NTA-Sponsored Presentation on Special Ed Issues

Presenter: Craig Nelson – cnelson@cta.org
Attendees: The junior high was well-represented by our union reps, special educators and the science department. There were several elementary educators, at least one service provider, and one teacher from NMHS.

Craig provided lots of handouts:

• Issues in Special Education: Readings and Resources
• Special Education Update – Craig’s presentation
• Procedures for Serious Behavior Problems
• NEA Summary of “IDEA Report Cards” showing that only 9 states got a grade of “satisfactory” on their IDEA report cards issued by the U.S. Dept. of Ed. Last June
• RTI Strategies and Issues from Council for Exceptional Children
• The Puzzle of Autism
• A CD called the Accessible Classroom Primer

Craig's recommended websites:

• Intervention Central http://www.interventioncentral.org/
• National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality http://www.ncctq.org/
  Wrights Law – http://www.wrightslaw.org/Wrights Law does an annual parent boot camp for parents of Sp Ed students
• California Special Education http://www.lrp.com/
• NEA http://www.nea.org/
• CDE http://www.cde.ca.gov/
• Council for Exceptional Children http://www.cec.org/

18% of SpEd students statewide test at proficient or above for ELA on CST
13% of SpEd students statewide test at proficient or above for Math

Statewide about 10% of students are identified as special needs

Response to Intervention is a general education initiative. Research shows the number of students identified as SLD can be reduced as much as 75% through RTI in K-3.

On 11th day of out of school suspension, that is considered a change in placement and a Manifestation Determination is required. A BIP is also required.

Ed. Code 44014: specifies that whenever a school employee is attacked, assaulted, or physically threatened, it is the duty of the employee and supervisor to report the matter. Failure to report is an infraction. (Report to police).

Discussion of obligations of teachers to attend meetings after hours and compensation. No particular resolution.

IDEA 2007. Interim alternative placements for 45 days for weapons, drug use, drug sale, inflicting serious bodily harm. This is different from expulsion. Ed. Code 48900.

RtI
Rti is the practice of providing high quality instruction and intervention matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about change in instruction or goals and applying child response data to important educational decisions (NASDSE, 2005). IDEA 2004 provides for use of RtI. Three tier model of school supports. See handout.

RtI could be perceived by some as a way to stem the Special Education encroachment on the general fund. With the state budget cuts, this could become a real problem.

Some discussion of inclusion and the research that shows that special education students do better when they are included in the general education classroom.