Managing the Transition ProcessKyrene Special Education Parent Advisory Council (KSEPAC)

January 8, 2015

Elementary to Middleand

Middle to High School

Kyrene Special Education

•Shari Dukes•Director of Exceptional Student Services

•Cindy Walters•Special Education Teacher Specialist

•Lori Conroy•Special Education Teacher Specialist

Tempe Union High School DistrictSpecial Education

•William Santiago•Director of Special Education

Transition Thoughts

•The purpose of a smooth transition is to ensure that the student begins the new year in a new school with all the necessary supports in place to allow him/her to be successful.•Provide a high quality experience for each student and their family.•Make appropriate transition plan for each student.

Process•To ensure student success, new school staff needs to be made aware of the student’s needs and the necessary support(s) the student requires.

•Articulation meeting between current and new school special education teachers•Discuss student strengths and needs•Recommendations •No IEP decisions are made

Special Education Eligibility

•Special Education services continue•Student may have a 3 Year Re-evaluation to update

assessment information in current school•Same related service options (OT, PT, Speech) per

IEP decision •Educational services may look different•Unique to High School•Post-secondary Transition Plan•Transfer of rights at age 18•Graduation Requirements

Transition Process

•IEP meeting •Aug-Dec: begin discussions about new school program•Dec-May: IEP meeting or addendum•Discuss new school options•Include service times on IEP•May include middle school resource teacher

Re-Evaluation

•IEP and/or Re-Evaluation due in August•Should be done in spring of 5th grade or 8th grade by current school or district

Open Enrollment (OE) Elementary to Middle School

•If a student is OE at an elementary, granted OE for feeder middle school, no application necessary•If a different middle school, has to apply for OE•OE is different from Least Restrict Environment (LRE) placement

Open Enrollment (OE) Middle School to High School

•OE for TUHSD is separate from Kyrene•OE in Kyrene does not automatically mean OE in

TUHSD•OE policy is on TUHSD website•Need IEP with Application•Based on capacity at school•Enroll at home high school while waiting confirmation•Hold off transition meeting or sharing of information

until OE acceptance•Deadline for application is February 1

Transition Steps (HS)

•Students attend high school transition meeting•Students and parents fill out and submit required high

school registration paperwork•Students and parents attend high school open house.

Transition Thoughts

•Power in Partnership Communication is critical

Home and school Current staff and new staff

Trust All parties have the student’s best interests

in mind Process

If things aren’t working-revisit Adjustment period

Differences between Elementary and Middle School

All Students

• 5 different classes and teachers a day• 68 min in a class (60 min on Wednesday)• Academic Lab (30 min/4 days)• Transitioning between classes• Homework• Electives• Lunch!• No Recess• Extracurricular activities

Students with Special Needs• LRE option

• General Education• Co-Taught• Pull Out Resource

• Language Arts• Math

• Extended Resource• In other classes based on student’s

needs

Differences between High School and Middle School

• Location• Size• Classes – choices, age variability, requirements• Expectations (homework, behavior, credits)• Responsibility (need to step up to the plate)• Resource Support - varies• Peers – tolerance of behaviors• Access to teachers

• Seeking assistance – self advocacy• Extracurricular activities (no pass, no

participation)• Security• Zero Hour and 8th hour• Movement from one grade level to the

next• State and District Tests

Graduation Requirements • Twenty-Three credits must be successfully completed in the areas listed below to graduate

from Tempe Union High School District Schools.GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

English 4.0 credits

Mathematics 4.0 credits

Science 3.0 credits

World History and Geography 1.0 credit

American/Ariz. History 1.0 credit

U.S./Ariz Government 0.5 credit

Economics 0.5 credit

Health Education 0.5 credit

Physical Education 1.0 credit

Fine Arts/practical Arts/Vocational Education (CTE) 1.0 credit

Fine Arts/Vocational Education (CTE) 1.0 credit

Electives 5.5 credits

23.0 credits

• For more information about class offerings, specific programs and course fees please refer to the Tempe Union High School District course catalog.

• Students IEP Team will determine the level of competency required to meet Arizona State Standards in reading, writing and math.

Resources (varies by school)

• Study Skills Class•Math and Spanish Tutoring • National Honor Society Tutoring• Teacher Appointments/Office Hours• Drop Out Prevention Coordinator• Learning Lab• Homework Lab• Guadalupe Liaison•Math Lab• Freshman Boot Camp

High School Nuts & Bolts

•Typical Schedule•Electives•Core•Extra Curricular•Open Enrollment Process

High School Offerings

•High School Course Offering Booklet•Required Courses•Course of Study•Pre-requisites•Regular Education/Special Education listings•EVIT (East Valley Technical Institute)•Extra Curricular Activities•Clubs

Students with disabilities are more likely to transition successfully if:

•They establish meaningful relationships with faculty and staff•Feel connected to their school•Establish meaningful relationships with peers•Establish goals – make a connection between the here and now and their future•Know and understand their disabilities and how to compensate for them.

Parent Information

•All Tempe Union High Schools will be holding an open house for middle school students and their families on January 12, at 6:00pm.

Questions

Next KSEPAC Meeting

•March 26, 2015