Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Prior Written Notice (PWN) Training
Rock Hill Schools
Exceptional Student Education
2009
What is Prior Written Notice?
Written notice/form that must be sent to parents within a reasonable time the school or district ……..
Proposes to initiate or change a student’s:
Identification Evaluation Educational Placement of the student Provision of FAPE (Free, Appropriate Public Education)
OR…..
Refuses to initiate or change the student’s:
Identification Evaluation Educational Placement Provision of FAPE
Well, that covers just about everything!
Prior Written Notice (PWN)
It’s a 1-page form that contains required, specific questions.
It’s a summary of the major points, requests, discussions, decisions and supporting data made in an IEP meeting
It’s been required since 2004 It’s a due process right
It’s Different from the Conference Notes Because it Requires…
A short statement of each action proposed or declined by the district
Details of WHY the district proposes or declined to take the action
A description of data - each evaluation procedure, assessment, record or report used as the basis for the proposed or declined action
If It’s Sent AFTER the Meeting, Why Is It Called “Prior”?
Prior to the decisions being acted upon Prior to the ACTIONs taking place Not prior to the IEP meeting Not prior to discussions/decisions
Answering ALL the required questions prior to the meeting suggests predetermination and
that’s a violation of due process rights!
What About “Prior” to the Meeting?
Our Letter of Invitation takes care of requirements of letting the parents know what will be discussed at meeting.
It is very important parents know what will be discussed.
Be specific on your invitation letters about why you are meeting.
What If Parents Don’t Agree with the Team?
The PWN “keeps the train on the track” and moving forward by defining the consensus of the IEP team
Parents can disagree and file a complaint, but the decisions of the team (services and placement) continue during the compliant process– No “stay put” or a “grinding halt”
to services if parent disagree
First Questions the Dept. of Education Asks Regarding a Complaint
“Was Prior Written Notice provided to the parent?”
“Can we get a copy of it?”
What Kind of ACTIONS Might be Described on a PWN?
Any change in any type of service
Minutes Related services Disability category ESY Setting Accommodations/
Modifications
Instructional Methods Functional Behavior
Analysis Behavior Intervention
Plan
Requests made and/or discussed by team members and/or parents
Summary of IEP Team Meeting
(Prior Written Notice)
Student:_______________________________________ IEP Team Meeting data:__________________________ A school district must give parents written notice before the school district proposes to (or declines to) implement or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or to make a change to the provision of special education and related services to the child. Description of the action the school district proposes/declines to take:
Pro
pos
es
Act
ion
Dec
lin
es
Act
ion
Explanation of why the school district proposes/declines to take this action:
Description of any other options the IEP Team considered and the reasons why those options were not chosen:
Description of evaluations, procedures, tests, records, or reports the school district used:
Any other relevant information:
You have received a copy of the Parent Guide to Special Education, which includes all of the procedural safeguards under the IDEA. You do have protection under these procedural safeguards and may receive another copy at http://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/exceptionalstudenteducation/parenthandbook.aspx If you would like a further explanation of any of these rights, you may contact me, or you may contact these agencies or organizations for assistance: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities ProParents 3710 Landmark Dr., Suite 208 Bush River Rd., Suite 203 Columbia, SC 29204 1-866-275-7273 Columbia, SC 29210 1-803-772-5688 [email protected] [email protected] _____________________________________________ ________________________________________ _____________________________ NAME POSITION DATE 5/2009
PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE Date: _______________________________________ Student: _______________________________________ ID#: _______________________________________ Dear _____________________________________, (Parent, Guardian, Surrogate Parent ____The school district/agency proposes to initiate or change the areas as described below. ____The school district/agency declines to initiate or change the areas as described below. Description of the action proposed or declined relative to identification, evaluation/reevaluation, educational placement, or provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) by the school district/agency: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Explanation of why the school district/agency proposes or declines to take this action: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Description of any options the school district/agency considered and the reasons why those options were declined: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Description of each evaluation procedure, test, record, or report the school district/agency used/will use as a basis for the proposed or declined action: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Description of any other factors that are relevant to the school district/agency’s proposal or decline: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ You have received a copy of the Listing of Parental Rights, which includes all of the procedural safeguards under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. You do have protection under these procedural safeguards and may receive another copy by contacting me at _____________________. If you would like a further explanation of any of these rights, you may contact me, or you may contact the following agency for assistance: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities Pro Parents 3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 208 Bush River Road, Suite 203 Columbia, SC 29204 Columbia, SC 29210 Telephone: 1-866-275-7273 Telephone: 1-803-772-5688 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Sample situations
Change in accommodations/modifications Initiation of transfer services for new student Initial placement Addition of PT/OT services Increase service time for S/L Moving from resource to self-contained
Procedures in Rock Hill:
Within 5 school days, the PWN form is completed and the form is sent home to the parents
Include the original PWN in IEP packet that is sent to Betsey Williams at ESE
It is assumed that when the PWN and IEP packet reaches the FLEX Center, the PWN
has been sent to the parent
Must PWN form be completed at the IEP meeting?
No, but must be completed soon after meeting
Can be completed at meeting, but not required
Use Conference Record notes to help
Who completes the PWN?
Anyone can complete it, but the Case Manager is responsible for:
Ensuring completion Ensuring PWN gets to parent Ensuring PWN gets to ESE office within 5
days
Own your own, divide into small groups
Stop groaning, you knew it was bound to happen……
Besides, we won’t be talking at you for a few minutes!
Write a PWN for the following meeting:
What Did the Team Decide?
Parent called a Special Review because she has an evaluation from Sylvan Learning for her son, Junior that indicates that he is 3-4 years below grade level in reading. She also has a note from the doctor saying the student has ADHD.
The student is already receiving inclusion services for a learning disability in reading.
Mom wants his label changed to OHI, but the rest of the team doesn’t agree.
Mom wants intensive reading instruction by the ESE teacher at least an hour a day and want us to use a program she heard about while watching Oprah.
The Questions
Description of the action the school district proposes/ declines to take
Check Proposes or Declines Explanation of why the school district proposes or
declines to take the action Description of any other options the IEP Team
considered and the reasons why these options were not chosen
Descriptions of evaluations, procedures, tests, records, or reports the school district used
Any other relevant information
Again, what’s the big deal?
It’s required by law It’s the best opportunity to provide a succinct,
written explanation of the District’s side of the story, especially after a heated meeting.
It provides evidence if the case goes to a hearing, both for the parents and for the district.
It is not a new document, but emphasis on it has become much greater, and parents WILL be looking for it.
September ESE Teacher Meetings
Bring to share a PWN that you complete between now and the last week in September
04/21/23
Questions?
