Jennifer Gruman will be overseeing SLPs and OTs. Please correspond with Jennifer regarding SLP/OT leaves or vacancies.

OT UPDATE:

Julianne Patton (COTA) will be providing OT services at the following school sites:

Grapevine

Monte Vista

Vista Magnet

Julianne will also work on make-ups for the above sites until after we return from winter break. She will then work on helping the sites that are Beth Blackstock's maternity leave coverage.

The Special Ed Department is currently interviewing for 2 vacant speech positions:

• Casita/Rover split position

• Sub Rover position to assist with vacancies

• All statewide accommodations must be listed on the Statewide Assessments page of the student's IEP and used throughout the school year to support the student with accessing their education (as indicated on the Services Page).

• In order for statewide assessment accommodations to be uploaded into the Test Operations Management Systems (TOMS), all IEP statewide assessment accommodations MUST be updated in the IEP and affirmed by the following dates:

• ELPAC - by January 16, 2025

• CAASPP - by March 20, 2025

You must notify your site testing coordinator of any changes after the above dates. All changes will need to be manually updated into the system by your site testing coordinator.

• Alt ELPAC Feb 1 - May 31, 2025 (State Window)

• CAA Science (5th grade): September 17, 2024 - May 30, 2025

• CAA ELA and Math (3rd - 5th): April 7 - May 30, 2025

• California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix (List of Accommodations)

• Accessibility Resources Strategies (Explanation of Universal Tools, Designated Supports & Accommodations)

• Accessibility Resources Asynchronous Trainings (Matching accommodations to student needs, how to use specific accommodations)

Goalbook will be conducting an annual survey. This survey is being sent to every Goalbook Toolkit user nationwide, providing valuable insights into how educators are using Toolkit to support their instructional practice.

This survey will be sent via email directly to Goalbook Toolkit users.

Given how insightful these survey results can be for our own implementation, here are some actions you can take to help boost the response rate:

Please take the time to answer the Goalbook survey so Goalbook can hear your feedback.

In this 45-minute overview of Goalbook Toolkit, we will explore how to use Goalbook to write data-driven present-level statements, find and adapt learning goals, and browse our UDL-aligned strategies to ensure access to rigorous instruction for ALL learners. This webinar is designed for folks new to Goalbook Toolkit and those needing refresher training.

Goalbook 12/9/24 training has past, but if you register, you can still obtain access to the online training information

Registration Link: https://goalbookapp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FJ3WfyiUR3yL_1tqRFvepg#/registration

• Certificated PD - All ed specialists will participate in designated site PD, related service providers will be at Mission Vista High School with the Special Education Department.
• Classified PD Day January 7 at Rancho Minerva Middle School
• Related Service Providers: School Psychs, SLPs, APE Teachers, ERMHS Providers - SpEd Department PD - MVHS

On Friday, December 13th, the Special Education Department of Vista Unified School District partnered with Vista Elks for the 48th annual Elks Lodge holiday performances. Students from eight different VUSD schools (Cal Ave, Alamosa, Foothill Oak, Empresa, Lake, Mission Meadows, Hannalei, The Leadership Academy) performed holiday songs on stage for their families and peers.

Students received lunch from the Vista Elks and a wrapped gift from Santa. Nearly 350 preschool and elementary students from the Vista Unified School District participated.

Language Live (Middle School): Jan 15, 2025 (4:00 - 5:30) via Zoom

Saturday 2 day CPI February 8th and 22nd

NCCSE CPI 2024-25

Sign up in Vector

The purpose of SpEd office hours is to review IEP compliance and current topics in SpEd.

Special Education Office Hours 2024-25

• February 6, 2025 - Transition Process, Individual Transition Plans
• March 6, 2025 - Preschool to TK/K transition process
• April 10, 2025 - ESY, 2025-26 Transportation, End of Year Planning
• May 8, 2025 - End of Year Planning

• Alternative Pathway to a Diploma - contact Bill Foley at williamfoley@vistausd.org
• CAA/AltELPAC - contact Kinga Nagorny at kinganagorny@vistausd.org
• Supplemental Interventions - contact Eric Walker at ericwalker@vistausd.org
• SEIS Assistance:

• Elementary contact- Debra Harris at debraharris@vistausd.org
• Middle and High School contact- Yvonne Fortin at yvonnefortin@vistausd.org
• Transportation Forms - contact Doris Cruz at doriscruz@vistausd.org
• Unique/N2Y Licenses - contact Kinga Nagorny at kinganagorny@vistausd.org
• Vector - contact Dafnee Ramirez at dafneeramirez@vistausd.org or Joe Garza at josephgarza@vistausd.org
• WJ Protocols - contact Dafnee Ramirez at dafneeramirez@vistausd.org

We have a shared google drive called "SpEd Guidelines" that stores all of our office hour notes and important documents. Please take some time to explore the drive if you haven't already.

Please reach out to your Special Education Supervisor or Eric Walker, Transition TOSA, who can provide additional support. You can also attend our IEP Work Sessions (2 Mondays per Month at the DO) for specific questions and quiet work time.

Meet Debra Harris and Yvonne Fortin, our Data Techs, also known as our data “unicorns” due to their magical SEIS abilities. Please do not hesitate to call or email them if you have a question about SEIS. They are happy to help!

• Debra Harris: Preschool, Elementary, Non-Public/Private schools, x 92908
• Yvonne Fortin: Middle school, High School, Adult Transition, Records Request x 92910

PREVIOUSLY ON...Friday Tips...

• 12/13/24 - Affirm before E Signatures!
• 11/21/24 - DNQs and Exit IEPs - the Difference
• 11/15/24 - Transportation Details
• 11/08/24 - My IEP is NOT overdue!!!
• 10/25/24 - Pending to Eligible
• 10/18/24 - Updated Assistive Technology Request for Consideration Form and Updated Procedural Safeguards
  
• 10/11/24 - Affirmed with wrong meeting date or meeting type
  
• 10/04/24 - Documenting Late IEPs
• 09/20/24 - Census Day
  
• 09/13/24 - Delay Codes!
• 09/06/24 - Progress Reports - a Walkthrough
• 08/30/24 - How to select the correct meeting type
• 08/23/24 - Annuals and TRIs due in the same school year and Social Service Questionnaires
• 08/16/24 - Previously On, the 60 Day Timeline and How to Read the Thursday Report
• 08/13/24 - Adding new students to SEIS Caseload
• 08/09/24 - Incoming non SEIS students, Incoming NPS or Court School students

Please ensure that you submit any transportation forms received to Doris Cruz, our Special Education Community Liaison, at doriscruz@vistausd.org. Include updated BIPs and any relevant health or medical information.

If parents need to update their pick-up or drop-off addresses, please have them complete a new transportation form. Please send the updated copies to Doris to ensure that student transportation can be adjusted accordingly.

• Certificated:

  • Education Specialist - Mild/Moderate Teacher (2024/2025 school year)

  • Education Specialist - Moderate/Severe Teacher $5,000 hiring bonus)
  • Speech Language Pathologist - Special Education
  • Substitute Speech Language Pathologist - Special Education

  • Substitute School Psychologist - Special Education

  Classified:

  • INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION

  • SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT IV-SH/PH

  • INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT II-LH/CH/RSP