Early Release Day Trainings in 15-16

We will be offering trainings/workshops during early release days for paraprofessionals during the 15-16 school year. If there is a topic that you are interested in learning more about, then please contact me.  

Options include, but are not limited to: 

• Appropriate Use of Seclusion and Physical Restraint
• Mandatory Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting 
• Community Roundtable Resources
• Autism
• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
• Google Training
• Motivation Breakthrough for Students
• Understanding Learning Disabilities
• Medical Updates and training
• Mental Health Services
• Special Education Law Updates
• CPR and AED training
• Wilson Fundations Overview

Early Release Days

Dates: September 16, February 18, April 22, and May 17 (no training on Nov 24)

Times: 2:15 pm to 3:30 pm

Location: MAES

Same trainings will be held for interested certified staff, parents, and community members on September 16, February 18, (none on April 22) and May 17 from 3:45 pm to 5:00 pm.  

Thanks,

Joseph A. Greget

Director of Special Education/Student Services

715-748-2316 ext 324

Special Needs Voucher Notice Requirement and Act 55

DPI has not yet issued the guidance to school districts about the Special Needs Voucher Notice Requirements.  They have issued guidance about other educational options which the school board is required to now report on.  Here is the information: 

Special Needs Scholarship Program Notification Requirements

The department has received a number of questions related to the new Act 55 requirement to notify parents of children with a disability enrolled in the school district of the Special Needs Scholarship Program.  Specifically under §115.7915(5)(a), Wis. Stats., annually, each school board is required to notify the parents of each child with a disability enrolled in the school district of Special Needs Scholarship Program. 

 

Under Act 55, the Special Needs Scholarship Program is first effective in the 2016-17 school year. There is no Special Needs Scholarship Program in the 2015-16 school year, therefore, this notice requirement does not yet apply.  The Department will provide additional information on this program as it becomes available.

 

Please note, the Special Needs Voucher notice requirement is in addition to the notice of educational options under §§ 118.57 and 115.385(4), Wis. Stats.  More information on the notice requirements under these sections will be provided by the department in the near future.  For your reference, the statutory notice provisions included in Act 55 are listed below.

 

Sec. 115.7915 (5)(a), Wis. Stats:

Annually, each school board shall notify the parents of each child with a disability enrolled in the school district of the program under this section [Special Needs Scholarship Program].

 

Sec. 118.57, Wis. Stats: 

(1) Annually, by January 31, each school board shall publish as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and post on its Internet site a description of the educational options available to the child, including public schools, private schools participating in a parental choice program, charter schools, virtual schools, full-time open enrollment, youth options, and course options.

(2) The school board shall include in the notice under sub. (1) the most recent performance category assigned under s.115.385 (2) to each school within the school district boundaries, including charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r)or (2x) and private schools participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23. The notice published by the school board shall inform parents that the full school and school district accountability report is available on the school board's Internet site.

 

Sec.  115.385(4), Wis. Stats:

Annually, each public school, including a charter school, and each private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 shall provide a copy of the school's accountability report to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in or attending the school. Each school shall simultaneously provide to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in the school a list of the educational options available to children who reside in the pupil's resident school district, including public schools, private schools participating in a parental choice program, charter schools, virtual schools, full-time open enrollment, youth options, course options, and options for pupils enrolled in a home-based private educational program.

DPI Statewide Autism Trainings for 15-16

2015-16 School Year: Training Calendar Now Available!

Registrations are open! Please see the 2015-16 flyer for more information.

• Autism Essentials Across the School Day (Formerly titled Basic Needs of Students with Autism):
  October 6 & 7, 2015, Wausau- Registration and Lodging Information
  January 26 & 27, 2016, Oshkosh- Registration and Lodging Information
• Teaching and Supporting New Behaviors (Formerly titled Addressing Challenging Behaviors):
  November 3 & 4, 2015, Wausau- Registration and Lodging Information
  February 23 & 24, 2016, Oshkosh- Registration and Lodging Information
• Early Childhood Autism Essentials Across the Day (Formerly titled Basic Needs of Students with ASD):
  October 20 & 21, 2015, Johnson Creek- Registration and Lodging Information 
• Addressing Social Understanding Needs of Students with Autism:
  March 8 & 9, 2016, Wisconsin Dells- Registration and Lodging Information
• Supporting Visual Learners and Their Neurology:
  June 21 & 22, 2016, Johnson Creek- Registration and Lodging Information

Post-Secondary Transition Plan Resources in Wisconsin

Here are some Post-Secondary Transition Plan resources for students who are or will turn 14 years of age during the course of their IEP:

1. Post-Secondary Transition Plan Step by Step Instructions: 

http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sped/pdf/spp13-ptp-instructions.pdf

2. PTP Compliance Review Other Responses Identified as Non-Compliant

http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sped/pdf/tran-ptp-other-noncomp-guidance.pdf

3. PTP Frequently Asked Questions:

http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sped/pdf/tran-ptp-faq.pdf

4. PTP primary website including training videos:

http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sped_spp-transition

5. Purposeful PTP for Middle School Students

http://www.witig.org/wstidata/resources/middle-school-ptp-tip-sheet-final_1439472185.pdf

Special Education Certified Staffing Alignment for 15-16

Special Education Certified Staffing Alignment for 15-16 in the Medford Area Public School District

** New Staff

Stetsonville Area Elementary School

** Grades K-4 Special Education Teacher = Elizabeth Steward

Medford Area Elementary School

Early Childhood = Amber Fettes

K-1 = Tasha Mallak and Brenda Ann McNary

Grades 2-4 = Sarah Faude, Misty Galli, and Kathy Schumacher

Grades 2-4 Wilson Reading/RTI for SLD = Misty Galli 

PK-4 PBIS and Private School = Richelle Woller

Medford Area Middle School

Grade 5 = Julie Kakes

** Grade 6 = Andree Brushaber

Grade 7 = Carol Wieman/Kris Brandner

Grade 8 = Sue Laher

Grade 5-8 EBD = Jan Farmer

Grade 5-8 Autism = Carol Wieman

** Grade 5-12 Reading/Math/Alternative Intervention teacher = Lisa Derfus

Grade 5-8 Wilson Reading = Kris Brandner

Medford Area Senior High School

Grade 9 = Tate Hedtke and ** Jamie Natzke

Grade 10 = Paul Boettcher and Beth van der Berg

Grade 11 = Shari Gajewski and Melanie Ellenbecker

Grade 12 = ** Kimberly Schaetzl, Melanie Ellenbecker, and Nicole Gripentrog

Taylor County Education Center

SOAR = Nicole Gripentrog

Alternative High School = Kellie Keene 

Rural Virtual Academy

Leatha Hopperdietzel and Jill Chasteen