The Top 10 Things Every Special Educator Needs to Know

THE TOP 10 THINGS EVERY SPECIAL EDUCATOR NEEDS TO KNOW

Special Education is mandated by federal law and we have to do what they say.

The ProcessEvaluation/Eligibility

PLAAFP

Goals & objectives

Accommodations/Modifications

Services

As used in Part 300, the term individualized education program or IEP means a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in a meeting in accordance with 34 CFR 300.320 through 300.324, and that must include:

A statement of the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance… A statement of measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals designed to:

Meet the child's needs that result from the child's disability to enable the child to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum; and

Meet each of the child's other educational needs that result from the child's disability; For children with disabilities who take alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement

standards, a description of benchmarks or short-term objectives; A description of:

How the child's progress toward meeting the annual goals described in 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2) will be measured; and

When periodic reports on the progress the child is making toward meeting the annual goals (such as through the use of quarterly or other periodic reports, concurrent with the issuance of report cards) will be provided;

A statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child…

A statement of any individual appropriate accommodations that are necessary to measure the academic achievement and functional performance of the child on State and district-wide assessments consistent with section 612(a)(16) of the Act; and if the IEP Team determines that the child must take an alternate assessment instead of a particular regular State or district-wide assessment of student achievement, a statement of why the child cannot participate in the regular assessment and why the particular alternate assessment selected is appropriate for the child….[34 CFR 300.320(a)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)]

Students must meet eligibility requirements to receive special education services.

Determining Eligibility

Full and Individual Evaluation

Determination of a Disability Condition

Determination of need for Specially Designed

Instruction

REED – Review of Existing Evaluation Data

Handicapping Conditions Auditory Impairment Autism Deaf-blindness Emotional Disturbance Intellectual Disability Orthopedic Impairment Other Health Impairment Learning Disability Speech or Language Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Visual Impairment Non-categorical Early Childhood

“I think he could do it if he tried” is not an adequate PLAAFP statement.

PLAAFP is critical because it is the:

Cornerstone of the IEP Description of the student’s strengths in

relation to standards Source that drives the other IEP

components Statement that links all IEP components

together

Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance

By reviewing the PLAAFP, the ARD committee should have a clear understanding of the student’s performance in the grade-level TEKS, including the student’s:

Strengths Current areas of need Accommodations, modifications or supports the

student has previously used

A note about PLAAFPs:

Anything identified as a need in the

PLAAFP must be addressed somewhere

in the IEP, either in the goals and/or

objectives or in the accommodations

and/or modifications.

DATA MUST: Be evidenced-based

Indicate progress toward grade level content

Provide baseline of academic achievement and functional performance

Describe observable and measurable behavior

“John will read and answer questions 8/10 times” does not have the required components of a well-written goal or objective.

There has to be a documented reason, related to the student’s disability to provide a student with specific accommodations and/or modifications.

What are Accommodations? Accommodations are changes to materials or procedures that

provide effective and equitable access to grade-level curriculum during instruction and testing.

Accommodationso do not substantially alter the content or performance criteria

of assignments and assessments.o should not replace the teaching of subject-specific knowledge

and skills.o are intended to enable students with special needs, disabilities,

or who are learning English to participate meaningfully in grade-level instruction.

o are not intended to provide a student with an advantage over other students.

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Modifications to the Content and Instruction

Specially designed instruction that changes the DEPTH of the curriculum to enable the student to access the BREADTH of the curriculum

Change in the complexity of the knowledge, the method of instruction, and student’s learning outcomes

5. Level of support or placement options is the last thing decided at an ARD. It is not decided before the ARD.

Taking a student out of a general education classroom constitutes a change of placement and requires an ARD. Even for a short time.

The type of special education services a student receives can impact their post-secondary options.

Technology is your friend.

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Just when you almost figured out the state testing program, THEY CHANGE IT!!!