Chapter Twenty-Nine

Collaborative Team Decision-Making

Characteristics of Effective School Teams

• Effective communication and collaboration is essential, given that many important decisions are made by groups of individuals

• Some important principles:– Have a shared goal/purpose– Clearly articulate roles and functions of team members– Listen to and respect other’s viewpoints– Balance structure and flexibility during team meetings– Use objective data– Ensure confidentiality– Regularly evaluate team functioning

Types of Teams

• School-wide Assistance • Intervention Assistance • Multi-disciplinary • Individual Education Plan

Communicating with Parents

• Communicate frequently• Communicate strengths and weaknesses• Translate assessment information• Be aware of cultural differences and their impact• Schedule to facilitate attendance• Clearly explain assessment purposes and outcomes• Use non-technical language• Focus on solutions/avoid blame

Communicating Using Electronic and Written Records

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)– Parents have right to inspect records until child is

18– Release of information to others requires parent

consent

Collection of Pupil Information

• Screening (parent consent not necessarily needed)– Academic– Vision– Hearing

• For eligibility determination and collection of data for research purposes, parent consent is needed.

Collection of Pupil Information• Verification – ascertain the truth of collected information

– Only verified data should be maintained in records• Summarization and Interpretation

– Typically, a report is created when determining eligibility for special services

– Principles for good reports• Organized• Use language that is easily understood• Focus on observed behaviors• Focus on relevant information• Convey level of certainty• Provide data-based recommendations

Maintenance of Pupil Information

• Retention of pupil information for limited periods of time

• Parental rights of inspection and amendment• Assurance of protection against inappropriate

snooping.

Dissemination of Pupil Information

• Access within schools– Must keep record of who views student files– Only those with legitimate need to know can view

files

• Access outside schools– Parent permission needed

• Important considerations for electronic records and communication