Communications for the 2024-2025 School Year

September 2024

1) August 21, 2024 New Teacher Training Slide Show (pdf)
2) 2024-2025 Back to School Special Education Training Slideshow (pdf)

October 2024

1) Child Count Memo from Executive Director, Billie Jo Steen (pdf)

November 2024
Communication Committee November 12, 2024 Slideshow (pdf)

1) NLSEC Service Assignments

2) NLSEC Website: All documents on website reviewed, slightly different look, new Resources section coming soon!

3) SpEd Forms Updates: Turn on Auto-save in Educator setup. “People” icon has all staff in building available to pick from. Changed wording from “expected” to “invited” in Notice of a Team Meeting. Sharing section new filter available (update 11/12 - search button removed).

4) MDE Monitoring: Three districts involved in monitoring, topical reviews in progress.

5) AI in Schools: Hermantown had a training on AI in education - offered tools to use in the classroom such as ChatGPT and MagicSchool. Several other districts have similar situations. Stressed not to include confidential information.

6) MA Billing: MA Eligible vs MA Billable. IEP Managers can no longer see if students are MA Eligible. Each district has a MA designee that has knowledge of eligibility, then lets IEP Managers know. For students under age 3, there is no implied consent so the team needs to get paper consent. Billie Jo is meeting with the Social Worker group for a discussion on MA Billing.

7) Parent Advisory Committee: Meets 4 times a year to empower parents and provides resources. Looking for parent members.  NLSEC Parent Resource Page, Parent Resource Booklet, Secondary Transition Resource Booklet, Secondary Transition Parent Checklist

8) Evaluation Report Alignment with IEP

9) IEP Service Grid Date: Final copy of IEP written and sent to parent within a reasonable time frame - no more than 14 calendar days. Date on PWN is the date sending the IEP home. Service grid start date should be 14 days from the date on the PWN. No need to change the service date if the parent signs early. Bottom line is to avoid delay of services to students - send proposal to parents asap.

10) Schooling Options and Settings: Home School - parent/home is the “general ed setting”. Home-based - IEP team decision to provide education and services off-site from regular school. Homebound - documented medical necessity to receive education in home. Online Public School - student is no longer enrolled in the district and special ed services falls to the online school. MARSS guidelines 2024-25.

11) Related Service Providers: OT and PT don’t write goals or objectives. Therapists can work with team to support IEP goals and collaborate with teachers. Check PWN’s are current with team members. Connect with OT’s for curriculum and writing.

12) Para support on the IEP: If applicable, check yes for para support, regardless if child specific or not. In the drop down “type”, select type of support.

13) Supplementary Aids and Services in Nonacademic flowchart: Consider these supports at every IEP meeting. Examples are afterschool programs or school field trips.

14) OHD Criteria: Updated diagnosis of health condition is required for initial evaluations. Best practice is to have this documentation for re-evaluations. OHD resource from Low Incidence projects.

15) CAC Survey: Communication and Advisory team members please fill out this survey.

16) MASE Legislative Update - cases: Compensatory education will be provided for eligible students up to their 22nd birthday. Osseo Area case - FAPE requires consideration of length of the school day. MDE Complaint Decision - Even if the district is facing staff shortages they are required to provide FAPE for all students. Student transfer from outside of state complaint - any lapse of IDEA services due to an interstate transfer is denial of FAPE. A school district's obligation to “provide” special ed services does not require that a student receives those services in case of parent refusal.

17) MTAS Updates: MTAS will become Alt MCA with the MCA IV’s.

18) VRS Changes: Ending funding for work experience during school hours - for paid wages, job coaching and transportation. Work Experience Survey (complete by Nov 15).

19) MN Youth in Transition Framework: Quality transition programming, empowering professionals and improving outcomes for students.  Curriculum to support the framework.

20) Save the Date: College for a Day December 4, 2024 at LSC; Mentoring Day March 10, 2025 at FDLTCC; Para Day January 20, 2025 at Barnum High School; CPI 3.0 Initial training Feb 5 & 6 at St. Luke’s Event Center.

Northern Lights Special Education CooperativeQuality Education Through Cooperation and Partnership

Communications

Communications current and past information distributed to districts

Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative

Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative
Quality Education Through Cooperation and Partnership

Communications
current and past information distributed to districts