Deer Creek Special Services Scoop

I am reminded every day of the exceptional qualities possessed by the Deer Creek team. Your level of dedication towards our students, thoughtfulness towards our families, and each other is truly remarkable. I want to express my deepest appreciation for being the best in the field. Your efforts do not go unnoticed!

Tracy Blankenship

The OPNA is Coming!

In November, all 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders will take the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment survey, as mandated by State of Oklahoma Statute 70-24-158. This is a biennial, online and anonymous survey of public, private, and charter schools in Oklahoma. The survey is a project of the Oklahoma Department of Mental health Substance Abuse Services and has been conducted in Oklahoma since 2004. This tool provides direction to schools, districts, and communities to effectively improve the lives of students across a variety of issues, with focus on alcohol, tobacco, other drug use, mental health, academic failure, and violence. The OPNA measures problem behaviors and risk/protective factors, which are attitudes, behaviors, and opinions that research has shown to be highly correlated with these health risk behaviors.

In Deer Creek, we will be administering the survey during the week of November 13 and/or the week of November 27. A consent form will be sent home the week of October 30 so that parents may opt-out if they don't want their child to participate. Each IEP or 504 team should decide whether or not it is appropriate for each student with special needs to take the survey. There are accommodations offered, such as text to speech and Dragon Dictation compatibility. Of course, this does not override a parent's decision to opt their child out of taking the survey.

Counselors will be trained on the administration of this survey in the next week, and they will then conduct training with staff. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Stephanie Andraszek, Assistant Director of Student Services, at stephanieandraszek@dcsok.org or at x9275.

Under IDEA, the Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Eligibility Group (MEEG) and IEP Team play a role in making special education decisions. The following team members need to participate in Special Education Decision Making. Appendix B of the OSDE Policies and Procedures Handbook provides a chart that indicates which members of the group should participate in making various special education decisions. A link to the chart has been provided below.

Team Members Needed to Participate in Special Education Decision-Making

Please remember to include all team members required for the meeting. Don't forget your itinerant team members - OT, PT, SLPs, and School Psychs.

The RED form was updated in EdPlan. This update has NEW required data. The screenshot shows all new data that is required. Please let us know if you have any questions.

According to IDEA, periodic reports on student progress must be provided to parents as often as parents of non-disabled peers. Our District Guidance is that a progress report be sent home when that student’s grade level report card is sent. This should follow what the team determined in frequency with the goals set.

For additional information on Progress Reporting please refer to:

• Page 156 of the OSDE Policies and Procedures Handbook
• IRISCenter Module - IEPS: Developing High-Quality Individualized Education Programs_Perspective and Resources Page 9: Monitoring & Reporting Students Progress

The PSG has requested a wishlist from each special education teacher in Deer Creek. The wishlists will be added to the PSG agendas so that parents have access to the information to provide support. If you haven't already, please complete the Classroom Wishlist Google Form.

Deer Creek Hosted Trainings

The link for Deer Creek Special Services led trainings can be found here. Location of the trainings will be updated as we get closer to the training date.

Next Like Group Meeting: November 15 @ 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

• M/M Like Group
• S/P Like Group:
  Topic Special Olympics @ 4/5th grade center

Upcoming Mandt Certification and Recertification Training Dates:

Day 1: Initial, Expired, or Recert: November 17 (invite only - Colin will send an email)

Day 2: Technical only: December 8 (invite only - Colin will send an email)

Trauma and the Holidays - December 6 - 7:00 - 9:00

OSDE and Partner Provided Trainings

Free Training offered by Oklahoma Autism Network - Creating an Effective Visual Schedule

November 1 at 11:30 the Oklahoma Autism Network will present this session focused on how to create an effective visual schedule for individuals to utilize during school and in the community.

The session will be recorded and sent to registrants on November 8, 2023.

Register here

OSDE-SES Regional Training

Effective Instructional Practices for Teaching Transition Skills to Students Participating in the Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP) Regional Professional Development

1/25/2024 - Oklahoma City

FBA/BIP Training

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Special Education Services (OSDE-SES) 2022 Policies and Procedures (P. 56): OSDE Guidance/Fact Sheet

“Due to the complex nature of variables associated with behavior assessments, individuals who conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), or for those who conduct a Functional Analysis (FA) should have training on data collection and behavior assessment.”

The following professional development opportunity meets criteria as acceptable training to conduct and develop FBA/BIP.

• OSDE Connect: Everyday Behavior : Behavioral Principles in the School Setting (**note that you must select the 20 hr session to meet criteria) Send certificate of completion to Dr. Blankenship (tracyblankenship@dcsok.org) once course is completed.

Alternate Diploma Collaborative

OSDE, Office of Special Education Services holds a Secondary Transition/Alternate Diploma Collaborative meeting monthly. Zoom meetings are typically held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 3:00 p.m.

The schedule of monthly sessions and known topics through the November of 2023 are listed below:

• October 26, 2023 @ 3:00 p.m.
  • OK Life Course Tools, Heather Pike, Wanda Felty, and Jen Randle
• November 30, 2023 @ 3:00 p.m.
  • Youth Leadership Forum & Partners in Policy, Dr. Brad Mays

Join us via Zoom for all sessions scheduled through November 2023.

Meeting ID: 160 702 2023

Passcode: 393839