10 strategies for keeping families in the special education loop (1) [compatibility mode]
DESCRIPTION
10 Proven ideas for educators to improve parental involvement in special education.TRANSCRIPT
Presented by Kari LewinsohnPresented by Kari Lewinsohn
April 9, 2010
MCEC conference
Goals� This course provides 10 strategies for administrators
and teachers to keep all family members involved and participating in the special education process from referral to graduation. All strategies have been piloted referral to graduation. All strategies have been piloted with success and most are based upon specific research strategies.
Strategy #1Create a mission statement for
involving families.
Developing a missionAsk… Purpose…
� ‘’What do the families need?”
�By assessing the strengths and needs, school � What are the
strengths of our families?
needs, school leaders can then tailor programs and opportunities that all families can access.
Strategy #2Evaluation Report Participation
OpportunitiesWhat parent can bring
� Medical records
Early childhood background of child� Early childhood background of child
� Parent’s view of strengths and educational needs
Sample form
•Send the form with the meeting notice.
•Encourage parents to actively share to actively share from their reports throughout the evaluation report meeting.
Strategy #3Welcome Packets
Welcome PacketsPlan Contents
� Provided to newly qualified families.
� Share and discuss with family
� Procedural safeguards
� List of community and state resources, contact numbers� Share and discuss with family resources, contact numbers
� Fact sheet about disability
� Special education guidebook
DownloadsFact Sheets Special Education Guidebook
� http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/specific/Pages/default.aspx
� http://www.pluk.org/Pubs/MT_SPED_Handbook_2005.pdffault.aspx .pdf
� www.pluk.org
Strategy #4
IEP Participation
IEP participation
� IEP Participation by the family is a key component of the IDEA.the IDEA.
� Parents bring a home perspective to the meeting that should be encouraged.
IEP Form for
parents
� Parents are asked to
� Share student � Share student strengths
� Express concerns
But often aren’t prepared
Strategy #5
Transitions
Transitions
According to [34 CFR 300.43 (a)] [20 U.S.C. 1401(34)]
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
schools are to focus on improving a child’s schools are to focus on improving a child’s
academic and functional achievement by taking
into account the child’s individual needs in order
to facilitate successful movement from school to
post secondary activities (IDEA, 2007, p. 1).
Transitions Steps
� Transitions are
� Designed to promote a meaningful adult life and career .
� Part C to B
� Preschool to Kindergarten
� Elementary to Middle School
� Middle School to High and career .
� Focused on what the child will need at the next level to be successful in the LRE.
� Middle School to High School
� High School to Graduation
Enlist parent and student inputQuestionnaire Resources
� With invitation for transition meeting send home
� fact sheet about the
� http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/Transition/
� fact sheet about the upcoming transition stage
� Student and parent input interview
Rural Institute with the University of Montana Transition project.
Early Childhood TransitionsPart C to B Preschool to Kindergarten
� Collaborate with birth to 3 agencies: CDC and/or Early Head Start.
� Write IEP to build skills needed for inclusion in Kindergarten classroom Head Start.
� Parenting strategies key component
� http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/pgparents.php
Kindergarten classroom (when possible)
� Provide literacy and math strategies to parents
� Transition with Kindergarten teacher.
School transitionsK-8 Form
� Provide information concerning the next school stage.
� Simple questionnaire one for parents and one for child:
� What’s workingstage.
� Meet with staff from both schools.
� Discuss programming needs and make a plan for the upcoming school year.
� What’s working
� What are your hopes and dreams
� What hasn’t worked
� Programming needs
� Concerns
High SchoolTransitions & Graduation Resources
� Transition planning in high school needs to include looking at post secondary life.
� Parent/ student questionnaire
� Transition planning looking at post secondary life.
� Critical to have student involved in these discussions!
� Transition planning workbook
� Vocational Rehab
Strategy #6
Newsletters
Newsletters
Send out every two months.
•Parenting tips
•Math/ Reading
•Social Emotional
•Events
•Resources
Click for sample
Strategy #7
Website
Website
Libby’s site
http://www.libby.k12.mt.us/node/334
What to include to start with:
� Contact information
� Program offerings
� Resources
� Forms
Strategy #8
Parent Advocacy Groups
Parent Advocacy Groups� Four major steps
1. Establish regular meeting times
2. Invite supportive parents first
3. Establish goals for group3. Establish goals for group
4. Branch out to include other parents.
� PIRC
� http://www.montanapirc.org/
Parent advocacy groups� Cautions
� Don’t start out to big.
� Provide child care and snackssnacks
� Don’t meet to often
� Give parents opportunities to visit without school staff.
Strategy #9
Parent Training Opportunities
Parent TrainingSet up Ideas
� Survey parents for topics
� Examine case load for trends
Provide for a variety of times
� Transition workshops
� Parenting
Love and Logic� Provide for a variety of times
� Invite parents to attend staff trainings that are relevant.
� Childcare is a bonus
� Support for transportation
� Love and Logic
� Disability specific
Strategy #10Curriculum and Program review committees
Curriculum and Program
Review Committee� Periodically analyze
current educational trends.
� Survey staff and families
� School staff review all relevant datatrends.
� Create a committee of individuals with expertise in the special education areas to review.
� Establish a mission statement
relevant data
� Create document
� Open for community feedback
� Finalize draft
� Present to board
� Make recommended changes
Libby’s draft mission statement:
Libby Public Schools will prepare all students with the necessary life skills to be with the necessary life skills to be
contributing members of the community through self-advocacy and seeking out
meaningful opportunities.
FLIGHT
•Functional Academics
•Leisure skills
•Independence
No one
soars to
high who
soars with
his own •Independence
•Good communication
•Home and Community
•Transitions to adulthood
his own
wings.
Kari’s website ☺
www.educationhorsesense.netwww.educationhorsesense.net
Thanks for
coming!