1. Welcome Back!

2. GCPS District Wide Special Education Meeting
August 2017

3. Introduction of New Staff

4. Building Assignments Christina Mahoney- GHS, Abingdon
Megan Connelly-Grothaus- Peasley, Botetourt
Tina Edwards-Petsworth, Bethel
Sarah Summers- Achilles, Page

5. Building Assignments Jennifer Tingley- Fran Goforth-
Achilles, Bethel, Page, Private Day
Fran Goforth-
GHS, Initial Pre-school
New Coordinator- (TBD)
Abingdon, Botetout, Petsworth, Peasley

6. CELEBRATE!!!
Virginia has 17 indicators for SWD Measures student outcomes and compliance Designation – “meets requirements” – highest ranking All GCPS schools are accredited!

7. SWD Scores- Reading GCPS= 45% State= 45% GCPS= 41% State=46% GCPS=41 %

8. SWD Scores- Writing GCPS= 33% State= 39% GCPS= 29% State=40% GCPS= 31%

9. SWD Scores-Math GCPS= 46% State= 48% GCPS= 45% State=49% GCPS=47%

10. SWD Scores-Science GCPS= 54% State= 51% GCPS= 56% State=53% GCPS=53%

11. SWD Scores- History GCPS= 55% State= 59% GCPS= 60% State=60% GCPS=58%

12. Data Observations Turn to your partner and discuss your observations
What’s good?
What needs improvement?
Ideas to improve?

13. ESSA Every Student Succeeds Act
Five principles:
Reduces Washington’s authority over school decisions and gives it back to the states and local districts.
States must give standardized tests every year and report the results to the public including specific sub-groups like English Language Learners.
States must have challenging academic standards, but Washington cannot dictate the standards.

14. ESSA
School accountability systems must include non-academic measures like chronic absenteeism, in addition to statistics list test scores and graduation rates.
Requires states to intervene in their lowest- performing schools.

15. ESSA Designates 2016-17 as a transition year.
All states are finalizing their ESSA rules for school year.
VDOE – plans to submit plan in September 2017

16. Regional Programs State has developed specific criteria.
Reduced funding for programs.
Contact Fran if considering placement in a regional program

17. Applied Studies Diploma
VDOE has completed Applied Studies curriculum map.
VDOE is working on draft graduation requirements.
Still has to be approved by the Board of Education.

18. Nuts and Bolts Eligibility Criteria has been revised
Eligibility Dates have been sent to Principals
Send out SE – 55 to all teachers – this is the notification of accommodations for students that the teachers must provide in the classroom
New State IEP
20% of all LEA’s will be given an option to join over a 5 year period

19. Nuts and Bolts
Related services are defined as a supportive service that are required to assist a SWD to benefit from special education services.
Case managers should consult the RS personnel about goals and the special education teachers need to monitor the goals from the related service personnel.
No movement on IDEA

20. Comments Which Should Never Be Made by IEP Team Members
We don’t process referrals in the summer
We don’t have money to do that
If she were my child …..
Off the record … or I could lose my job for telling you this
We don’t provide that service in GCPS
I don’t provide that accommodation in my classroom
I will have to check with my principal to see if that service can be added to the IEP.

21. Comments – Cont’d
I didn’t know your child had a disability. He seems like any other child in my class
I don’t know why I am at this meeting because I never met your child
I don’t have room in my schedule to see your child
We met prior to this meeting and determined that…..

22. Reminders
Monitor the timelines for your annual IEPs and start scheduling them a month in advance.
Never excuse the special education teacher, the parent, the student or the administrator from the meetings.
Read over the Friday Tips that are sent out weekly.

23. Reminders
Lock the IEP after you have received the permission and have completed the PWN.
Make sure you are keeping data for all of your goals in the IEP.
RASP is Public Day School. For any outside placement LREs, contact the Special Ed. Office for assistance.
Contact Anne Lanan, Director of Transportation if a child is being considered for a modified day schedule.

24. Reminders
If the child is being seen by an outside agency, secure a release from the parent/guardian and send a letter to request information.
If you schedule an IEP meeting and the parent/guardian decides to leave the meeting, notify the parent that the meeting will continue without their presence.
If you are in a meeting requesting evaluation components, do not name specific tests.

25. Reminders
All-in-Ones should be considered for middle and high school students
Two to three consistent evaluations
Cannot change a disability without evaluations

26. Challenges Over the 1% Cap for VAAP
Review criteria closely in IEP meetings.
Implement Applied Studies Curriculum

27. Classrooms not Courtrooms
Governor’s initiative.
2nd Annual Conference was held this summer.
Break-out session will be devoted to this topic.

28. Break-Out Sessions Three break-out sessions
Numbers are on your name tags
Start with the number and proceed as follows:
1,2,3
2,3,1
3,1,2
Topics are included in your hand out