Transcript UW_March_2009 - University of Washington

Special Education Procedures:
Clarification and Reminders
University of Washington
February 23, 2009
Kristin Hennessey
Special Education Ombudsman
(360) 725-6075
[email protected]
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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
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Kristin’s
(very important)
qualifier…
This presentation does not:
 Take the place of reading the WAC
 Provide detail on every state special
regulation
IDEA: Partnership principles
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(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
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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…)
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Other terminology/issues in need of
clarification…
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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)
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
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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!)
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 Notice
http://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 Process
http://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???
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