1. Response to Intervention for Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities Training on July 26
This will be held on Thursday July 26 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the D.O. We will be implementing this model in our elementary buildings at the start of the 12-13 school year. This training will include an overview of the law, specific requirements, and discussions on how to implement in our school buildings. Elementary Title I and Special Education Staff are especially encouraged to attend. Please let Luanne Olson know if you will be in attendance.
2. Self Assessment of Procedural Compliance Training on July 26
Our Ad Hoc Committee will meet on Thursday July 26 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at the D.O. Staff have been contacted for being on this committee. Please confirm with Luanne Olson that you will be in attendance. Information from this process will be shared with all special education staff throughout 12-13. All procedural compliance and corrective activities need to be completed by November.
3. Wilson Just Words Training on July 30 and 31
This will be held on July 30 and 31 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at the District Office. Light breakfast will be served. Lunch is on your own. Bring with you a copy of a Just Words Teacher Kit and/or magnetic tile and boards if you have one. Extras will also be available. We have three school districts - Medford, Chippewa Falls, and Potosi with staff that will be in attendance. There is limited space available for anyone else interested in attending. Please reserve attendance with Luanne Olson if you have not already.
4. Special Education Paraprofessional Positions
The following positions were posted by the school district: (2) Full-time Special Education Assistants (A1) MAES & MAMS and (1) Part-time Pre-K Assistant (A1) 2 days per week - MAES. Contact Becky Goodrich for more information.
5. Diagnostic Special Education Program Support Teacher
This position has been posted and a job description has been written. Several internal candidates have contacted me with regards to the position and a copy of the job description was sent to them. There has also been interest expressed by external candidates. Interviews will be held on Thursday August 2nd starting at 9:00 am.
6. School Based Mental Health Counseling Services Update:
Northwest Directions contacted me last week and indicated they are searching for someone to take on Marjorie Marksteiner's school role in 12-13. Marjorie's outpatient practice at her Rapids office is at her max and thus she must end school services shortly into September. They have an applicant that they are trying to get approved right now. They hope there will be no lapse in service come Fall.
7. Early Childhood Special Education Programming in 12-13
There will be an ECSE programming meeting on Monday August 13 at 12:00 pm at MAES. I will be meeting with our ECSE teachers to review staffing alignment, programming, and services for students in 12-13.
8. Medford Adult Diploma Academy
We had two adult students who graduated this summer. Congratulations to them and their families! An end of year recognition banquet for graduates will be held on Monday August 21 at Florenas.
9. Student Teaching Practicum
Cathy Venzke has been approved by her university to do her student teaching over 18 weeks for both her regular and special education practicums. This will include spending 18 weeks in the morning (MASH) and afternoons (MAES) or vice versa in 12-13. This will allow her to take on more special education responsibilities in preparation for assuming the full time special education teaching position (Wagner) starting second semester.
10. Special Education and Virtual Charter Schools
The Rural Virtual Academy has students receiving special education services. There are often many questions related to special education and RVA. Here is a link to an excellent resource related to Special Education and Virtual Charter Schools (such as RVA) which can be used as reference in addition to the application of federal and state special education laws: http://www.nasdse.org/Portal/0/Web%20copy%20of%20Rhim%20report%20Jan%202008.pdf
11. Special Education Flow Thru and Preschool Entitlement Budgets
The 11-12 flow thru and preschool entitlement budget amendments have been submitted and approved by DPI. The 12-13 flow thru and preschool entitlement budget have also been submitted and approved by DPI.
12. Allocating Special Education Funds for Software Programs
Update from DPI:
Over the past couple of years, the Special Education team has received questions on whether or not a portion of a software package’s cost, used by multiple departments, could be charged to the IDEA grant. The types of programs we have been asked about include READ 180, NovaNet, WordQ, Plato, etc. – programs that are used by both general education and special education, but for different purposes.
The answer to allowability depends entirely on how the software program is being used. Here are three scenarios and the funding options:
The LEA purchases 20 READ 180 licenses to provide specialized reading instruction to students with disabilities by a special education teacher. The cost of all 20 licenses may be charged to the IDEA grant.
The LEA purchases 70 READ 180 licenses. Of these licenses, 50 are used by a licensed general education reading teacher to provide reading interventions to all students identified as struggling in reading. The group receiving general education reading interventions is made up of both students with and without disabilities. None of the 50 licenses purchased for general education may be charged to the IDEA grant as they are being used to deliver general education, and are therefore not an excess cost. The remaining 20 READ 180 licenses are used to provide specialized reading instruction to students with disabilities. The cost of these 20 licenses may be charged to the IDEA grant as they are being used to provide special education instruction.
The LEA purchases 50 READ 180 licenses to provide general education reading interventions to all students identified as struggling in reading. The group receiving general education reading interventions is made up of both students with and without disabilities. None of the 50 licenses purchased for general education may be charged to the IDEA grant as they are being used to deliver general education, and are therefore not an excess cost.
13. State Superintendent's Council on Special Education - Parent Representative
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is currently soliciting nominations of parents of children with disabilities who are interested in serving on the State Superintendent’s Council on Special Education. The council, required under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), advises the DPI on matters affecting the education of children and youth with disabilities. For more information about the Council, please visit http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sped/council.html.
Members are appointed by the state superintendent for three-year terms. The council meets quarterly in Madison. During the 2011-12 school year, the Council will meet on November 12, 2012 (12 p.m. – 9 p.m.) and all day on January 4, 2013, April 12, 2013, and July 19, 2013. The DPI will reimburse council member travel expenses (meals, lodging, and mileage) in accordance with State of Wisconsin guidelines.
If you know of any parents who might be interested, please contact me.
14. Online IEP - Transition
Wisconsin is in the process of developing an online IEP program to lead IEP teams through the Indicator 13 transition requirements. DPI will be requiring that school districts use this tool in the 12-13 school year. The State of Wisconsin has been identified as a "Needs Assistance" status by OSEP.
More information will be forthcoming for our Taylor County Transition Advisory Council and Special Education Department on this new on-line IEP program related to transition as it becomes available.
15. Taylor County Project Lifesaver
Channel 9 news anchor Melissa Langbehn has contacted me regarding doing a news story on Taylor County Project Life Saver due to the recent situation involving a autistic child in Prescott being missing. She heard about Taylor County Project Lifesaver through information distributed on my Twitter account.
16. Early Childhood Indicator Trainings
CESA 10 training will be held on October 22, 2012. This one-day training will provide an overview of Indicator 6: Preschool Environments, Indicator 7: Child Outcomes, and Indicator 12: Early Transitions. Breakout sessions will give participants the opportunity to take an in-depth look at ways to improve performance for specific indicators. http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pdf/spp-6-7-12-brochure.pdf. Early Childhood is one area that we are assessed on for procedural compliance. Sheryl Balciar will be a district representative at this training.
17. Special Education School Business at MASH
We will be discussing and planning to start special education school business(es) at MASH to help teach our students more work/job and social skills to help them be more successful in the community and during post-secondary opportunities. This could include in-school businesses aligned with classes and/or creation of aseparate class to teach these skills to students. I have wanted to start this project for the past several years and would like to thank Nikki Gripentrog and Cathy Venzke for taking the lead in this initiative during 12-13.
18. Private School Children with Disabilities
Every school district has to proportionally share a portion of their special education funding with children with disabilities who are parentally placed in private schools. We are required to meet on an annual basis with representatives from private schools to share funding, discuss how to provide services, etc. Here is the DPI informational bulletin which details our responsibilities: http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/sped/bul06-03.html. I plan to meet in August with representatives from the private schools.
19. Administrative Retreat
I will be at an administrative retreat training on July 24 and 25 and will have limited access to email and phone service during those days. I will check messages when I return to the school district the evening of July 25 or on July 26.
20. 5th year Seniors
We are seeing an increase in the number of students with significant disabilities stay in high school beyond their regular graduating class. This is due in part to decreased funding from the State of Wisconsin to Human Services agencies allowing the students the chance to be employed. This will require our special education department and district to plan for increased expenditures from our special education budget to allow for work experiences such as BRI for these students. This will also require additional pullout sections for reading, math, and/or employability skills development. We will have 3 students who will need these type of services in 12-13.
21. Special Education Caseloads for 12-13
Luanne and I are finalizing the special education caseloads for teachers in 12-13. This will be sent to staff by end of next week.
22. Vacation
I plan to be out of district rest of this week July 17 to July 20 but will still be available through email or phone calls if needed.
23. IEP Form: P 1 Permission to Place
We are still awaiting for 8 parents to sign and return the IEP Form P 1 Permission to Place. This allows the school district permission to place a child in special education. Reminder to staff that the P 1 should be given to parents to sign at an initial IEP meeting so permission can be granted and services can begin.
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