Hey everyone!
I hope you are enjoying your first week back. I know you are learning all kinds of wonderful things in your inservice week!
In my reading this week, I came across two very interesting things...
1) A New York case that has worked its way all the way through the US Court of Appeals:
A District was found to be in denial of FAPE because services they claimed to be providing were not listed in the IEP. I know I say it all the time, but it is so true. If it isn't written down, it isn't happening. Please review your IEP's, especially those for children with Autism, to be sure they would stand up in court or under an attorney's scrutiny. Be sure to give yourselves credit for all the wonderful things you are doing in the classroom.
This child was not receiving 1:1 ABA therapy. I know we provide ABA to all our children with Autism. Please be sure this is listed in their IEP's.
2) Arkansas Dyslexia Law Act 1294 S.B. 33. Arkansas Statutes Sections 6-40-101-102
The Act requires districts to screen all kindergarten through grade two students for dyslexia. This will be done using DIBELS. Also, all out of state transfer students will be screened and when a child grade 3 or higher is struggling with phonological and/or phonemic awareness, sound symbol recognition, the alphabet, decoding, rapid naming skills or encoding.
The law further requires if a student's screening shows markers for dyslexia, RTI must be used to meet the student's needs. If RTI further indicates the presence of dyslexia, an evaluation is to be ordered. If a student is found to have Dyslexia, therapeutic services are to be delivered.
If you guys need any help in the upcoming weeks, please call on me. I am always available.
