUST be reviewed and finalized on/before Dec. 1 to be included in our Child Count

• • • Example: If the IEP due date is 12/1/20 and you hold the meeting 12/1/20: This IEP must be completed and finalized the same day in order for the student to be counted.
    • Example: If you hold an IEP meeting 12/1/20, but the current IEP due date is 12/3/20, then you follow practice and finalize within 10 school days.  This student still has a current IEP and is eligible on Dec. 1^st.

• What you should notice from a paperwork perspective, is that there is no difference between census season and any other!  It should feel like business as usual.  Hopefully, this will alleviate the stress that so many of you feel this time of year as we head into late fall.

• We only have two days after Thanksgiving break before the Child Count Deadline.  Please submit all paperwork for meetings to RCC as soon as possible for those meetings held late in November so that RCC will have time to review and be ready before Dec. 1^st.  
  • Scan in paperwork to RCC for a faster return. 
• Please work with your records clerks for a review prior to finalization, but keep in mind that if they are not able to provide a review, you are still responsible for FINALIZING your IEP and all associated documents.

Our current number is over 228 IEPs due by 12/1.

Also, as a reminder there are widgets that track the countdown to Dec. 1st for your students who will be due by then.

On the home page when you open Synergy, click on the plus .  Go to Special Education, choose IEPs Due by 12/1/21.  The widget will show up on your home screen.  Unfortunately, this will not refresh each time you log into Synergy.  To refresh, hover over the widget and click on the cog wheel that shows.  Choose “refresh”.
If you need assistance with the paperwork or have questions, please don’t hesitate to call myself or RCC.

From April Diehl

Learning Specialists & SLPs,

As you know you are all given $325 per 1 FTE as curriculum/supply dollars. These funds are to be used first and foremost as curriculum dollars to acquire extra curriculum that you did not request for in the Spring. If you are not in need of extra curriculum, or you have funds left over, you may then purchase supplies for your classroom. Please make sure these are SPED specific items that are needed to support your implementation of students’ IEPs.  For example, general office supplies can be purchased for you by your building, rather than using your curricula dollars.

These funds are managed by April Diehl. When you want to purchase something, you have two ways to do so.  Please do not order items through the office manager and follow the steps below:

1. You may purchase the item yourself and submit the receipt and the Request for Reimbursement form to April Diehl.
2. Email the link of what you wish to purchase to April, she will place the order and have it shipped directly to you.

*The packing slips need to be sent to April Diehl when the items arrive. *

HDESD Staff phone/site list

PACT Flyer. (Partner Agency Collaborating Teacher Training)
This is a training opportunity for secondary teachers to learn more about Vocational Rehabilitation and Developmental Disability services.
– Margie Blackmore HDESD Transition Network Facilitator/Autism Specialist

From Student Services Office

Learning Specialists, October 13^th will be our first Educator Network Day (END’s). On this day and all subsequent END’s you will need to attend one of the district offerings. For special education teachers, you will attend a job alike group facilitated by one of your colleagues. October 13^th will be virtual. Please go into Performance Matters and Sign up for the correct session.

HS Learning Specialist: Facilitated by Erin Berg.  Use Course ID #10333 to search

• 2:30 – 4:00 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/erin.berg

MS Learning Specialist: Facilitated by Haley Titus and Haley Gembarowski.
Use Course # 10332 to search

• 3:00 – 4:30 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/haley.gembarowski

Elementary Learning Specialist: Facilitated by Britni Mason, Matty McDermott, Samantha Bushnell
You can register for the elem training # 11132  in Performance Matters here

• 1:30- 3:00 PM
• Location: https://bls.webex.com/meet/britni.mason

New Hires: Please connect with your mentor for directions on 10/13/21.”

From Colleen Funderburg

Please read THIS guidance regarding special education students enrolled at Bend-La Pine Schools Online for 2021-22 school year.

Resources from Vocational Rehabilitation

Pre-Employment Transition Services Request for Consultation
Pre-Employment Transition Services Request for Consultation, Spanish
Pre-Employment Transition Services Brochure
Statewide Job Club Flyer
Driver’s Permit Study Sessions Flyer

From Shannon Watters

NEW DOCUMENT IN SYNERGY PROCESS

In an attempt to streamline some of the paperwork in Evaluations, we are switching from the Referral Document to the Evalution Planning Summary Document.  It has already been placed into the necessary Synergy processes.  By January 2022, the Referral Document will disappear from the process, so please start moving to the new form.

Here is the information on completing the Evaluation Planning Summary.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions!!