1. EDUCATION Individualized Education Program (IEP) Special Education
Nonpublic School (NPS)
504 Plan

2. Overview Individualized Education Program (IEP) Definition
Process / Timeline
Services / Educational Placement Options
Responsibilities
Special Education
Eligible Disabilities
Non Public School (NPS)
504 Plan
Qualifying Conditions

3. Individualized Educational Program (IEP)

4. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Definition
A written education plan for a school-aged child with disabilities developed by a team of professional and the child’s parent(s); it is reviewed and updated yearly and describes how the child is presently doing, what the child’s learning needs are, and what services the child will need.

5. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Timeline
15 days - Within 15 days of holders of education rights written request for a special education assessment received by the school district, an assessment plan is sent from the school.
50 days - Holder of education rights signs authorizing the Assessment Plan, then the IEP meeting must be held within 50 calendar days of receipt of signed consent to consider assessment results.
** ********* **
30 days - If the child has an IEP and is not making satisfactory progress, another IEP meeting can be requested in writing by holder of education rights or the school and held within 30 calendar days.
30 days - Students new to the school district, who receive special education services, must have an IEP meeting held within 30 days.

6. Assessment from Holder of Education
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Assessment and IEP Process
Consent and IEP
Development
Meeting
Written
Referral for
Assessment from Holder of Education
Rights
Assessment
Plan by
Professional
Team
IEP
Implementation
School
Provides
Special
Education Services
IEP Review
Follow-up
IEP Meetings

7. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Referral for Assessment
Parents/guardians, CSWs, teachers, other school personnel, and community members may refer a child for an assessment for special education services.
The referral needs to identify why the child needs the testing to improve the child’s academic skills.
Make the request to school principal in writing.

8. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Authorization for Assessment
Holder of Education Rights (the parent unless otherwise identified by the court) must give signed consent to authorize a psychoeducational assessment to take place.

9. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Assessment
Involves the school gathering information about the child,
including:
tests
observations
interviews
work samples
school records

10. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Assessment
The assessment may include testing in:
Academic
Social Emotional Development
Fine and Gross Motor Ability
Speech and Language
General Ability
Hearing Assessment
Health and Physical Development
Vocational Ability

11. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Purpose of the Meeting:
Determines if the child qualifies for special education services
Determines present levels of performance
Strengths and weaknesses
Establishes goals for the child’s progress
Develops a written document describing the child’s educational needs and services to be provided

12. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting Attendees:
Core participants:
Holder Of Education Rights
Administrator
School Psychologist
Special Education Teacher
General Education Teacher
Group Home Provider (if child resides in a group home)
And if appropriate:
Child
CSW
Child’s Attorney
Other District Staff

13. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Sample Meeting Agenda: (1)
Summary of Parent/Student Rights
History of Case
Parent/Student Share Concerns
Reports of Individual Assessments by Examiners or Designees
Eligibility for Special Education
Not Applicable for Regular Annual Reviews
Written Statement if Student Does Not Qualify

14. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Sample Meeting Agenda: (2)
Meeting Summary
Summarize IEP
Address Questions
Acquaint Parents with Future Procedures, e.g., annual reviews, transition IEPs, triennial review dates
Explain Due Process
Sign Appropriate Forms*
Parents are provided with legible copy of the IEP document
Adjourn

15. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Information Contained in an IEP:
Present level of performance
Statement about child’s disability
Annual goals and objectives, including measurement standards
Statements defining services to be provided
How often, when and in what setting services will take place
How child will participate in general education activities with non-disabled peers
Plan to address any behavioral issues

16. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Possible Other Services that can be included in the IEP
Language and speech
Audiological services
Psychological Counseling
Adapted physical education
Physical and Occupational therapy
Transportation
Rehabilitation Counseling
Positive Behavior Support (based on need identified in a functional analysis assessment)

17. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Educational Placement Options In order of least to most restrictive
General education class
General education class with consultation
General education class with DIS (designated instruction and service)
General education class and RSP (resource specialist program)
General education class and SDC (special day class)
Special day class
Special school
Public/Non-public school dual enrollment
Non-public school
Home or Hospital

18. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Frequency of Meetings
Once the IEP meeting is held, follow up meetings occur on the following schedule:
Annual review
Every third year comprehensive testing and evaluation
As needed, at the request of the holder of education rights or school

19. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Disagreements
If parent (or Holder of Education Rights) disagrees with any portion of the IEP, parents should indicate portions agreed upon so they may be implemented immediately, and a plan should be developed for resolving areas of disagreement.

20. Individualized Education Program (IEP) SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

21. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Holder of Education Rights:
Has the responsibility to authorize the request for the psycho educational assessment.
Must attend the IEP meeting.
Be prepared to discuss the child's strengths and needs about the child's education progress.
Participate in the decisions impacting the child’s education and services needed.
Sign the IEP document.

22. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Children’s Social Worker’s Role:
Collaborate with holder of education rights and school
Share in the assessment, including strengths and needs
Advocate for the child
Provide the caregiver a copy of the IEP
The CSW is not permitted to sign the IEP document.

23. Individualized Education Program (IEP) School:
Has the responsibility to provide the child educational services
Provide assessment services
Organize the IEP meeting
Provide special education services individualized to the child’s IEP

24. Special Education

25. Special Education Definition
Defined as “specially designed instruction” to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability.
Every child has the right to a public school education in the least restrictive environment (LRE), which provides for interactions with nondisabled peers as appropriate.
This includes:
Partial day attendance in general education classes
Participating in extracurricular activities

26. Special Education Disabilities Eligible for Special Education Services
Some examples to be assessed are:
Speech and Language Development
Vision Problems
Hearing Problem Physical Development
Academic Development
Cognitive / Memory Skills
Attention / Perception Skills
Social / Emotional Development
Living Skills
If a child has difficulties that interfere with his/her ability to learn it will need to be assessed to qualify as a disability.

27. Special Education Federal Law for the Provision of Special Education Services
IDEA
Educational services provided in public schools based on law Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) renamed in 1991.
IDEA address children with educational disabilities from ages 3 to 21 years of age.
An educational disability is a condition that prevents a child from benefiting from his/her education, not necessarily based on a child’s intelligence.
Each child has an IEP designed to the child’s unique needs.

28. Special Education The Six Principles of IDEA
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Appropriate Evaluation
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Parent and Student Participation in Decision Making
Procedural Safeguards

29. Special Education Services Provided
Are based on:
Assessments
Multidisciplinary team meeting
Outcomes of the IEP meeting
Individual to the child
Ongoing status reviews of prescribed IEP meetings

30. Special Education CSW Role
Discuss with the caregiver how the child is progressing in school and if special education services are being provided
Talk with the child about school
Obtain school IEP and reports routinely
Meet with the teacher, including attending IEP meeting
Include educational information and progress in court report every time.

31. Special Education / Early Childhood Early Intervention Services for Children
Age Birth - 5 years with significant developmental delay in the developmental milestones related to:
Cognitive
Physical (motor, vision, and hearing)
Communication
Social or Emotional
Adaptive
Condition which may result in severe delays

32. Special Education / Early Childhood Children’s Social Workers’ Role
If you or the caregiver suspect the child qualifies for Early Intervention Services make a referral to the local school district or regional center for an assessment
Best to make the referral in writing
Holder of educational rights must sign consent to authorize the assessment
An Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is the document describing what is needed

33. Non Public School (NPS)

34. Non Public School (NPS) Definition
Non Public Schools (NPS) are private, special education schools certified and regulated by the State, with oversight by the referring school district for full compliance with education codes.
The local school districts facilitates the psycho educational assessments and IEP meetings, not the NPS.
NPS are often affiliated with a group home. They are designed to meet the needs of a very small population of students when no appropriate public school is available.

35. Non Public School Assessment and Collaboration Prior to any Placement in a NPS
Per federal education law, a child placed in a group home affiliated with a NPS, cannot attend the NPS without a current IEP which specifically states the child’s needs can only be met in a NPS.
If an IEP does not exist, the local school district must provide educational services.
The decision to place a child in a NPS is a collaboration of the holder of education rights and the local school district, not the group home or CSW.

36. Non Public School CSW’s Role
Report to the court the child’s academic progress.
Attach to the court report:
Grades
Attendance record
IEP
BEST PRACTICE -
Attend the IEP meeting for a student attending a NPS:
Participate to develop a plan to transition the child back to a public school.
Advocate for dual enrollment. Students can be enrolled in a combination of public and nonpublic school classes.

37. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504 Plan)

38. Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act (504 Plan) Definition
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects persons from discrimination based upon their disability status. The law provides for accommodations to students who meet specific criteria.
This Civil Rights law protects individuals who have a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more life activities.
Funding is not allotted for Section 504 accommodations, which may relate to building and program accessibility.

39. Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act (504 Plan) Holder of Education Rights
Unlike Special Education, 504 Plans do not require the school to provide an IEP designed to meet the child’s unique needs and provides for the child’s educational benefit.
The law requires notice to the Holder of Education Rights with respect to identification, evaluation and/or placement.

40. Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act (504 Plan) Criteria for Services
The following are examples of qualifying conditions to meet the 504 Plan criteria:
Asthma
Behavior Problems
Tourette’s Syndrome
Emotional Problems
Obesity
Drug and Alcohol Addiction

41. Summary

42. Summary
IEP brings together a multidisciplinary team to assess the child’s needs and develop a plan to address educational services.
Special Education is the program system that provides the educational services specific to the child in the least restrictive environment.
Non Public Schools are specialized schools with services identified in an IEP as essential to the child’s learning.

43. Summary
Only the holder of the education rights can authorize the assessment of the child for special education services and sign the IEP document.
CSW has a support role in the process and reports decisions, services, and results to the court.

44. Resources
Internet link to Educational Liaisons for foster youth in local school districts
Internet link to “18 Tips for Getting Quality Special Education Services for Your Child”
Internet link to Los Angeles County SELPA directors
Internet link to DCFS public website - Health and Education icon