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https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đź‘€" title="Eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Eyes">Special Education Parentshttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đź‘€" title="Eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Eyes"> Is your campus "making every effort" to provide services to your child?
This thread will teach you how to advocate for your children.
This thread will teach you how to advocate for your children.
Campuses are still required to provide services to your children! Anything not provided can be made up when school back open again.
Advocacy steps:
Step 1: Get Informed
Step 2: Demand every effort be made
Step 3: Document anything not provided
Step 4: Demand compensatory services
Step 1: Get Informed
Step 2: Demand every effort be made
Step 3: Document anything not provided
Step 4: Demand compensatory services
Step 1: Get Informed
Read TEA& #39;s guidance to districts. You have to know the rules of the game to be able to advocate for yourself.
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/COVID19%20Special%20Ed%20Q%26A_Updated%20April%202.pdf">https://tea.texas.gov/sites/def...
Read TEA& #39;s guidance to districts. You have to know the rules of the game to be able to advocate for yourself.
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/COVID19%20Special%20Ed%20Q%26A_Updated%20April%202.pdf">https://tea.texas.gov/sites/def...
You will see the phrase "Compensatory Services" throughout the document. - This is a fancy phrase for saying the school has to make up services not provided to a student or give you money to pay for the services privately. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đź’µ" title="Banknote with dollar sign" aria-label="Emoji: Banknote with dollar sign">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đź’¸" title="Money with wings" aria-label="Emoji: Money with wings">
Read the schedule of services page, accommodations page and IEP goals. Add up the number of minutes that the school agreed to service your child from the schedule of service page.
Look for any goals, accommodations, modifications, services that could be safely provided virtually. TEA& #39;s guidance REQUIRES them to provide make every effort.
TEA lists speech therapy and general education support as services that could be provided virtually. Many of the accommodations and modifications can translate to online platforms. (Modified work, extra time, text to speech, small group instruction and etc.)
Step 2: Demand Every Effort be Made
Email the principal and special education teacher . CC: @SLachlin and @CBUSBY7
Email the principal and special education teacher . CC: @SLachlin and @CBUSBY7
Ask:
-Which services will you be providing virtually and which services will you not be able to provide?
-Will the service time be reduced for any services?
(List out the service times from the IEP)
-What is the plan for compensatory services for services you cannot provide?
-Which services will you be providing virtually and which services will you not be able to provide?
-Will the service time be reduced for any services?
(List out the service times from the IEP)
-What is the plan for compensatory services for services you cannot provide?
-Which of the the specially designed instruction and accommodations/modifications described in the IEP will be provided digitally?
-When will the special education teacher/therapist be having virtual lessons with my child?
-Ask for help with any technology needs you have.
-When will the special education teacher/therapist be having virtual lessons with my child?
-Ask for help with any technology needs you have.
Demand an ARD if they do not respond. ARDs are still happening. They still follow the same timelines and procedures.
DO NOT LET THEM REDUCE YOUR SERVICES AT AN ARD. Services that cannot be provided can be made up through compensatory time.
DO NOT LET THEM REDUCE YOUR SERVICES AT AN ARD. Services that cannot be provided can be made up through compensatory time.
Make sure all the questions above are asked and the answers are documented in the minutes of the ARD.
Step 3: Document anything not provided
Count up the minutes of time provided on the service page. Keep a log of what was provided virtually. You could do this in a notebook showing the start and end times of the lessons.
Count up the minutes of time provided on the service page. Keep a log of what was provided virtually. You could do this in a notebook showing the start and end times of the lessons.
You will need to make sure your child is available for virtual instruction.
Take the difference between what was actually provided and what is listed on the schedule of service page.
Take the difference between what was actually provided and what is listed on the schedule of service page.
Ask the school for documentation that the services were provided during the school year. Few HISD campuses document that services in the IEP were actually provided. Document this request. It is unlikely they will give you anything.
If they do give you something, double check to make sure your child was actually there that day and there wasn& #39;t a holiday. People tend to make mistakes if they are trying to make up documentation for the whole year at once. Examine the documentation very closely.
Step 4: Demand compensatory services
Once school resumes normally, ask for an ARD meeting to review compensatory services. Give the campus a list of services that should be made up down to the minute. 2000 minutes of Math Resource and etc. Provide your documentation.
Once school resumes normally, ask for an ARD meeting to review compensatory services. Give the campus a list of services that should be made up down to the minute. 2000 minutes of Math Resource and etc. Provide your documentation.
If the school says they can& #39;t do it - Ask that the ARD be tabled so you have time to bring in an advocate. (Bringing in an advocate will have them shaking in their boots.)
Find an ARD advocate. There are many that do this free of charge. Bring them to the ARD and let them help fight for you. The school will likely give in and provide services at this time.
If the campus were not to agree to compensatory time, then the next step would be to follow TEA& #39;s dispute resolution steps listed in the procedural safeguards. This will allow you to have an outsider look at the situation and make the determination.
http://framework.esc18.net/Documents/Pro_Safeguards_ENG.pdf">https://framework.esc18.net/Documents...
http://framework.esc18.net/Documents/Pro_Safeguards_ENG.pdf">https://framework.esc18.net/Documents...
