Exceptional Education Newsletter
April 2022
IN THIS ISSUE
Compliance Corner
Autism Acceptance Month
National Occupational Therapy Month
Teacher Tip- Scaffolding
Assistive Technology Tip of the Month
Message from Transition Teachers
VAAP Updates
SEAC
Summer School Opportunities
Professional Development Opportunities
Shoutouts
Previous Issues
COMPLIANCE CORNER
All students must have an assigned case manager in VA IEP. If you have a student in the initial eligibility process, assign the ICC as the case manager until the process has been completed.
Continue to work on obtaining signatures from parents to finalize and bring the IEP process compliant in VA IEP. Here are some ways schools have obtained parent signatures:
1. Use Parent Portal.
2. Schedule a time for parents to come to the school to sign.
3. Use the Office of Engagement as a resource.
4. Add all February contacts made to acquire parental signatures on the Out of Compliance Spreadsheet under the ICC Comments.
5. DocuSign
Continue to work with your case managers to ensure all annual IEP and eligibility meetings are scheduled for students. Each student must have a compliant and up-to-date IEP and eligibility. ICCs and principals will receive an April analysis of their out of compliance students.
April Updates:
April updates to the December 1 Child Count, Indicators 9, 10, 11, and the Out of Compliance Spreadsheet are due on April 29th
ESY IEPs should be completed by April 15thth
ESY Spreadsheet must be completed by April 20th
Indicator and Reports Directions:
Instructional and Compliance Coordinators (ICCs) should indicate "none," followed by the month of submission when there is no new information to report.
Revisions to the Out of Compliance Report should be captured each month under the ICC Comments. All students listed on the spreadsheet should have an update. If there is no update next to each student the spreadsheet will be deemed non-compliant. For students that require a parental signature ONLY there must be an indication of how case managers reached out to parents to obtain signatures.
As schools hold IEP meetings for English Learners, Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) teachers should be invited to participate as team members.
April ICC Meetings
April 14th- Both Elementary and Secondary ICCs need to be in attendance.
April 26th- Both Elementary and Secondary ICCs need to be in attendance.
April 20th – PCG Playbook session.
Occupational Therapy is an evidence-based practice that is deeply rooted in science. It is a profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational Therapists work to facilitate student access to the general curriculum and full participation in school activities in the school setting.
Occupational Therapy interventions address the needs of students experiencing delays, disabilities, or other health challenges to promote skill advancement, the use of compensatory strategies, adaptations to the student's equipment or environment, and modification of the curriculum or learning activities. The next time you see your school Occupational Therapist, take a minute to thank them for all of their dedication and hard work!
Thank you, Sydney Butterworth, Jennifer Dodge, Rachel Duffy, Adrienne Garner, Zach Grant, Melanie Koch, Tiffany Rivenburg, Sierra Smith, Katie Tanguay, Michelle Thompson, Ronni Wiles, and Justine Zinskie!
TEACHER TIP
Help all learners by scaffolding instruction. A scaffold is temporary support provided to students to help them achieve a learning goal. Scaffolds are distinct from accommodations or modifications.
An accommodation changes how a student learns the material. Accommodations support students in learning the same materials as their peers and in meeting the same expectations.
A modification changes what the student is taught and is expected to learn. Modifications are changes to the curriculum the student learns.
REFLECT
- What are the benefits of effective scaffolding for students? What practices do you currently have in place to support your students?
- What professional support might you need in providing scaffolding for your students?
Please remember to reach out to your instructional specialist if you want support in scaffolding or instruction.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TIP OF THE MONTH
Power Link for Environmental Control
The Power Link is a device that allows switching accessible control of one or two electrical devices. Any capability switch can be used with a Power Link.
The Power Link allows a student who uses accessibility switches to control a variety of items, including but not limited to a blender, lights, bubble machine, pencil sharpener, paper shredder, and a fan.
Power Link ideas Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlwQQS6QcW4
Here’s how to use the older models (Power Link 2 and 3): http://assistivetech.sf.k12.sd.us/power_link_2_control_unit.htm
Here’s how to use the newest model (Power Link 4):
https://www.ablenetinc.com/powerlink-4-north-america/
Consult with an OT or PT on how to incorporate the Power Link into a variety of learning activities!
MESSAGE FROM TRANSITION TEACHERS
Transition Tip: In preparation for 8th graders transitioning to high school, career assessments and interviews can help inform educational planning. Discussions regarding diploma status and post-secondary planning should begin at the middle school level, and parent and student participation should be strongly encouraged. Please help support parents and students by initiating discussions regarding diploma options and post-secondary plans, to include career and educational aspirations. The following are some formal assessments that can be administered for transition planning:
O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move
Career test - Free online aptitude test - 123test.com
Interest Assessment Questions | CareerOneStop
Action in the schools!
As we move into spring, our students are hard at work building their skills. At John Marshall High School, the military made a visit to discuss future plans for students interested in enlisting. At Armstrong High School, students have been learning about horticulture and seed germination for herbs that they planted this week. Herbs that are grown are to be sold as a fundraiser by students. Students have been planning their fundraisers in class to prepare for our sales near the end of the year.
Upcoming Events John Marshall High School
April 13th: Community in Schools and YMCA partner for a Career Fair.
Upcoming Events George Wythe High School
April 14th: Virginia Credit Union Financial Workshop
Upcoming Events Huguenot High School:
April 14th: Chat and Chew with Soar 365 (open to parents and students)
Need help with transition? Reach out to the Transition Mentor Teachers!
Darlene Slade, Huguenot High and River City Middle
Selina Wilson, John Marshall High, Henderson Middle and RAS
Karen Young, George Wythe High, Lucille Brown Middle and Boushall Middle
Rebecca Parks, Thomas Jefferson High, Albert Hill Middle and Binford Middle
Kaitlynn Rollins, Armstrong High and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle
VAAP UPDATES
VAAP Assessments
Thank you for turning in your testing plans for each student participating in the online VAAP assessment this year. We encourage you to follow each plan as closely as possible. Continue to complete VAAP binders for students in Elementary and Middle School, History (Grades 4 & 8), and Writing (Grade 8) In-house scoring should be completed no later than May 6th.
If you have any questions or need support, please reach out to Rebecca Ceja, rceja@rvaschools.net.
SEAC
If you have any questions, topics of discussion, or would like a copy of the agenda, please email seac@rvaschools.net.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Helping All Learners: The Benefits of Effective Scaffolding
Best Assistive Technology for Reading in the Classroom
Please register through KickUp! https://kickup.co/ . Please note that morning sessions require the administrations' approval.
Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities Annual Symposium
Join your peers for this Symposium on May 21 at Virginia Wesleyan University. The theme is Educational Partnerships: Yours + Mine = Ours. Breakout sessions include topics such as co-teaching/inclusion, technology, culturally responsive teaching, evidence-based practices and more. Register today!
SURN Summer Professional Learning
SURN at William & Mary’s School of Education is offering teachers a variety of 5-week, online, asynchronous courses. Register for one or more summer events:
●Deeper Learning: Unpacking the 5 Cs (July 5-August 5)
●For the Joy of Learning: Cultivating Student Engagement (July 5-August 5) ●Engaging Students In Meaningful Formative Assessment (July 5-August 5) ●Mentoring and Coaching Teachers 1: Defining the Roles (May 30-July 1; can be standalone or taken with Mentoring and Coaching Teachers 2)
●Mentoring and Coaching Teachers 2:Tools of Mentoring (July 5-August 5; requires Mentoring and Coaching Teachers 1)
Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Special Education Adapted Curriculum
ACSD Consortium is comprised of the Universities of George Mason, Radford, James Madison, Virginia Commonwealth, and Old Dominion. This program is designed to accelerate the training for teachers with newly-issued provisional licenses and to increase the number of fully endorsed teachers by providing training to full-time pre-service personnel. Email for more information: ODU, GMU, JMU, RU, or VCU.
The VDOE Early Childhood Special Education Consortium grant provides tuition support for teachers pursuing a Master’s degree or fulfilling requirements for their provisional Birth-5, Children with Disabilities license. Courses are offered online through Radford University (RU) and the University of Lynchburg (UL). Tuition support in the amount of $400 per course is available for students who are non-degree seeking ( taking courses to fulfill licensure) or degree-seeking (Master’s degree). All courses are offered online, both synchronously and asynchronously. For more information, contact:
- Dr. Sharon Gilbert, Radford University – sgilbert13@radford.ed
- Dr. Deanna Cash, University of Lynchburg – cash.d@lynchburg.edu
Free Online Courses for Parents of Children with Disabilities: Registration for the Early Childhood Academy Now Open
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC), in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education, is offering a free self-paced online course focused on providing information for parents with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities.
- Early Childhood Academy flyer
- Registration link for Spring Session, May 14 - June 18
- Registration link for Summer Session, August 6 - September 10