{"id":455,"date":"2020-09-11T23:20:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T23:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/the-special-edge\/?p=455"},"modified":"2020-09-25T22:41:04","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T22:41:04","slug":"455","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/the-special-edge\/2020\/09\/11\/455\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Edge 9\/25\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Desk of Sean<\/strong> Reinhart
<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t be more proud of how our team of teachers, classified staff, specialists, nurses, and administrators have stepped up and risen to the occasion of this moment.  Providing a free and appropriate education for students in the time of COVID is difficult and different than anything we have done in the past.  As a district and a special programs department, we have been preparing and training for this moment for years.  This is an organizational \u201cstress test\u201d.  Undoubtedly, during this process, we will uncover practices that no longer make sense and discover new ways of helping student reach their goals.  Our priorities will continue to shift as we learn more about educating students in a new environment.  In some ways, it is exciting to think we are \u201cmoving forward\u201d together, and what we discover now will change education forever.  You are all leading a transformational change in education. <\/p>\n

I was on a panel of special education administrators last night.  Each question asked by the moderator grounded me to a place of total humility by the work we do.  The final question was, \u201cWhat is your Why?\u201d  The answer came so quickly, \u201cBecause educating citizens is the keystone of our democracy\u201d. <\/p>\n

Take care<\/p>\n\n\n

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More from Sean<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

PPE and safety training:<\/strong><\/span>
Our fabulous team of school nurses have developed a training module for special education teams.\u00a0 Please reach out to your school nurse to plan a training time for you and your team of educational assistants ASAP<\/strong>.\u00a0
This first training can be delivered via webex.\u00a0
Additionally, specific in-person training will be offered to school teams regarding safe practices with PPE and personalized to the context of your building and the students you serve.\u00a0
Finally, your school nurse will be available to problem solve in real-time and consult ongoing as questions and issue arise throughout the year.\u00a0
Please reach out to your nurse to set up the first training.\u00a0
Thank you.<\/p>\n

ESD’s Special Programs Specialists – School Grid<\/a><\/p>\n

Desk of Colleen Funderburg
<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of you have asked for clarification regarding reevaluations.\u00a0 Here is the guidance again that we followed in the spring.\u00a0<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

During the COVID-19 school closure, what is best practice for triennial
re-evaluations?
Option 1: Waive Reevaluation
<\/em><\/strong>Enter into a written agreement (this is the Waiver process) with the parent that a three-year reevaluation is unnecessary. This is a new process in Synergy.\u00a0 You will need to reach out to Shannon or RCC for moving into this process. Guidance Document:\u00a0 Reevaluation Waiver Guidelines<\/a>
Option 2: Review of Existing Information
<\/em><\/strong>Obtain permission to evaluate, and conduct the three-year reevaluation based on a review of existing information (file review form). Guidance Document: \u00a0Reevaluation File Review Only Guidelines<\/a>
Option 3: I have a signed permission and now I am not able to conduct all agreed upon assessments<\/em><\/strong>
If, prior to the COVID-19 school closure, you have already agreed to administer assessments as part of the three year reevaluation process, determine if you can administer the agreed upon assessments.\u00a0 If you can’t, then ask the parent if they agree to remove the assessments that cannot be conducted due to the inability to get the evaluation data due to the COVID-19 school closure. This can be documented by sending the parent a PWN indicating that additional assessments could not be performed due to the COVID-19 school closure.\u00a0 (Then go to option 2 above. *YOU DO NOT NEED TO CREATE A NEW <\/u><\/strong>PERMISSION TO EVALUATE – just specifically list what has been changed in the evaluation in the PWN.)<\/em><\/p>\n

What if the parent does not agree to remove the agreed upon assessments?\u00a0<\/p>\n