The Scoop

Geared up for the #TISDGameChangers to head into week 6! I loved the enthusiasm at Cross Talk with the great conversations, big smiles and fun competitions while learing about critical topics. It has been great to see the team spirit, fun at work and positivity!

There may be a lot of information in the SCOOP that you are responsible for knowing. We want to limit all the separate group emails, so we condense most of our communication into this newletter for you and for easy reference to go back and find. Please be sure and read each edition of the Scoop carefully and let us know if you have any questions.

Have a great week!

~Keri

Be sure and look back if needed for any information on:

• Extra Duty Special Education Evaluations. The sign-up and more information can be found here Saturday Testing Clinics More information on how to participate can be found here.

• ABC Meetings - More information here: ABC Information

• eSped Frontline updates (RF Tracker & LEP to EB) can be found here: Link to Notice: Frontline Notice of Changes

The roots of Impact statements are located in the Full Individual Evaluation (FIE). During our comprehensive evaluation where all areas of concern are measured, including academic, behavioral, physical and functional, multiple sources of data are collected. This process includes, but is not limited to, collecting data from parents, teachers, observations, and school records. As multiple sources of data are collected using a variety of methodologies, these are merged and interpreted. It is through this complex process that a child’s academic and behavioral strengths and weaknesses are identified.

An Impact Statement describes the exceptionality and how it affects the student’s access and progress in the general curriculum. Its construction is the first step in the development of the PLAAFP and the goals and services that populate the IEP. Impact statements explain how it impacts the student’s access and progress in general education.

All evaluations and IEP plans need to have impact statements. The evaluation staff needs to work with case managers to ensure we have meaningful impact statements in our PLAAFPs.

Helpful links:

IEP Impact Statement Guide

Disability Impact Overview

Please make sure we are meeting the Special Education Initial Referral timelines. The best practice is to make a plan to assess, observe, interview, and write the evaluation by an earlier date (5-7 days before the due date) than the required due date. This will help ensure we make all timelines.

Please share the following links with your campuses.

If a staff member needs Frontline support, please use the link below to request support: Frontline Special Education and Intervention Help Ticket

To request records for students who are coming from a district that uses Frontline, please use this link to request records: Frontline Records Request

Tomball ISD will continue to include Remote Learning Plans in our IEP plans.

Boardmaker 7 has been pushed out to the computers of the individuals who registered on the form. You have to be on the district network in order for it to load. If you did not register and still need Boardmaker 7, here is the link:

https://forms.gle/ffHSYRmEPC7car6LA

Friday was a great day seeing most of you at Cross Talk and enjoying each others time together. Although, we had to battle the Houston heat, you all put in great effort and had fun while learning during our scavenger hunt for information. Congratulations to the Cross Talk Challenge Winners:

Champions of the Month and Holder of the #TISDGameChanger Trophy: Team Titan

Flag Winners:

1) Team Infinity

2) Team 2Legit

3) Team Progres Makers

Scavenger Hunt Winners:

1) Team Infinity

2) Team Bullseye

3) Team Titan

Tower Making Contest Winner:

1) Team Goal Digger

And a special 2 bonus points for the creativity and team spirit for showing up in team tshirts goes to:

Team Bullseye

Every team should be sending me names for their 1) Social Chair 2) Historian/Reporter 3) Social Media Chair. Be sure and include team name and tag Student Support with hashtag of #TISDGameChangers on all social media posts. I can't wait to see more and more pictures and stories of teamwork, comradery and good times with your TISD families!

Check out our team points counter below for our new challenge month:

Team Infinity: 8 points

Team BullsEye: 4 points

Team Titan: 1 point

Team Progress Makers: 1 point

Team Goal Diggers: 3 points

Team 2Legit: 3 points

Don't forget the team with the highest points by each Cross Talk will host the #TISDGameChangers trophy for the month and receive prizes! Let's have some fun at work!

Challenges/opportunities for points for this week:

2 points will be given for any of the following:

1) outside of work team functions (max of 2 points)

2) social media posts of team fun or student/classroom highlights with appropriate tags (max of 4 points)

3) Team members attending ABC meeting on Friday (4 points max per team, directors collab members not eligible)

3 points for any team member (not on leadership) who schedules by Friday with their campus principal to present an all campus PD this semester on any of the following topics:

a) confidentiality, child find and overview of special education process

b) data anlaysis & IEP decision making for all stakeholders

c) behavior strategies for the general education classroom

d) strategies for working with children on the Autism Spectrum in the general education classroom

Rules for this challenge: You must confirm with your student support specialist on the date to ensure they or a leadership team member can support you as well. They must review your draft presentations before the presentation. They can support development of them with information and suggestions.

Any presentations following the above rules given this semester will be given 5 team points.

We are #TISDGameChangers ....

Every year, Learning Ally awards up to nine high school seniors cash prizes ranging from $3,000-$6,000 through the Marion Huber Learning Through Listening® Awards (LTL). This is a great way to celebrate once struggling learners as they progress through to their academic goals.

Scholarship requirements:

• High School graduating class of 2022 or 2023.
• School or Household Learning Ally member for one year prior to applying.
• A completed application including a reference.

The application process is easy and we select students based on their academic progress. All we need you to do is Send this email or application form to the qualifying student and/or their parents. We will be accepting applications until the end of 2022 and announce winners in early 2023. If you have any questions, contact allkidscanread@learningally.org

Invite all qualifying students to apply today!

"During IEP meetings, team members who represent the district should avoid any behavior that suggests they are not listening to or seriously considering the parents' perspective on their child's education. Parents can interpret subtle aspects of the meeting -- a seating placement that pits the parents against the rest of the team, key personnel leaving the meeting early, or even a sarcastic T-shirt -- as evidence of predetermination that violates the IDEA. Provide this graphic to team members so that they know how to arrange an IEP meeting, respond to parent concerns, and document the outcome to avoid allegations of predetermination."

Sept. 13, 2022

Copyright 2022© LRP Publications

This weeks topic for Ruling Roundup is Emotional Disturbance. See recent court case summaries involving this area.

Click HERE to read the full article.

A note from Kalli Wakefiedl

I wanted to take a moment to let you all know that I have resigned from Tomball ISD. My last day in TISD will be Friday, September 23rd.

I have an opportunity to do something that I have dreamed of since I was a little girl. This has been a very difficult decision as this has been home for 7+ years but it is something that I cannot pass up and feel called to do. I love working in Tomball ISD and working closely with all of you amazing teachers. I will miss everyone greatly. Thank you for allowing me to help support your classrooms and the LIP programs over the years.

Tomball ISD is a great place to be and I cannot see the wonderful things that happen in the coming years.

Thank you, Tomball ISD.

Amy Sigler - Thank you for supporting ARDs, some assessments and scheduling at DPES to assist during the maternity leave!

Erika Meza - Thank you for supporting our students through therapy at DPES so they continue to receive their services during the maternity leave!

Brenda Knoepffler & Jessica Vences - Thank you for going above and beyond to support CPES bilingual students so they can receive therapy and supports while we are short Speech Language Pathologists. We appreciate your extra work and dedication!

Jeanette Guzman - Thank you for coordinating interviews, agencies, schedules, etc to try to fill our open positions while keeping up with your own therapy, testing and ARDs.

LSSPs - Thank you for filling in for each other and supporting our students while we begin to complete contracts for you to receive support for the open position.

#TISDGameChangers - Thank you for being leaders in special education on your campuses and promoting the Standards Based IEP process and decision making based on data and team collaboration/input.

Be sure and check out and read the other Smore Newsletters being produced by Student Support Staff:

The LIP Ledger - new

The Specialized Support Snippits - coming soon

PASSionate about Kids

Behavior Bulletin