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Ran/TN - Good evening! Welcome to the first monthly meeting of Special Ed teachers. Our topic tonight is "Complying with the Changes in IDEA."
Ran/TN - IDEA 97 addresses three main areas. 1. Protecting rights, 2. Increaseing responsibility. 3. Increased accountability.
Ran/TN - Protecting rights of a special need student primarily deals with continuing services even though a special needs student has been suspended or expelled from school for disciplininary reasons.
Brutus - Is it true everywhere that sp. needs children can only be suspended for 10 days?
Kathleen - Ran, as in tutoring at home?
asprin1 - well, maybe I'd like to protect the rights of the other 700 kids
asprin1 - yea, 10-day limit in NJ
Ran/TN - The services provided for a supended student may vary depnding on the school system.
asprin1 - I'm really confused about the Manifestation Review
Brutus - What is the Manifestation review?
Maxine - I am a former teacher and have CP myself
Ran/TN - Idea 97 has extended that limit to 45 days.
sped - The behavior suspended for must be part of the disability, right?
Brutus - Ran - Special ed. students can be suspended for up to 45 days?
Brutus - The behavior can not be a part of their disability.
DJM/KY/SPED - Aspirin....sure go ahead
asprin1 - sped boy - 12 - constantly fighting
sped - Their disability is the reason they can only be suspended 10 days, no?
asprin1 - CST says "10 day linit"
Ran/TN - It does not have to be part of the disability , but may be part of it. If it is part of the disablity IDEA now requires the IEP-Team to consider the use of behavior interventions and include them as one of the student's goals in the IEP.
petro - yes, sped
petro - kids with behavior issues need to have a functional behavior plan
Brutus - Here they can only be suspended for 10 days. The behavior can not be part of their disability. But they can be home tutored.
asprin1 - Ran - so what if it doesn't work
DJM/KY/SPED - Sped....you first have to determine if their disability is the reason for their behavior....you do the manifestation determination to determine that.....if it not related then you can treat them like any other child....
asprin1 - new behavior interventions?
asprin1 - DMJ does that mean you can suspend for more than ten days?
asprin1 - Isn't that a change in placement?
Brutus - One of my students last year had severe behaviors (hitting/kicking/screaming). He had a behavior plan and part of it was emergency removal. His dad would come pick him up.
DJM/KY/SPED - aspirin....if the behavior isn't related to the disability you can.....but have to have meeting to determine that....then go in front of the bd of ed. here....
asprin1 - In NJ you go infront of the Admin. law judge in trenton
asprin1 - and - djm - aren't you limited by the 45-day rule?
DJM/KY/SPED - Aspirin...yes its a change in placement.....you have to refer to the alternative school...home schooling...or another setting...
petro - asprin, for what a change in placement
Brutus - Asprin - if you are talking about home tutoring, yes and you have to have a team meeting.
sped - I think school systems ignore the fact you do manifestation determination, what are the legal ramifications. there are some kids who need to be suspended longer. well I don't agree with the concept of suspension but if that's our option
asprin1 - ...and parents have to sign off on IEP
Maxine - Does anyone's school have a formal FBA form?
Brutus - Yes.
asprin1 - sped - sometimes the rest of the kids need a time-out
Ran/TN - The law states that a school has the right to remove a special needs student to an alternative setting for up to 45 days. Individual school systems policies may state differently
DJM/KY/SPED - The problem we have is that the school and board of ed. is afraid to do anything.....even though regs say it can be done....
Brutus - What is FBA form
Ran/TN - The previous limit was 10 days before IDEA 97 was passed.
Maxine - Functional Behavioral Assessment
asprin1 - RAN - I believe that it is only 45 days for drugs and weapons
petro - love those, maxine
sped - I definitely agree, sometimes we need a break, but there should be an alternative setting, where they get needs addressed not babysat
DJM/KY/SPED - Aspirin....you have 45 days to determine the change in placement.....
Maxine - Petro, do you have a form?
asprin1 - for $100 dollars a day
Brutus - I had a student sent home Monday not to return until after team meeting tomorrow.
petro - maxine, i believe we have a behavior checklist
DJM/KY/SPED - Brutus.....we do that sometimes.....
sped - maxine, we have an FBA form
Brutus - We probably would have had it sooner, but it was already scheduled.
Maxine - Petro, I develop software that writes all assessments
asprin1 - I wish we could get them in that soon
DJM/KY/SPED - Brutus....what do you all do with yours that you determine that behavior is due to disability....our alternative school won't take ours.....say no room....
Brutus - Well if the team determines appropriate placement to be other than the regular school, then they must make room. They can add an aide to the classroom.
Ran/TN - The law often creates new terms such as "Inclusion" but does not give a clear definition. This same thing is true concerning dealing with a behavior problem special needs student. It is then left up to the indidual school systems and their legal staff to interprate the law.
asprin1 - similar problem DJM
sped - Dont they have to accept if it is part of their plan
DJM/KY/SPED - How do you all provide home instruction for kids on suspension?
DJM/KY/SPED - sped....suppose to .....but you know how that is
Ran/TN - Through the homebound program.
Brutus - My student had a tutor come in twice a week. It depends on how you write the IEP.
Maxine - I sense that behavior problems are the main IDEA issue.
DJM/KY/SPED - Ran....we have one suspended for 10 days until the bd. of ed. can meet to consider expulsion/change in placement.....I dropped off work yesterday to him....made aunt sign for it.....what do you think?
sped - What about students who get sent to h/s from m/s because of behavior?
Brutus - How old are they?
Ran/TN - I plan for us to spend an entire session next month on Behavior management stratagies.
sped - Brutus if my ?, they are 15
Brutus - Great, Ran.
Ran/TN - That was a good idea djm.
DJM/KY/SPED - Brutus....he is a sophomore....
Brutus - Then sending him to high school would be appropriate. He should be in an age appropriat class anyway.
Ran/TN - In the responsibility area the concern is with more parent involvement in any discussions/meetings concerning the child's education from the start of the referal process to placement.
sped - How many times can you repeat grades?
Brutus - We do not retain sp. needs children.
DJM/KY/SPED - Brutus....we retain spec. ed. at the high school level....only reason though is for attendance.....if they come to school and try we pass them....
Brutus - I do have a first grader who is going to be 9. I am fighting to get her placed appropriately.
sped - Brutus, this is outrageous! There have been many times kids repeat one grade 3 times. It is so difficult to know what is right and wrong.
DJM/KY/SPED - I always take into consideration if it will benefit the child to repeat the grade....if not....send them on....
Ran/TN - responsibility also addresses state required assessments.
Brutus - The child I am referring to has multiple disabilities. She does not communicate, can not tie her shoes, zip her coat and her mother wants her to read. She does even know the letters.
DJM/KY/SPED - Brutus....you should move her on.....it is a committee decision....not just parent
Maxine - How are most of your assessments written?
Ran/TN - IDEA 97 includes provisions that schools must include special needs stiudents in all assements with appropriate modifications.
Brutus - She is new to me this year and we are working on it. We are planning a team meeting for Monday. I hope it goes well.
DJM/KY/SPED - Maxine.....we do academic testing....psychologist does iq testing....then they integrate our things into their report....
Maxine - DJM/KY/SPED - Yes, my software helps write the interps
sped - same here djm
DJM/KY/SPED - maxine....we have had training and are getting a new program that writes IEP's....its called Horizons I think....
Ran/TN - FYI Related web sites are http://www.cec.sped.org, http://www.ericec.org/ericec/lawlink.htm, http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/OSEP/index.html.
Maxine - DJM/KY/SPED ... I have an Interactive Internet IEP program
DJM/KY/SPED - Maxine.....what is the webiste?
Maxine - http://www.specialsolutions.com
DJM/KY/SPED - thanks Maxine.....
Ran/TN - In the area of accountability the primary concerns are 1. Keeping the parents more informed of the child's progress throughout the year, 2. Access to the same general curriculum, 3. Requires the GE teacher to be a member of the IEP-team.
Ran/TN - Our next meeting maybe moved to the first Wednesday for March
Ran/TN - The topic will be "Behavior Management Stratagies"
Brutus - I am looking forward to having these meetings monthly. Thanks Ran.
Ran/TN - I want to thank everyone for meet here tonight. I hope that tonight's session has been helpful. Check teachers.net for details.
