Welcome!
Hope everyone's year is off to a fantastic start. It has been great to see many of you in person this year already! SOOO much better to connect with you in person than through ZOOM! If you missed the July edition of Data Points with all of our scheduled sessions for this year for Diagnosticians and ARD Facilitators or you need to review them again, go to this link and find the July 2021 edition of this newsletter. I have highlighted a few of them again below and note the added legal session with Elvin Houston from Walsh Gallegos designed just for you! Topics will be focused on evaluation, child find and the development of a legally sound prior written notice.
So who loves the thrill of a roller coaster? You can ask anyone who has been on this 'ride' more than once and they will tell you that every year will be full of twists and turns, ups and downs. Those who learn to enjoy the thrill of the ride and keep getting back in line know there are two important keys to making that happen. First, knowing and establishing systems and processes that allow you to 'stay safe' while riding. Second, and equally important is finding your people, your riding buddy. We know it is always better when you can share the experience with a friend. If you serve an LEA where perhaps you do not have a team or would like to network with team members from other LEAs then take advantage of the many sessions and resources offered here at Region 10! And of course buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Amy
SIGN UP NOW! Register by September 1st and receive a free CSEP manual when you attend one of the in person sessions!
Core Selective Evaluation Process (C-SEP) 3 Part Series
This three part series will be presented by Dr. Tammy Stephens-Pisecco one of the authors of this PSW model along with Dr. Sarah Holman who has trained extensively on this theory in conjunction with the authors. Attendance is a MUST for all evaluators new to the model and offers an opportunity for those already practicing C-SEP to refine and deepen their knowledge. The first two sessions will be in person full day sessions. The third will be a three hour webinar.
C-SEP Training Part 1 (CSEP manual provided to all who register prior to 9/1/2021)
9/30/2021 Session ID: 2640875
The first of these three sessions will provide an overview of the this model including practical steps for application by the practitioner.
C-SEP Training Part 2 (CSEP manual provided to all who register prior to 9/1/2021)
10/28/2021 Session ID: 2640880
The second of these three sessions will break down the process for triangulating your data in order to determine patterns using a case study approach.
C-SEP Training Part 3 (webinar)
1/11/2022 Session ID: 2640860
The third of these three sessions will provide a framework for the FIE when C-SEP was used to determine a specific learning disability.
NEW Session Added!!
Legal Session with Elvin Houston for Evaluators and ARD Managers
11/19/2021 9:00-4:00 Session ID: 2641487
Practical Solutions to Special Education Disputes and the Full and Defensible Evaluation
Description: You won’t want to miss this legal update. This session designed for special education evaluation personnel and ARD managers will be presented by Elvin Houston attorney with Walsh Gallegos. Mr. Houston will provide clarity around the requirements for a well-developed prior written notice as well as practical solutions for writing a legally defensible FIEs.
Lead Evaluation Assessment Personnel (LEAP) Meetings
Region 10 will offer Lead Evaluation Assessment Personnel meetings for those in the following roles: lead diagnosticians, lead LSSPs and any sped administrators who oversee evaluation and child find processes.
Please complete the following form if you fall into one of these categories for your LEA or are a director and elect to complete it on behalf of your team members serving in these roles.
The dates for this year’s meetings are listed so attendees can save the date on their calendars. The registration link will be shared with everyone on the list serve prior to each meeting.
Meetings will be held virtually from 2:30-4:30 on the following dates:
9/20/2021
12/13/2022
1/24/2022
3/21/2022
Those added to this listserv will receive an email with links for registration to these sessions.
upcoming sessions for ARD Facilitators
ARD Manager: Before During and After the ARD Meeting
This session is intended for new personnel assigned to the role of ARD manager or facilitator. In this session participants will receive an over view of the IEP process including systems for organizing and preparing for ARD meetings, ARD membership, parent participation, how to write meaningful deliberations and determining when a revision to an IEP is needed.
REPRINTED FROM JIM WALSH’S “DAILY DAWG” WITH PERMISSION FROM THE WALSH GALLEGOS LAW FIRM.
How are you handling dysgraphia?
The folks in the Bainbridge Island school district thought they had done as much evaluation as they needed to do. The court did not see it that way. There had been numerous expressions of concern from both parents and teachers over the student’s ability to write. However, the district never conducted an evaluation to determine if the student had dysgraphia. When pressed in court, the district argued that dysgraphia was merely secondary to dyslexia, which the school did evaluate. The court disagreed:
But as Dr. Nelson made clear, P.S.’s dysgraphia is not merely secondary to dyslexia, it is a separate condition for which P.S. received an independent diagnosis.
The court held that the district committed a procedural violation by failing to evaluate the student’s possible dysgraphia. Moreover, this procedural violation denied FAPE by depriving the student of needed services and the parents of the opportunity to participate meaningfully.
Federal law does not specifically include dysgraphia in the list of conditions that might constitute a specific learning disability. It includes dyslexia, but not dysgraphia. See 34 CFR 300.8(c)(10). However, Texas Education Code 38.003 speaks of “dyslexia and related disorders” and includes “developmental dysgraphia” as one of the “related disorders.” The Dyslexia Handbook gives the subject considerable attention, addressing dysgraphia from page 59 to page 72!
So perhaps this could happen here as well. This case is D.S. v. Bainbridge Island School District, decided by the federal court for the Western District of Washington in 2021. We found it on Special Ed Connection at 78 IDELR 242.
DAWG BONE: MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW HOW YOU HANDLE DYSGRAPHIA.
Subscriptions to the Daily Dawg are available at www.edlawdawg.com
Amy Smith, Evaluation Consultant
Email: amy.smith@region10.org
Website: https://www.region10.org/programs/evaluation-special-education/overview/
Location: Region 10 Education Service Center, East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-348-1784