The Scoop
Special Services Update - January 17, 2023
Communication, The Scoop & You!
The Scoop is a place for you to make sure you are in the know and have all the information you need. You are responsible for the information in the SCOOP. If you need clarification, please reach out to your Student Support Specialist or me.
Have a great week!
~Keri
Recap of Last Issue:
Be sure and look back if needed for any information on:
- Technology Update We are well into the switch over to Microsoft 365. If you are having difficulties or need the app on your computer installed or fixed, put in a work order and they will be out to help.
- Progress Reports - progress reports should have gone out and should have been dated 12/16/2022. Please do some spot checks to make sure those were completed on your students.
- Restraint Reminders: Please remember anytime a restraint is used, the restraint documentation (including documentation of required communication) should be completed in Frontline esped and sent to your PIEMS clerk to enter into eschool for PIEMS. Please let Amber Naylor, Ann Le, Jennifer Sewell or Nancy Newton know if you have any questions.
Extended School Year
Please share this information with your case managers on your campuses:
Reminders regarding ESY:
All Low Incidence programs are required to take data after long breaks using this form.
If we are considering ESY for any student, we must base our decisions on data and provide the data within our IEPs. Case Managers are encouraged to use this form , however, it is not required for students not participating in LIP programs (SLL, PALS, Developmental, ECSE) A student who requires ESY will show regression of an essential skill(s), which should be identified within the IEP through the goals, after a break from school. In addition, after re-teaching essential skills, if the student cannot regain the proficiency he/she preformed prior to the break within a reasonable time frame then he/she would be a candidate for ESY.
If a student meets the criteria, then the team will need to complete the schedule of service page (use these dates), the ESY supplement, the transportation supplement (if the parent indicates the need for transportation), ESY district spreadsheet, and obtain the Registration & Emergency Info Form (send to Audra Arnold at TIC).
If a parent indicates that their child will not attend ESY, please note it on the spreadsheet, however, we still offer ESY and complete the documents as if he/she was going to attend.
Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email your student support specialist.
Frontline Transfer Requests
Please only request students who have had special services. If you are unsure, please contact the previous school. When requesting records for a student from a frontline district, please do NOT add the student manually to Frontline. You will have two files and they cannot be merged. Here is the link to make Frontline requests.
*Please share this information with all 504 coordinators and Academic Specialists.
Frontline Help & Needs
If a staff member needs Special Education and Intervention Frontline access, changes, or support then please use the link below to request help:
Frontline Special Education and Intervention Help Ticket
*Please share this with all staff.
Calculation Aids
When can a student use Calculation Aids on the state assessment? Students may use this designated support if they:
routinely, independently, and effectively uses this designated support during classroom instruction and classroom testing;
receives Section 504 or special education services; and
meets at least one of the following requirements for the applicable grade.
Grades 3 and 4
The student has a physical disability that prevents the student from independently writing the numbers required for computations and cannot effectively use other accessibility features to address this need (e.g., whiteboard, graph paper).
The student has an impairment in vision that prevents the student from seeing the numbers he or she has written during computations and cannot effectively use other accessibility features to address this need (e.g., a magnifier).
Grades 5 through 7
The student has a physical disability that prevents him or her from independently writing the numbers required for computations and cannot effectively use other accessibility features to address this need (e.g., whiteboard, graph paper).
The student has an impairment in vision that prevents him or her from seeing the numbers he or she has written during computations and cannot effectively use other accessibility features to address this need (e.g., magnifier).
The student has a disability that affects mathematics calculations. Even after intensive instruction and remediation, the student is consistently unable to memorize basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts or correctly perform the steps in an algorithm when solving problems.
If a student meets the requirements, then we need to explain how he/she meets the criteria within our IEPs, if it is not already stated.
*Please share this with all Academic Specialist and/or 504 coordinators.
Saturday Testing Clinics
The purpose of Saturday Testing Clinics is to provide timely and compliant special education evaluations to students currently in the process of initial or re-evaluation for special education in Tomball ISD, as well as to provide opportunities for Educational Diagnostician graduate student interns to accrue required practicum experience. Assessment staff may either sign up a student to be assessed by a student intern or sign up to assess a student for extra pay during any of these designated Saturdays. More information on how to participate can be found here.
*Limited to one student per Saturday.
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Extending Intial Timelines
Extra Duty Evaluations
District Diagnosticians, LSSPs, SLPs, and related service providers who wish to take on extra assessments but cannot participate in the above Saturday dates can submit this form for approval to participate in additional duty testing outside of contract hours and the Saturday Clinics. We encourage everyone to use the Saturday Clinics, however, we want to allow an opportunity for flexibility.
*Limited to no more than 2 per school year.
TISD FFA Special Rodeo - Wednesday, January 25 at 8:00
GameChanger Challenges for the Week
We are TISD GameChangers!!! Here's to a great 2023 being a year of positive change we can make for others!
Did you know that January is National THANK YOU month? Let's celebrate by sending me email "thank you" shout outs to your colleagues. You can tweet them too!
Any shout out emails to me with subject line "gamechanger thank you" and your team name in the message OR tweets with #Tisdgamechangers and your team name will receive 2 points up to 4 points per team.
Team points have not changed since break, so the points in teh 12/12 chart are still accurate.
We are #TISDGameChangers ....
Apply these best practices when documenting disagreements in IEP decisions
Disagreements are bound to happen during IEP team meetings from time to time. However, following a few critical tips for clearly documenting differences of opinions between team members can be essential for maintaining a positive tone in future meetings. Recording disagreements the right way might keep the district out of legal hot water if a disagreement becomes litigious later. Below are a few best practices for chronicling dissent. These tips should always be considered in conjunction with the district and state-specific guidance a team receives for detailing special education decisions.
Find the full LRP article HERE
Changing Terminology in Texas
If you have any questions, please reach out to your student support specialist.
SMART START from LRP: Parent Counseling and Training
Under the IDEA, related services are "developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education." Some available related services are directed toward the benefit of parents and students, such as parent counseling and training. Learn more in SmartStart: Parent Counseling and Training.
Go HERE to see the full summary with link and resources from LRP.
More Information
Be sure and check out and read the other Smore Newsletters being produced by Student Support Staff: