Hey guys
I hope you are having a great week so far!
I wanted to share some good news that came across my desk. I know we all struggle with the fact that sometimes we may not meet the IEP to the exact minute. This is stressful as we all know the importance of the "contract" that guides the child's programming. However, in our lives, things may happen: People get sick, we have assemblies, pep rallies, etc... So we suffer over every second we are not in our rooms or able to provide those services.
This morning I was reading a court case (Corpus Christi Independent School Dist. v. C.C., No. 2:11-cv-00224, 2012, WL 2064846-SD Tex. 6/7/12) centered on this very issue. The parents were upset with the school because the student left class 10 minutes early several times a week. However, it was documented the student was making "meaningful academic and social progress". The court found "the IDEA does not mandate an all or nothing educational program for disabled students". The school is to offer a continuum of services and small deviations from the IEP weren't grounds for finding "failure to provide an appropriate education". The court stated Districts face such issues as school, budgets, staffing issues, illnesses and other day to day realities. It held, "school districts will not always be able to provide disabled students with the best possible education". Remember FAPE is free and APPROPRIATE public education.
I hope this helps you all breathe a sigh of relief. Of course we always try our best to fulfill every commitment in the IEP to the letter, it just isn't always possible EVERY DAY. It's nice to know the courts are providing some common sense answers out there.
I'd love to hear any comments or questions any of you have on this or other matters!
Have a great rest of the week!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Rainy Monday
Hello everyone!
Happy rainy Monday. I hope everything is well with you all. I was in Classroom Walk Through training for 2 days last week and will be performing CWT in many of your classrooms in the upcoming weeks. Let me know if you have any questions about this process. It's really interesting.
I also wanted you all to know of upcoming Dyslexia 101 training in October at CREC as many of you have been asking for info on this topic.
Today I'd like to discuss behavior plans. Our behavior plan is very simple and almost cookie cutter. The IDEA does not contain a provision regarding form or content of BIP's. Districts have been left to their own devices in developing the structure of these plans. The standard of appropriateness for these plans is whether it is "reasonably calculated to allow the student to benefit for his or her educational program in the least restrictive environment, without unduly disrupting other students" Eric J. v. Huntsville City Bd. of Education (1995).
Many educators recommend using a narrative style instead of the checklist we currently use. I am attaching the web address for the Diana Browning Wright Behavior Support Plan for you guys to look at and see if you like it. If you do, please feel free to begin using it. If not, I encourage you to seek out or create a new form as the old one is simply not descriptive enough.
http://www.sccoe.k12.ca.us/depts/selpa/docs/BehaviorSupportPlan.pdf
Have a GREAT week.
Happy rainy Monday. I hope everything is well with you all. I was in Classroom Walk Through training for 2 days last week and will be performing CWT in many of your classrooms in the upcoming weeks. Let me know if you have any questions about this process. It's really interesting.
I also wanted you all to know of upcoming Dyslexia 101 training in October at CREC as many of you have been asking for info on this topic.
Today I'd like to discuss behavior plans. Our behavior plan is very simple and almost cookie cutter. The IDEA does not contain a provision regarding form or content of BIP's. Districts have been left to their own devices in developing the structure of these plans. The standard of appropriateness for these plans is whether it is "reasonably calculated to allow the student to benefit for his or her educational program in the least restrictive environment, without unduly disrupting other students" Eric J. v. Huntsville City Bd. of Education (1995).
Many educators recommend using a narrative style instead of the checklist we currently use. I am attaching the web address for the Diana Browning Wright Behavior Support Plan for you guys to look at and see if you like it. If you do, please feel free to begin using it. If not, I encourage you to seek out or create a new form as the old one is simply not descriptive enough.
http://www.sccoe.k12.ca.us/depts/selpa/docs/BehaviorSupportPlan.pdf
Have a GREAT week.
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