2022-23 Communications

Communications for the 2022-2023 School Year

September 2022

1) August 24, 2022 New Teacher Training Slideshow (pdf)
2) 2022-2023 Back to School Special Education Training Slideshow (pdf)

October 2022

1) Updates to Third Party (MA) Billing Process Memo from Dena Hagen October 2022 (pdf)

Communication and Advisory Committee Meeting October 11, 2022 slideshow (pdf)

1) Signatures: Always get a real signature when doing anything with "Initials".  (i.e., initial eval, initial IEP).

2) SpEd Forms updates: CHLD abbreviations will pull preferred name, BIP end date July 1, 2023, Evacuation Plan available, Special Transportation has been renamed to “Transportation”, IEP Snapshot and more can be downloaded and printed in mass format, SpEd Forms 2.0 IEP PWN/ Consent page all on one screen now.

3) NLSEC Reevaluation Flowchart: updated!

4) Progress Reporting:  Progress Reporting will be monitored next year (23-24), have a way to track student data.  Examples here.  Include how and when progress will be shared. (ie. progress towards annual goals will be reported through one annual IEP mtg and 3 written progress reports concurrent with district reporting).

5) Amending an IEP: When making a significant change to an IEP after the IEP have been finalized, can amend the IEP with or without an IEP meeting, parents must be in agreement without a team meeting.  This does not change annual IEP date. Check the “Amended” box on IEP in SpEd Forms.
   - 
Amending without a meeting - complete Agree to Amend form and send PWN with IEP changes home
  - Amending with a meeting - send PWN home with pages of IEP indicating change
  - Sample Agree to Amend SpEd Forms

6) Extra-curricular and non-academic documentation in IEP: IEP team role is to determine if extra supports are needed in extra-curricular activities. This box is available in SpEd Forms under Accommodations and Modifications.

7) District Representative box on Notice of Team Meeting: New, use this if need clarification on who that person is.

8) LRE: Answer these questions- why must the student be removed from gen ed setting to receive services, what is the student missing, does the LRE match the service grid?

9) December 1st Child Count: Students must have the following… a valid IEP, current eval or re-eval, and be receiving spec ed and related services on Dec 1.  Data must be accurate in MARSS.

10) MyInfinitec.org: Online resources available to everyone in Region 3 (gen ed, paras, admin, teachers, etc.). 
  Highlighted: Category - Kansas Training de-escalation modules for Para’s.

11) Upcoming Events: WJ Training virtual this winter, NLSEC Training calendar

February 2023

Communication and Advisory Council February 16, 2023 Slide Show

1) Newsletter: NLSEC News once a month.  January 2023 edition here.

2) ABA/EIDBI - Applied Behavior Analysis and Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention: Not a care and treatment program (yet), not a school - they don’t take over a student’s IEP, local examples include Northway Academy, Caravel, MN Autism Center

3) FAPE: The “A” is important, appropriate. Students need to make progress. It is defined in courts as an IEP that is reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances. Ask questions such as, are students placed in a classroom that makes sense? Is there a staff training need? Is the student making progress?

4) SpEd Forms 2.0: All of Coop moving to this version July 1, 2023.  7 minute basic navigation video. 2 minute batch printing video.

5) 15 Day Drop: If the student is absent or predicted to be absent from school for 15 consecutive days or intermittent days, the student is entitled to regular and special education services.  School is still responsible for services.

Follow up question:  How does the "15-day drop" work for preschoolers?  
Eligible infants and toddlers must be withdrawn after 15 consecutive days of absence during the July 1 through June 30 school year. Preschool children with disabilities must be withdrawn after 15 consecutive days of absence during the traditional academic year or five consecutive days of absence during the summer. The first day a child is absent is counted as day one. Using the school calendar or ESY classroom calendar count each subsequent day up to 15 or five. Day 15 (or day five during the summer for preschool-aged children) is the Status End Date for the current enrollment record. Use Status End code 14 to indicate the temporary withdrawal. When the child returns to school or receives a service simply create a new enrollment record. The student’s Last Location of Attendance will be 24.

6) Due Process: Ensures that schools are attending to the rights of students.  The PWN “tells the story”.

7) Northern Lights Academy: Referral starts with due process and involving the Coordinator.  Referral Process

8) VRS:  Work Based Learning Coordinator and VRS Counselors can help on attaining work experiences for students.  Updated Counselors

9) Mentoring Day: March 13, 2023, Student registration open! Student Session descriptions, Teachers and Paraprofessionals please register so we know how much pizza to order.  

10) Steps for Enrolling New Students: Hold intake meeting with parents and new team members, services should not be delayed while this info is gathered. If from a non-MN district, look at ER to see if it meets MN initial criteria.

11) Extracurricular and non-academic activities: Complete this section in SpEd Forms, even for students that do need the support. Consider annually. SpEd Forms decision making flowchart. School field trips should be considered and explained in the IEP.

12) Progress Reporting: Need to be done at same time as general ed peers.  The “how” and “when” are important. Must contain data and description of progress on IEP goals and each objective. The team cannot consider skipping an evaluation if progress reporting is not done.

13) Provider Numbers: At the beginning of the school year, on the service page, check the service provider numbers. This is important because reports (i.e. workload or licensure checks) are pulled based on the service provider number.

Follow up question: Do provider numbers need to be changed in the service grid when there is a short-term LOA covered? 
No, there is not a need for this.

14) Licensure Checks: IEP must have a licensed teacher in the child’s primary disability. If IEP Manager is not licensed in the child’s primary disability, then another special ed teacher must be invited to IEP and provide indirect services.

15) Exclusionary Factors in Eligibility: SLD Manual Chapter 7 and Chapter 10 address exclusionary factors.

Follow up question: Do schools screen for "near" vision? i.e. seeing up close? 
No, typically only the far, using the vision chart.

16) NLSEC Employment Opportunities


May 2023
1) LETRS cohort training for 2023-24 School Year