Identification and referral to Special Education is also called what?
Pre-referral
Where does the pre-referral (identification and referral to
... [Show More] Special Education) process take place?
In the general education classroom.
What is the pre-referral process?
Helps general education teachers develop effective strategies that improve success for struggling students. - Prevents over-representation of students who are learning English as a New Language or students who are at risk, but do not have a disability. - Encourages communication about how to meet student needs. - A preventative process that helps eliminate inappropriate referrals to special education Data collection that can support eligibility determination, especially for suspected learning disabilities.
What is a referral?
Someone asking the school district to determine if the student is a child with a disability as defined under IDEA.
What does a high-quality general education classroom look like?
Effective use of validated curriculum and evidence-based instructional strategies - Frequent monitoring of growth and skills acquisition - Ongoing teacher training - Universal screening
What is Universal Screening?
Assessments given to all students. - Purpose: identify any student who may be struggling and begin early intervention. - Many schools do universal screening at the beginning of the year. Some do reading assessments three times per year.
Areas that may be included in Universal Screening
Vision - Hearing - Reading - Math - Behavior - Social Emotional Skills
What happens with the Universal Screening Data?
Teachers determine which students need close monitoring during Tier One instruction. - Teacher might select the lowest 25% of the class for close monitoring or use district benchmarks to select a small group of students for monitoring. - The teacher will deliver high-quality instruction to the whole class and closely monitor progress for the struggling students to see if they are responding to the high-quality instruction.
What happens in a Tier 1 classroom?
Uses evidence-based, scientifically researched core curriculum materials - Aligns to state standards. - Teachers trained in how to deliver the curriculum. - Student progress is monitored regularly. - About 75-80% of students reach competency in Tier 1.
What are some things that might spark an initial concern about a student?
Falling grades - Difficulty comprehending what is read - Motivation decreases - Behaviors (e.g., acting out or withdrawn) - Non-compliance - Executive functioning concerns (e.g., lack of organization, task initiation, impulse control) - Social-emotional concerns (e.g. lack of confidence, difficulty with change) - Trauma (e.g., family death, divorce, starting a new school) - Significant absences
How does the teacher know the student is not meeting competency in Tier 1?
Data analysis. - Is the rate of learning sufficient for the student to reach the average range with peers in a reasonable amount of time? - Can the intensity of interventions be maintained in the general education classroom or is more needed? - Is the student able to reach the average range with accommodations? : Remember, anyone can have an accommodation. We are simply providing access.
What happens to a student who is not meeting competency in Tier 1?
Begins additional small group instruction and more intensive monitoring - Tier 2.
What happens in Tier 2?
This is supplemental to what the student continues to receive in Tier 1. - A small group of students may be pulled aside while Tier 1 students are completing some independent work or working in stations. - Tier 2 focuses on specific skill-building and practice. - The teacher chunks down what was taught in Tier 1 and reteaches a smaller chunk, using different strategies and tools. For example, if the students are working on 1:1 correspondence for numerals 1-10; in the Tier 2 group, the students might work on numerals 1-5. - The small group might meet 2-3 times per week to practice the skill. - Skill progress is assessed more frequently than in Tier 1. - Goal is for student to reach the average range in the skill and return to success in Tier 1.
How do we know if the student is making adequate progress in Tier 2?
Example of a student responding positively to the Intervention This fourth grade student had 9 weeks of small group instruction 1 hour/day, 5 days/week. Progress monitoring results indicated a 24-point increase, At the current Rate of Improvement (ROI), the student will "catch up" to the 4th grade EOY benchmark with an additional 3 weeks of instruction
What is Tier 3 intervention in RTI?
This is supplemental to what the student continues to receive in Tier 1. - An individual student may be pulled aside while Tier 1 students are completing some independent work or working in stations. -bTier 3 focuses on more time, more attention and special resources - The small group might meet 4-5 times per week to practice the skill. - Skill progress is assessed more frequently than in Tier 2 - Goal is for student to reach the average range in the skill and return to success in Tier 1.
Is Tier 3 Special Education?
No. Tier 3 is part of general education.
What is the IDEA Special Rule for eligibility determination?
Under Section 300.306 of IDEA, the Special Rule states that a student cannot be found eligible for special education if, the main challenge for the student is:
o Lack of appropriate instruction in reading
o Lack of appropriate instruction in math
o Limited English proficiency
Why is the IDEA Special Rule for eligibility determination important in pre-referral?
• The general education staff must provide data to the eligibility determination team that demonstrates the student has had appropriate instruction in reading and math. The student has had the opportunity to learn those academic subjects.
• The general education staff must provide data to the eligibility team that demonstrates that in addition to limited English proficiency, a disability is also suspected. ELs can have disabilities. Learning English is NOT a disability.
When is a Tier 3 student referred to special education?
• The student is not making progress
•The general education team is confident that their data meet the standards for IDEA's Special Rule.
What is Child Find?
• Child Find is part of the Zero Reject principle of IDEA.
• Child Find requires states/districts to identify, locate, and evaluate (if appropriate) students who need special education.
• Anyone with knowledge about a child can refer the child for special education evaluation
If a student is referred under Child Find, is the district required to evaluate the student?
No. The school must consider the request to evaluate. If there is no reason to think the student has a disability, the school does NOT need to evaluate.
Which cases are most closely related to the IDEA principles of Zero Reject and Child Find?
PARC and Mills : Prior Written Notice (PWN) and Informed Written Consent
What is Prior Written Notice?
• It is one of the procedural safeguards provided to parents and students in IDEA.
• Written explanation of an action the school want to take that concerns the student.
• Designed to keep parents up to date on important decisions for their child
What must be included in a Prior Written Notice for eligibility determination?
• An explanation of what the district plans to do. In this case, assess the child to determine if they are eligible for an IEP.
• A description of other options and why they were rejected. You must be specific here. The student received extra help general education with reading. His skills remain significantly below grade level.
• A description of each assessment used in decision making. For eligibility determination, the assessment plan is attached.
• A reminder that parents have rights to procedural safeguards and due process rights
• Information about how the parent can get a written copy of their rights
• Contact information to get help in understanding their rights.
What must the district do to ensure parents understand the PWN?
• Write the PWN so anyone in the general public can understand it
• Provide the PWN in the mode parent's normally use (native language if they do not read English, Braille, large print, etc.)
What is the legal definition of "consent" under IDEA?
Consent must be informed. The parent must understand what they are agreeing to. The Prior Written Notice (PWN) must be in parent's primary mode of communication (native language or Braille)
•Consent must include a written signature. A verbal agreement does not qualify as consent.
• Consent is voluntary. It can be withdrawn at any time.
What does IDEA mean when it says "parents?"
• Under IDEA, the person legally responsible is the person who can give consent.
• Often the consent giver will be the biological parent.
• Could include grandparents, step parents, surrogate parent appointed by the court, or a court-appointed guardian.
Does the parent have to agree to eligibility determination assessment?
o No.
o The school will not be able to assess for eligibility determination.
o The child will "stay put" in the general education classroom
Stay Put is one of the procedural safeguards provided to parents and students in IDEA.
Evaluation for Special Education
• Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
• Assessment Plan Design
• Administration and Interpretation of Results
What is the purpose of evaluation in special education?
• Determine if the student meets the IDEA definition of "Child with a disability"
• Gather information to determine the unique needs of the student
•Guide the decision-making about appropriate education in the least restrictive environment [Show Less]