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Special Education Procedures:Clarification and Reminders

University of Washington February 23, 2009

Kristin HennesseySpecial Education Ombudsman(360) 725-6075kristin.hennessey@k12.wa.us

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Agenda/expectations

Introduction IDEA: a group effort with individual and

group responsibilities (PARTNERSHIPS)

General concerns Issues commonly addressed Strategies to support improvements Message routinely relayed Final thoughts and ideas Questions/comments

Kristin’s (very important) qualifier…

This presentation does not:

Take the place of reading the WAC

Provide detail on every state special regulation

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IDEA: Partnership principles (Kristin’s)

Communication skills Responsibility and ownership Transparency and honesty Baseline competence Willingness to learn more when necessary Respect, with commitment to equality Trust Advocacy and courage

General concerns

Many parents are not well informed about how special education works, which leads to misunderstanding about their rights and the rights of their child…

…which promotes a sense of powerlessness

and helps set the stage for poor communication with school districts.

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General concerns (continued)

Basic special education terminology is not well understood by many involved with special education:

“Identification, evaluation, placement, provision of FAPE”

LRE (appropriate placement) Prior Written Notice Reevaluation (required when, purpose) FBAs and BIPs

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Terminology … (continued still)

IEEs Measureable IEP goals (vs.

measureable post secondary goal)Many parents are not familiar with the

contents of the Procedural Safeguards document, including dispute resolution options. (Generally districts fulfill their obligation to

provide parents a copy, but…)

Other terminology/issues in need of clarification…

Appropriate IEP Eligibility and referral timelines Placement/LRE IEP progress (importance of progress reports) Transition (hearing more and more…) Program length Required IEP team members Parent participation (“Draft” IEPs, meeting

times)

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More issues (continued…)

Provision of accommodations WASL participation Behavior/discipline

FBAs (underutilized, not always coordinated with BIP development)

Following general AND special education requirements (and informing parents)

Manifestation determination meeting Consent, including revocation

Transition services

Age appropriate transition assessments

Post secondary goal vs. Measureable IEP goals

Strategies: Learn how find information

Acknowledge when you need more information

Become familiar with WAC 392-172A Look at information in context Explore the OSPI website (Model Forms)

Explore the US Department of Education website, IDEA: Building the Legacy IDEA

Bookmark some reputable special education related websites (Organize these!)

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Messages routinely relayed…

*COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION!

Positive communication, but not instead of meeting federal and state requirements

Good communication does not demand that you always agree. Good delivery never hurts.

Students benefit when you parents have a firm grasp of special education basics

The best special education programs capitalize on the expertise of each IEP team member (“we” language)

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Messages (continued…)

Parents need to be familiar with the contents of their child’s IEP

Parents need to be familiar with the contents of their child’s most recent three year evaluation It’s a good idea to prioritize (it’s personal)

More is not necessarily better Resist the urge to become too emotional Parents need to be familiar with the

contents of their child’s IEP (No typo here!!!)

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Final thoughts and ideas: Better IEP meetings, etc…

Be friendly. Be appreciative. Be positive. Bring a loose agenda (ahead of time??) Request and review a draft IEP, if provided. Bring your:

Questions Concerns Ideas

Keep emotions in check. Arrive prepared! Use IEP meeting time

efficiently!!!!!!

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Ideas (continued)

Be clear about how meeting is ending What you agree on What you don’t agree on Whether or not you will meet again to

“finish” the IEP or to resolve areas of disagreement

(Educational Staff: A parent who makes requests or asks questions should not automatically be labeled a “problem parent”!)

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Quotes to share…

“If there is any great secret of success in life, it lies in the ability to put yourself in the other person’s place and to see things from his point of view - as well as your own.” Henry Ford

“You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere.” Lee Iacocca

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More quotes to share…

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” Ambrose Bierce

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill

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Final Quote…

"The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it.”

-- Alan Saporta

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Links

Special Education (within OSPI website):http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/default.aspx Information on Dispute Resolution Options (OSPI website):http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/mediation.aspx Prior Written Noticehttp://www.fape.org/pubs/FAPE-24.pdf CADRE’s “Communicating with Your Child’s School” http://www.directionservice.org/pdf/Steps%20to

%20Success1.4pg.pdf Navigating the School System: Interactive PILOT Training

(Brain Injury Partners) Presenting clear and concise information about your child:http://free.braininjurypartners.com/page/11150/

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More Links… Understanding the Special Education Processhttp://www.fape.org/pubs/FAPE-10.pdf A Guide to the Individualized Education Program--U.S.

Department of Education. (This was developed prior to passage of IDEA 2004, but is still a good resource for IEPs in general.)

http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html Questions Often Asked by Parents about Special Education

Services—NICHCY. (This was prior to passage of IDEA 2004, but still provides good information about special education in general)

http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/ideapubs/lg1txt.htm IDEA information

http://idea.ed.gov

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Questions/comments???