Special Education Professional Development Training

Special Education Professional Development TrainingI. ConfidentialityII. ADHDIII. Response to InterventionIV. Problem Solving Teams (PST)V. Special Education ProcessPercentages per Disability Categories in Shelby County

Category2009-20102010-2011Autism260290Developmental Delay208160Emotional Disabilities110 118Hearing Impaired 15 22Intellectual Disabilities116 137Multiple Disabilities 60 66Orthopedically Impaired 14 25Specific Learning Disability348472Other Health Impairments316249Speech or Language Impairments273382Traumatic Brain Injury95Visual Impairments914Total18751940ConfidentialityFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.FERPAFERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."Provision of Copy of RecordsParents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance. It is impossible for parents or eligible students to remove the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.Amendment of Records at Parents RequestParents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.Release of InformationGenerally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR 99.31):Authorized ReleaseSchool officials with legitimate educational interest;

Other schools to which a student is transferring;

Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;

Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;

Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;

Accrediting organizations;

To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;

Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and

State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Confidentiality AgreementAfter viewing the powerpoint. You will be asked to print out and sign the Confidentiality Agreement. Please turn in to your SPED Lead Teacher (Mrs. Adams)!!. One MUST be signed by each employee each year. Make sure you initial in the main office (Mrs. Lambs desk) when it is completed.Each Shelby County Board of Education Employee must sign a form each year (i.e., bus drivers, counselor, etc)Any visitors (college students, agency, etc) must sign this form as well prior to observing in a class.Thanks!!Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity DisorderCharacteristicsWhat is Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological disorder. Students with ADHD demonstrate significant impairment related to inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity compared to average children of the same age.Diagnostic Criteria for ADHDThe following symptoms are listed in the DSM-IV and are used to diagnose ADHD. At least six of these symptoms must be displayed in a number of settings, persist over six months, and must have been observed prior to age seven in order for the diagnosis to be made.Hyperactivity SymptomsLeaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected.Runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriateHas difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietlyIs on the go or acts as if driven by a motorTalks excessivelyImpulsivity SymptomsBlurts out answers before questions have been completedHas difficulty awaiting turnInterrupts or intrudes on othersInattentive SymptomsFails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in school work or other related activities.Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.Does not seem to listen when spoken to directlyDoes not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or dutiesHas difficulty organizing tasks and activitiesInattentive (cont)Avoids, dislikes, or reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effortLoses things necessary for tasks and activitiesIs easily distracted by extraneous stimuli that are usually easily ignored by othersForgetful in daily activities

Identification Rate in Shelby CountyLee vs. Macon made systems review eligibility of minority students in the categories of Intellectual Disability (formerly Mental Retardation) and Emotional Disability (formerly Emotional Disturbance) because of overrepresentation. Since that time, the number of students has increased in the area of Other Health Impairment (OHI), specifically for attention. The State Department is monitoring our numbers in the OHI category due to disporportionality and they will continue to monitor until the percentage decreases.Accommodating Students with DisabilitiesGetting Students AttentionUsing Clear signals: EverybodyReadyModel excitement and enthusiasm about the upcoming lessonUse eye contact (students should be facing you, especially when direct instructions are given)Color is very effective in getting attention. May use color to highlight key terms.Use visual signalsVary your tone of voice: loud, soft, whisperSignal students auditorily: ring a bell, use a timer, play musicTheatrics may spark an interestFocus Students Attention Project your voice to be heard clearly by studentsBe aware of competing sounds in room (air conditioning, humming of fluorescent lights). Be aware that it is not that students are not focusing; they are focusing on EVERYTHING!!!Use hands-on presentations / demonstrationsUse a laser pointerUse visuals (pictures, diagrams, manipulatives)Ask students to illustrate key pointsUse cloze method (class notes with key terms missing)Explain the purpose and relevance of your lesson Accommodations for Seat WorkSeat student near a study buddy or a good role modelIncrease distance between desksAllow extra time to complete workAssist student in setting short-term goals

Give clear, concise instructionsCue student to stay on task (private cue / signal)Pair written instructions with oral instructionsUse contracts, charts, and BIPs for on-task behavior

Accommodations for Seat WorkGive assignments one at a time to avoid work overloadChunking give assignments in smaller chunksReduce amount of homework Use buff colored paper instead of whiteTake tests in a quiet environmentBe aware of lighting can cause a glare on white paper

Maintaining Students AttentionMove around the classroom to maintain your visibilityBe PREPARED and avoid lag-time in instructionUse direct instruction techniquesUse motivating games and computer programs for skill building and practiceUse cooperative learning groupsPlanning and OrganizationProvide organization rulesProvide student with homework assignment bookSupervise writing down of homework assignments MODEL planning and organization by your classroom and actionsSend daily / weekly reports home (you can also set up a blog for the students and students parents to view daily)Allow students to have an extra set of books at homeEncourage learning of keyboarding skillsDo not penalize for poor handwriting if that is an area of concernRegularly check desk and notebook for neatnessBehavior Allow students to stand at times while workingSupervise closely during transition timesPraise appropriate behaviorPrompt appropriate social behavior either verbally or with a private signalPraise compliant behavior (we know that students should be compliant at all times, but we know there are those who need encouraging!)Provide immediate feedbackIgnore minor, inappropriate behavior (when acceptable)Acknowledge positive, appropriate behavior of nearby studentsMonitor social interactionsEncourage cooperative learning tasks with other studentsProvide lessons on social skills Response to InterventionBest Practices Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) aligned with No Child Left Behind emphasizes accountability, high standards and proven scientifically, research based instruction to provide effective interventions for struggling learners. RTI is the practice of providing high-quality research-based instruction and interventions matched to student needs and using learning rate over time with level of performance to inform educational decisions.Alabama s RtI FrameworkTier I Instruction Core Instruction* Research-based curricula and instructional strategies* Strategic teaching in ALL classes* Peer-driven/Cooperative Learning* Increased Student engagementTier II Instruction General Ed. Classroom* Differentiated strategic teaching* Teacher models strategies & scaffolding techniques* Implementation of direct interventions related to student needs Tier III Intervention Small Group Setting* Research-based and target-level intervention strategies implemented* Intensive instruction on a daily basis

29Grade 4-12 Tier ModelIntensive Intervention classesDifferentiated strategy instruction in content classes small group-intentional groupingsCore instruction=Strategy instruction in content classes whole and small groupPlusSpecial Education80%5%15%? %Tier 1Tier 3Tier 2Problem Solving Team (PST)PST is an intervention program designed to provide help to general education students who have been identified as at-risk in the area of academics or behavior. Team is made up of an administrator, PST coordinator, counselor, and general ed. teachersStudent is screened for Vision/Hearing and Reading/Math deficits Team will collaborate about specific needs and provide strategies to target specific skill areas.

How students are referred to PSTIf anyone has a D or an F, you MUST begin using Tier 2 strategies with those students and keep documentation by using the Tier 2 Checklist (a copy can be found in the PST folder on the Faculty Share drive).

At the end of the nine weeks if the same student is failing, you MUST give PST coordinator (Mrs. Rath) a copy of the Tier 2 checklist. From that point, we will complete a PST referral and begin the PST process (vision and hearing screening, Scholastic Reading Inventory, and Scholastic Math Inventory, etc.).

If PST interventions have been ineffective, a referral to SPED may be the appropriate next step.There have been incidents when students are referred to special education and placed on PST intervention during the referral process.

QuizName: _____________________________ Date: _____________True / False A parent does not have the right to correct their childs records if they believe that they are misleading or inaccurate.True / False Each Shelby County Board of Education employee and all visitors who are observing in a classroom must sign a Confidentiality Agreement form.List the two (2) categories in Special Education that have the highest percentage of students being served in Shelby Countty1)2)True / False Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) does not require a research-based reading program prior to referring a student to Special Education.True / False A student can have a PST plan and an IEP simultaneously.Tier I / Tier II / Tier III (choose ONE) focuses on improving the core classroom instruction that ALL students receive.Yes / No Have I printed out the Confidentiality agreement & turned it in to my SPED Lead teacher?Any comments / questions:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________Reminders:Sign and date the CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT(If you did not complete the Confidentiality Agreement at the faculty meeting, please notify Mrs. Adams for another copy.)Print and complete the QUIZTurn in both to Mrs. Adams and initial the form in the main office when completed!!