Special Education Task Force

I attended the Special Education Task Force meeting yesterday.  I am not certified in special education, so there is a lot I do not understand.  So much of it is paperwork compliance.  Beth Usui said that having accurate IEP's and progress notes helps when she has to defend what is happening for a particular student.

Resource teachers who are backlogged on testing for new referrals or reevaluations can schedule assistance through Beth. 

Jordan District is higher on the number of students in settings outside the regular school setting (cluster/support classes, alternative schools) due to the number of group homes and foster care placements within district boundaries.  DCFS and DSPD like the programs Jordan has to offer these students, but it does place a greater burden on the special services staff.  Beth is encouraging these agencies to place students in programs in the district where their parent/guardian reside, if an appropriate program exists.

Beth talked about using the "Other Health Impairment" classification too much.

Beth said she has addressed in newsletters the need for all special education teachers who are absent to have a substitute in place.  There has been a problem at a few schools where pull-out groups are just canceled when the resource teacher is gone.  This should not be happening, because then the IEP is not being followed.

There are three pieces to consider if a child needs special education services:  classification, that classification is adversely affecting academic performance, and the child needs specialized instruction.

I learned a lot at this meeting!

Special Education Task Force

The Special Education Task Force met yesterday afternoon.  There was a presentation by Maggie Cummings with input from Beth Usui on how Special Education fits with the new Common Core State Standards for Math in particular.  Three different models for implementations were discussed.  There are concerns with how to serve students qualifying for Special Education with IEP Goals in the new courses and class sequence, mainly starting in middle school.  The idea is that all students have exposure to the Common Core, which is less about computation and more about reasoning and proof.  These issues will continue to be discussed and worked through as implementation of the Common Core begins.

Special Education held their first online training.  Those who can be involved receive the HOT Sheets.  More information on additional online training and training through PLC will be announced there.

Special Education had to cut $6.5 million from their budget last year.  The budget is still tenuous.  It will take many years to generate the level of funding had in the past prior to the split and the economic recession.

Special Education Task Force Meeting

Yesterday afternoon I attended the special Education Task Force.  It is interesting to hear about the unique problems facing Special Education.  They lost money due to the split and the economy and had to cut aide help back, which is impacting nearly all Special Ed. classrooms.  They are also struggling to inservice teachers on policies and procedures that must be followed.  The Special Education budget is separate from the District's Maintenance and Operations budget.  All costs for salaries, benefits, aides, substitutes, etc. come out of their budget and not subsidized by the District budget.

The laws that govern Special Ed. are tight with repercussions if not in compliance.  Special Ed. teachers should contact Beth Usui at the District if a parent requests an Independent Education Evaluation or Revocation of Services, so all proper paperwork and notifications are completed.  This paperwork must be done correctly to show the District offered a Free Appropriate Public Education, FAPE, to the Special Education students, and why parents did not accept.

All schools should be using the tiered intervention system.  Before students are referred through TAT to Resource, Tier 2 interventions should be utilized within the classroom.  See the Resource Team at your school if you would like more information.

JEA Members serving on this committee include Deb Dolph at Jordan Resource Center, Barbara Wightman at West Jordan High, Jenny Pedler at Heartland, Renee Sass at Oquirrh Hills, and Christie Jarrard at Eastlake.  Contact them with Special Education issues you would like addressed through the Task Force.