Getting_Ready_for_Your_Childs

The opinions and statements made in this chat session belong to the individuals posting them and appear in unedited form to promote the free exchange of information. However, they may not represent the views and/or policies of the Georgia Center for Resources and Support.

Kim: Sue there are a lot of questions to ask you concerning IEPs could you give us some basic steps to an IEP,

Skoone: OK. In Georgia every child goes thru the SST or Student Support Team process. This team of teachers and educational staff and parents make suggestions on how to help the child. If after 60 days there is no progress, then a referral to Special Ed. takes place for evaluation.

Skoone: After evaluation, a Special Ed. eligibility meeting is held to determine if the child meets the Georgia regulations for Special Ed. services. If it is determined the child is eligible then an Individualized Educational Program IEP is developed.

Skoone: For many children it is readily evident their disabilities are so profound they automatically are referred. For other children who might have some learning or behavior problems, identification can be delayed through the SST process. It is important the teachers and parents keep communicating and make sure that if the child is not learning, then a referral is made sooner.

Skoone: The IEP - educational plan - is based upon the needs or deficits of the child. Good evaluations are crucial to identifying all the needs.

Skoone: We have just started talking about the basic steps to get an IEP

Kim: Mrs. Koone could you please explain the difference in a 504 the SST process

Skoone: You have the right to request an IEP as often as you need to address IEP concerns.

kare: Does that include modifying IEP in either direction....that being either making the goals higher or less demanding?

Skoone: Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act was the first law to address student disabilities. It also protects employees in the workplace. It is not funded. IDEA - the Special Ed. law is funded though only partially - around 17% by Congress. Section 504 does not require all the paperwork and eligibility criteria. Under both you still get Free Appropriate Public Education FAPE and have rights to pursue other action for complaints.

Skoone: Yes, making changes in the IEP goals should only be done in an official IEP meeting.

kare: Is it normal to be asked to sign the IEP as the teacher before the final draft6 of the meeting?

Skoone: Certain people are required under the law. First the parents or guardians and the child if appropriate. A regular education teacher must also be a part of the meeting - a teacher who teachers non-disabled peers. Also Special Ed. teacher, administrator who can make decisions and commit resources and other providers like Speech, Occupational Therapist etc. Sometimes even bus drivers, aides, cafeteria managers etc. should be there to address the issues.

andreas: Can the parents/child have someone, say a friend there for support?

Skoone: A parent should not ask to sign the IEP until the meeting has been completed and all issues covered and addressed appropriately. If the parent feels uncomfortable signing at that time, then they can wait. But be sure to establish a timeline in which you will get back with a school representative.

Skoone: Yes. A parent may have a third party which can include family, friends, advocates, specialists etc. However, if the parent brings legal representation, it is VERY important to notify the school staff ahead of time as they have the same right. Although there is no law saying you have to let them know about others attending, it is just professional courtesy to do so before the meeting date.

Skoone: Sometimes issues become very serious and the committee members cannot agree upon important services. This usually takes a while to develop, but when parents and school representatives become so at odds, then either or both sides might seek legal advice and representation. Of course, this does make things very much more strained.

Skoone: No, private schools do not have to abide by IDEA if they DO NOT receive any government funding. However, if they do accept government funds, then they are bound to comply and also be monitored by government agencies for compliance.

andreas: What should a parent do if they believe the IEP goals/outlines are not being met in a classroom?

Skoone: At one time (the reauthorization of IDEA is now going on) it was proposed to give school vouchers which could be used in private schools. However this has been pulled.

Skoone: First, look closely at your IEP goals. The general goal should be clearly written. An example is "Johnny will improve basic reading skills from 3rd grade to 5th grade level". Then there are benchmarks or short term objectives underneath it. All of these are measured in some way. Criteria of mastery is determined such as 80% of the time or 3 out of 5 opportunities. The Evaluation Method of Progress should list an OBJECTIVE not a subjective way to measure your child's progress. An example is using pre and post testing, behavior scales, charts, formal and informal testing. Teacher observation alone would not be objective.

Skoone: At the end of the school year, you look at the results of this progress OR you can determine it any time the regular report cards come out. If there is minimal or no progress, you need to look at the reason why.

andreas: For example, if extra time on tests and copies of notes are specified in the IEP, but a teacher does not do these things?

Skoone: Let me get to the reauthorization later. IEP's are suppose to be followed or implemented each school day for your child. For students with severe issues, IEP's are immediately done. However, there are students who get lost in the cracks and these are those with less noticeable problems -- learning issues, behavior and inattention, some medical issues that affect their ability to learn. This is when documentation is important and assessing the child's progress is cruicial.

Skoone: You are talking about accommodations. Classroom modications is a part of the IEP. First ask if the teacher has a copy of these accommodations. You will be surprised how many do not get this information at first. If the teacher has the page, then meet with the teacher and go over them. I also like to call an IEP the first of school to meet all of my son's teachers and go over them too.

Skoone: Let me explain the difference between accommodation and modification. Accommodation is when the child has changes like extra time but the curriculum is unchanged. In other words the child learns the same concepts as others. Modifications change the curriculum in that perhaps the child is in a 6th grade math class but functions on a 4th grade math level. So the child receives 4th grade math work. Also it can include changing items to braille.

andreas: How does the IEP plan get from the Iep meeting to the individual teachers of the child?

Skoone: An education staff representative should be designated as the "case manager" or whatever term the school system uses to do the paperwork, notifying you of meetings, giving you progress reports on goals and making sure all the c hild's teachers are informed about the IEP stipulations.

Skoone: An important parent tip for everyone is to do everything in writing! This is great documentation for your records to keep up with everything.

Skoone: Every 5 years IDEA is reauthorized. The House in Congress has passed a bill which makes many changes. The Senate has also proposed a bill and it will be due to go to the floor after Labor Day. Congress is in recess now until after Labor Day.

Skoone: Primarily you should know there are changes in dealing with behavior and decreasing paperwork for IEP's.

Skoone: For behavior, students with disabilities will have to abide by the student code just like anyone else. If there is a violation, then the school could remove the child for up to 45 days in an alternate environment such as an alternative school, home, detention center etc. This is different to presently having a manisfestation determination to determine if the behavior is a manisfestation of the child's disability. It is possible a version of this might still be retained. Nothing is law yet.

Skoone: Also, to decrease paperwork, it is proposed to hold an IEP every 3 years. Of course, parents still have the right to call an IEP meeting as often as they think necessary. The teachers I have spoken to seem to think waiting this long would not help the child. Congress is also looking at streamlining the IEP form.

kare: Congress? Why wouldnt the state school systems determine the IEP form?

Skoone: FERPA is the Family Education Rights to Privacy Act. Under IDEA and FERPA you have the right to access ALL of your child's educational records. Please ask to review and get a copy of your child's files if you don't already have them. Ask where all the educational files on your child is located and what types of files they are. Files can be Special Education, Cumulative (report cards, shot record etc.), computer information like transcripts etc.

Skoone: One of the many complaints about Special Education is the immense paperwork. I have to agree it is burdensome for me! Anyway, the purpose is to streamline the form. States as in the past will probably be allowed to compile their own form but it still must be approved by the Office of Special Education Program OSEP of the US Dept. of Education.

Skoone: It is a wonderful law and I suggest looking at all your child's files once a year. Even if they have no disabilities.

kare: Mrs. Koone, I have learned so much tonight . Thank you for your time and expertise.

Skoone: I would like to think not. But it does postpone possible identification because it requires so much paperwork to be evaluated. Some students needs multiple evaluations -- psychological, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech etc.

Skoone: Thank you for spending your time here! PEPP can also hold workshops which can go into much more detail. Kim knows how to ask for this.

Kim: Well it is almost to end our chat I would like to thank Mrs. Sue Koone this has been very informative.

Skoone: Be sure to ask your school how they performed on the report cards. They just came out for last year.

Skoone: Other helpful websites are Pete Wright's at www.wrightslaw.com anad www.gcdd.org for Ga. Council on Developmental Disabilities

Skoone: The last two offer newsletters via email and you will find them very informative.

Getting_Ready_for_Your_Childs_IEP

Thursday, the 21nd of August 2003