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.

February 2025

Communication and Advisory Council February 25, 2025 Slideshow (pdf)

1) Mentoring Day: 262 students signed up as of today. Session limits increased, so if you have students left to register, there is space.  Teacher/para registration Mentoring Day. Career fair will have a postcard for students, drawing for completed postcards. No keynote, 4 breakout sessions. Competition for the teacher that refers information to most parents regarding Parent Strand Mentoring Day.

2) VRS Changes: Categories 2-4 closing end of March. Contracted services are fading out. In order to get students in the VRS system, we need to refer students now. VRS is no longer providing paid work experience or job coaching during the school day.

3) Child Count: Posted on NLSEC website.

4) Para Day: New location in Barnum, new format divided out by years of experience and new ideas in EdCamp format.

5) Record of a Team Meeting: Agenda available under Meeting Notes - “Pick template”

6) NLSEC website update: Small changes on the home page, check out the Facebook window.  Special Education Resources new sections - Evaluation, Meeting, IEP and Case Manager Resources

7) ER Templates in SpEd Forms: New Evaluation templates available in SpEd Forms by next fall.

8) Extracurricular and nonacademic support decision flowchart: linked here in SpEd Forms. Reach out to your coordinator with questions.

9) IEP Meeting Attempts: Notify parents early enough to ensure they have the opportunity to attend. Mutually agreed upon time and place. Document at least 2 attempts to arrange a meeting. Be mindful of specific circumstances before deciding to proceed without the parent. MDE Guidance

10) Primary Disability and Licensure on IEP: The IEP must have a team member licensed in the area of the student’s primary disability. Can be addressed by (1) IEP manager holds the license with direct service (2) another team member provides the direct service with appropriate licensure (3) team member with appropriate license is on the service grid for consult or indirect service. Remember to update provider numbers.

11) ESY Reminders: Decided annually at IEP Meetings using data. IEPs marked as ESY “more data needed” need to be updated with PWN.  ESY Flowchart

12) Related Service Providers: A related service is not a primary special ed service. In order for a student to receive OT or PT, they should be working on goals written by IEP Manager. Related Services resource &  Service Models resource. IEP should not contain “therapy goals”. An annual goal cannot be developed in isolation by a therapist. Work with your related service providers regarding appropriate expectations and collaborative practices.

13) Progress Reporting: All districts were monitored for topical record review and students randomly selected, specifically looked at progress reports. Every district has corrections. Coordinators will review checklists used for monitoring with district teams. One to one connection regarding specific file corrections. MDE Progress Reporting Guidance.

14) Progress Reporting Frequency: Frequency should be clearly stated on the first page of the IEP. Frequency is required at the same interval as general ed students. One of the written reports can be the annual IEP meeting. Does it pass the stranger test?

15) Progress Reporting goal met: Please include the data point within the progress report for goals met.

16) The Golden Thread of Special Education:  Golden Thread Goal Writing Tutorial

17) MDE Present Level Resource: Also in SpEd Forms

18) Remember to invite (if appropriate) in addition to the “4 core” IEP Team Members: OT, Autism Consultant, WBL Coordinators, Secondary Transition, Vision Consultant, PI, D/HH, PT

19) Restrictive Procedures: The person who implements or oversees a physical hold must document in SpEd Forms as soon as possible. The same person should conduct a post-use briefing with the case manager within 2 days after the incident. The Restrictive Procedure Oversight Committee meets quarterly.

20) What is a 15 day drop?: A district must withdraw a student from enrollment who does not show up for 15 consecutive days. Case Manager needs to send a PWN to discontinue services and include language that the district stands ready to serve should the student re-enroll.

21) New Staff Cohort: Quarterly PD sessions required for “new” to coop staff and includes experienced teachers when appropriate. Includes DAPE and SLPs. Goals of ongoing support: (1) retention (2) progress towards excellence in special education instruction (3) use NLSEC resources efficiently and (4) address needs as a Cooperative, rather than individually

22) CPI Trainings: 25-26 School Year CPI Trainings and registration on homepage of NLSEC website.

23) Paraprofessional Training: Requirements - within 60 days of starting, districts must provide at least 8 hours or annual paid PD to all paras, with at least 6 hours completed before the first instructional day or within 30 days of hire. Options: (1) Back to School New Para Training in late August. (2) Infinitec Training module (i.e. learning campaign coordinated by NLSEC) (3) local training template

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