Orientation Meetings, August 2009

Questions from teachers:

General Questions

  1. Why do we need 2 email addresses? Why can't the calendar of events just be on the website?
    • The calendar is posted on the website, and you will always be able to check it there. You do NOT need another email address unless you want to get email notifications of additions or changes to the calendar. The extra email address is purely optional.
  2. Do we need to revise the IEP for the Evacuation Plan?
    • Yes, the evacuation plan is a part of the IEP, so if you are making changes, you will need to revise the IEP. This is true even if the only changes are to the evacuation plan. The form remains the same.
  3. For Newly Enrolled students, what happens if you do not get the paperwork from the school within 10 days?
    • A newly enrolled student should come with something from the previous school to indicate the student was eligible for special education services. You may have to write the IEP using your best judgement, and then revise it when you get better information. You still need to have parent sign the permission form.
  4. What is the plan for READ 180 once the stimulus money runs out? Will READ 180 be expanded to include grades 5 and 8 next year?
    • The main cost is the initial start up for equipment and materials. We are not planning to expand to grades 5 and 8 because READ 180 is a one year program thas we are spreading out over 2 years. The students who will be going to high school may have READ 180 again. We wanted them to have a year in between so that the material will not be a repetition year after year.
  5. Is my "isolated study" room which is connected to the classroom still okay as an option to avoid a write-up or office referral?
    • You need to have a support team member check it out and work with you.
  6. Can we, in BEST, put a student in the hall for a short period of time to refocus? Students can be seen from the classroom and are checked on.
    • Yes, as long as it does not become a continual practice.
  7. If a student has an iStart IEP and comes from a different community, to we still have to redo in 10 days?
    • Yes. You need to review and revise to align with SBCSC courses, services, etc. You also still need to have the parent sign the Permission for Special Education Services.
  8. Please, please consider training the Security Stff with CPI too. With troubled and combative kids, principals demand security be involved, and they get hurt every time!
    • They will be included. We are in the process of scheduling multiple CPI training dates each month.
  9. In the initial IEP from iStart, there is info that needs to be entered from the psych report. What if the psych report is not completed until a few months after the conference? This happens all the time.
    • Psych reports should be completed and available to parents and staff prior to the case conference. If this is not the case, contact the psychologist first, and then Kristin Harges. Psychologists will now be entering information directly into iStart 7 for Written Notice and Notice of Case Conference.
  10. Can we standardize the procedure for dealing with HS students denied enrollment in their home school? Who decides? Who has the authority to tell a school to take the student?
    • Decisons are accepting or denying students must be made on a case by case basis. If there is disagreement as to the placement school, the Office of Schools and Academic Programs makes the final decision.

Questions about Year Round IEPs

More information about holding Year Round IEPs can be found on the iStart Website in the News Feed section.

  1. How are SLPs going to be impacted by the new IEPs by birthdate?
    • Recognizing the fact that SLPs have caseloads in excess of 75 students, we are hoping that year round IEPs will ease the load in the spring. SLPs may be able to adjust their weekly schedules to leave time for conducting this volume of conferences.
  2. What about 8th graders? If I have a student who has an October birthday, do I write the IEP for 8th grade or 9th grade?
    • You write the IEP with whatever would cover the effective dates of the IEP. Both grades may be necessary.For example, if the birthdate is 10/5/19xx, under services, you might put
      1. Direct Service for Language Arts, Beginning date: 10/31/2009 Ending date: 5/21/2010
      2. Direct Service for Language Arts, Beginning date: 8/**/2010, Ending date: 10/31/2010
  3. If a student has a birthday this September (or August), do we do an ACC and just revise the due date of the IEP, since the IEP was written for this school year?
    • Yes, just change the effective dates at the conference.
  4. Year round IEPs at the high school level: How do we deal with scheduling for next year? If I meet with parents in September, I'll have to meet again in April/May to change if necessary. I feel this will cause 2 times the work despite using iStart 7. Also, do I do the goals and other info if I just got the student in August, and the IEP is due in September?
    • For this year, you will probably leave the goals as written, since you do not know the student. Making revisions in the fall is not unlike what we do now if students do not earn credits.
  5. If I have an initial eval in January, and the birthdate is in February, can I wait until the following February to hold the annual rather than having 2 conferences in 2 months?
    • No, you must hold both conferences, though the revisions to the existing IEP will likely be minimal.
  6. How do I write the IEP effective dates? Should they go to the end of the month or the birthdate?
    • When you finalize the IEP, enter the LAST day of the birth month as the initiation date of that IEP, irregardless of the date of the conference. IStart will then automatically carry that date forward 1 year and enter the ending date for you. So, if a student's birthdate is 9/1/2009, you will enter 9/30/2009 as the initiation date, and iStart will enter 9/30/2010 as the ending date. You must then hold the NEXT ACC for that student in September, before 9/30/ 2010.