March 2017
Especially for Parents
- The Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) I’m Determined project, in conjunction with the Partnership for People with Disabilities, are now accepting applications for the 11th Annual I’m Determined Youth and Parent Summit. This two-day event will be held from June 14 - 16, 2017 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Youth with disabilities from across the Commonwealth will meet to identify ways to become better advocates and lead more self-determined lives. The selected individuals and a parent/guardian will receive paid registration, dormitory accommodations, travel expenses and meals for the three-day event. A concurrent Parent Summit for the selected participant’s parent/guardian will be held at the university. Deadline for application submission is March 9, 2017. For more information and to apply go to: http://summit.imdetermined.org/
- The FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC) provides resources, information and consultations to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and disabilities. Confidential meetings, training opportunities, an extensive lending library, and a year-long calendar of workshops are offered for parents, educators, and community members through collaboration with staff members from FCPS offices as well as local and national experts. Contact the FCPS PRC for additional information, to schedule a consultation, use our extensive lending library or to attend a workshop. Contact us at 703-204-3941 or email prc@fcps.edu. Follow us on Twitter @prc_fcps and bookmark our NEW website! https://www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center
- Join the FCPS PRC staff members as we continue our year-long series of Mind in the Making Workshops! Mind in the Making: Taking on Challenges will be held on Friday, March 10, 2017, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, Entrance 1, Room 100. In this free workshop for parents, learn the research behind why taking on challenges is one of the Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs. Learn strategies for improving this skill, the important role this skill plays in the lives of children - now and in the future, and activities to promote the skill. This evidence-based research program involves executive functions of the brain for ages 0-12.
- Parents new to the special education process are invited to attend Introduction to Special Education. This workshop will help parents understand the basics of the special education process, access resources, and get questions answered. Join the PRC staff members on Wednesday, March 15, from 7-9 p.m. at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, Entrance 1, Room 100.
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Save the Date! Career and Transition Services (CTS), in collaboration with the PRC, will be holding a postsecondary options workshop for parents and students – Flash Forward – Postsecondary Education and Employment Options. The workshop will be held at Woodson High School on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, from 6:30-8:30 pm. There will be a general introductory session followed by three different informational sessions for participants to choose from including Supported Employment, Competitive Employment, and Postsecondary Education. In addition informational display tables with representatives from community agencies, government offices, and educational institutions will be available. High school students, parents, and FCPS teachers and staff members are encouraged to attend. Woodson HS is located at 9525 Main Street, in Fairfax. For additional information go to: https://www.fcps.edu/node/28279
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Save the Date! CTS and Northern VA Community College (NVCC) are offering an opportunity for students interested in NVCC to learn about options available. Vision 2017 will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at the NVCC Annandale Campus. Registration will start at 3:30 pm; the program begins at 4 pm. This orientation will include presentations from disability and counseling services. Additional sessions will provide both students and parents with information related to college life, the application and registration process, and placement testing. Following the general session, students and parents will meet separately with NVCC faculty and staff members before coming back together for the Q&A session. NVCC Annandale Campus is located at 8333 Little River Turnpike. For more information students and/or parents should contact their schools Employment and Transition Services Representative.
Especially
for Staff Members
- The Very Important Paraprofessional (VIP) Conference will be held at South County High School on Monday, April 17, 2017, from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration will begin March 6, 2017, through MYPLT. Please access more information about the conference from the VIP Conference website: http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/vip/
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Staff members from VDOE’s I’m Determined Project will be sponsoring an in-service for teachers, instructional coaches, paraprofessionals, and administrators on March 24, 2017, from 8:30 a.m.-noon at George Mason University’s Prince William Campus in Colgan Hall which is located at 10900 University Boulevard Manassas, VA 20110. Please come to this important workshop to learn how to get your students more involved in the IEP process as well as how to teach self-advocacy and goal setting skills. For more information about I’m Determined, go to http://www.imdetermined.org/
To register for the workshop, please go to: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ed7q0szi964649d6&llr=mahx7otab
The registration deadline is March 17, 2017. Seats are limited!
- Early Childhood Special Education teachers will participate in professional development on March 24, 2017, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Marshall High School. The professional development will focus on social skills activities to support universal instruction in the early childhood special education program. Registration is required through MyPLT #SS-22092.
- Please check http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/SpecialEducation/summerservices/index.shtml for updates and information regarding ESY 2017.
- The current FCPS Standards of Learning (SOL) Accommodations Reference Chart document has been updated for the 2016-17 school year. The updated document contains information relevant to the annual changes made by the Virginia Department of Education. This document is the most current and up-to-date version of accommodation information specific to FCPS SOL accommodations. All versions of this reference chart dated prior to January 2017 should be discarded. http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/SpecialEducation/assessment/SOLAccommodations.pdf
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Testing Memo 39: Call for Scorers for the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) and the Virginia Grade Level Alternative Assessment (VGLA) Spring 2017. This testing memo provides information about the recruitment of scorers for the spring 2017 VAAP and VGLA scoring event. Information about the number of educators needed to score the division’s Collections of Evidence (COEs), scorer eligibility, training requirements, and the dates of the scoring event are included. You can access this testing memo at http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/pla/ost/testing_memos/2016_17/pdf_doc_ppt/2017tm39.pdf. There will be one VAAP and VGLA scoring event for all grade levels. All VAAP and VGLA COEs will be due to the Test Distribution Center on April 26, 2017; COEs will be scored during the week of May 1 - 5, 2017.
- Testing Memo 40 provides information about the implementation of computer adaptive testing for the SOL reading tests (regular and audio) in grades 3 through 5 beginning in spring 2017. You can access this testing memo at http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/pla/ost/testing_memos/2016_17/tm_2016_17_index.shtml
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During the 2016-17 school year, Assistive Technology Services (ATS) will be offering training sessions focused on the use of high-end Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Participants will learn basic programming and maintenance of the devices as well as integration ideas. These sessions are open to both staff members and parents of students using the specific devices. To register, contact the ATS Resource Teacher who supports your school. March sessions will include the following topics:
March 6, 2017, 9 a.m.-noon, Proloquo2Go App - Rocky Run Modular
March 10, 2017, 9 a.m.-noon, Words for Life App - Rocky Run Modular
March 14, 2017, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., PRC Devices - Rocky Run Modular
March 15, 2017, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., PRC Devices - Rocky Run Modular
March 20, 2017, 9 a.m.-noon, Words for Life App - Rocky Run Modular
Department of Special Services
Jane Lipp, Assistant Superintendent
Irene Meier, Director, Office of Special Education Instruction
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