Two New Checklists for your IEP Writing Pleasure

November 5th, 2013  

7. Checklist

The most common question on this transition checklist is #3. This question is only asking if the team discussed DVR services and whether the student should apply for the service. This question is not asking whether the student applied. This question should be answered “Yes” in nearly all cases as information can and should be provided about DVR to all students with transition plans. Brochures are available through Denise Kelly if you are not ready to invite DVR to a meeting, but want to provide information to the student and family for consideration or discussion later.

If there are transition agencies (agencies that will be providing transition services to the student) involved with the student, then the contact information would be included in the table at the bottom of the checklist.  If you have questions, contact Pupil Services.

 

7. Placement Checklist

The most common question / error on this LRE checklist is question #2. This question will generally be “No” as a student who is receiving any type of pull out instruction is not “satisfactorily educated in the general ed environment for the entire school day.” #5 is also one that is difficult in some circumstances. #5 is only a “No” if the student’s IEP placement is implemented at a school other than his / her homeschool. So, for students who are at Marathon, for instance, #5 would be “Yes” still because the IEP team did not place the student at Marathon. #5 would be “No” if the student’s IEP placement or LRE is a self-contained setting and the district had to change the location due to a school not having that LRE. The placement is the IEP team’s decision. The location, if different than the home area school, is the district’s decision.

Any “No” responses require a justification specific to the question that had a “No” response.

If you have questions, please contact Pupil Services.

 

Changes to Referral Screen

January 29th, 2013  

I’ve made some changes to the Referral Info screen in the sped database to help clarify which paperwork is required when.  The sections in darker blue are required only for initial referrals—these sections should not be modified at a 3-year re-eval.

The Consent for Evaluation, however, must be completed at every initial referral and 3-year re-eval when the team determines that formal testing is required as part of the evaluation.  Please be sure that you update both date fields in the Consent for Eval section.  The first date is the date that the consent form was sent/given to the parents and the second date is the date it was actually received by you.  In many cases these dates will be the same.  The second date field is the one that starts the 75 day timeline in which the ESER and IEP must both be complete.

Snapshot of Referral screen in IEP database

Assessment Accommodations in Place in the Classroom?

November 21st, 2012  

A new field has been added to the Assessment Participation section of the IEP.

This new field is a way for case managers to confirm that the accommodations that are checked in for assessment participation align with the Program Modifications/Accommodations  that are used on a daily basis in the classroom.

The accommodations that are used for state testing must be accommodations that students are familiar with and that they are using on a regular basis.  This new field will eventually be added into the error check routine for IEPs, and the data will be cleared on an annual basis.  At each annual IEP review, the team should be verifying that the accommodations that are checked for use during testing are the same or similar to those that are listed in the program mods/accoms section of the IEP.

For students who are not subject to state testing (grades PK-2 or students who have passed the HSGQE), you can check the N/A option.

Snapshot of Assessment Participation section of IEP database

Changes to Initial Consent for Sped Services Form

November 19th, 2012  

The form for “Parent Consent for Special Education Services” has been revised in the database.  These revisions have been made to align with the sample form in the state handbook.

Checkboxes have been added to designate whether a parent does or does not give consent for special education services.  Parents should be signing this consent form at any initial eligibility meeting where the child meets the criteria to qualify for special education services.   This form should be signed after the eligibility meeting, but before the initial IEP is developed. If the child qualifies for special education, but the parents do not give consent for services, the team does not need to develop an IEP.

The changes to this form were made to make it clear that the parents are giving consent for the provision of special education services—not consent for a particular program or type of services.  Those details will be worked out by the IEP team, if and when the parent gives consent for the student to participate in special education.

See the New “Parent Consent for Special Education Services” form here

New Assessment Field: Not Subject to Testing

November 16th, 2012  

We have added a new checkbox to the assessment participation section of the IEP database: “Not subject to assessment due to age or having passed the HSGQE.”

This checkbox should be used for students who are not of testing age (grades PS-2) or for students who have already passed the HSGQE and are no longer subject to state testing.  This field can also be used for Alternate Assessment students in grades 11, 12 or 12+

Snapshot of Assessment Participation section of IEP database