|
Special Education Update
March 2022
Graduation and Transition Edition!
|
|
|
Check out this quick video from the Center of Change in Transition Services (CCTS) about student-led IEPs. In this short video clip from Center for Change in Transition Services (CCTS), you’ll hear directly from students how impactful student-led IEP's have been to develop self-advocacy and the skills and plan necessary to support their goals for after high school.
Image links to Vimeo video
Secondary transition services are critical to support youth with disabilities to demonstrate preparation for their next steps after high school and successfully transition to the word of adulthood. Transition planning at its core is an individualized student-centered activity that requires collaborative effort to address student needs regarding education, employment, community involvement, home and family life, and physical and emotional health. We know from surveys and interviews with educators and students who have exited the education system, that when students are meaningfully involved in their transition planning while in school, they have more successful post-secondary outcomes.
Please see the CCTS video library for more videos highlighting student voice. Additional resources to support expansion of student-led IEP practices can be found here.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!
The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and partners have compiled resources and information that highlight the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.
The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live. Learn more and access the resources here.
|
NEW Data Report: Post-School Outcomes for Students with Disabilities, Washington state, 2019–20
Post-school outcome (PSO) data provide a picture of life after high school for students with disabilities in relation to postsecondary education and employment. Positive post-school outcomes involve some level of “engagement” after high school, meaning that former students are continuing their education or have secured employment. PSO data are collected not only for state and federal reporting, but for continuous programmatic improvement. To gather PSO data, school districts conduct a phone survey each year, reaching out to former students one year after they exited high school. The Center for Change in Transition Services (CCTS) at Seattle U offers technical support to school districts as they conduct the Post-School Survey and provides state and district-level data reports after the survey closes. Learn more about CCTS and Post-School Outcomes here, and access the 2019-20 Post-School Outcomes Report here.
Q&A for Reporting Transition Recovery Services – UPDATED
Special education, school apportionment and financial services have updated the Questions and Answers for Reporting Transition Recovery Services to include additional information to address common questions as well as to include more clarity around the 2022-23 school years. This document will be updated in summer of 2022 to reflect any changes in reporting or funding for the SY 2022-23 School Year. After reviewing available funding, very little funding for recovery services has been accessed. Districts are encouraged to review the updated Q&A and reach out if there are questions
Questions about transition recovery services are best directed to OSPI Special Education Office. If you have a fiscal question on transition recovery services, please reach out to the fiscal special education team.
Notice of Public Comment Period for Annual State Application of Fiscal Year 2022 of the IDEA Federal Grant
The annual OSPI application for federal IDEA funds has been posted and will be available for public review for 60 days and comment for a period of 30 days, prior to final submission to the USDOE Office of Special Education Programs by May 27, 2022.
Two meetings for public comment have been scheduled:
Note that each scheduled meeting has a separate Zoom link. Comments may also be submitted in writing to speced@k12.wa.us no later April 11, 2022.
Updated Mask Guidance for Schools
On February 28, 2022, Governor Inslee announced updated guidance for masks. After 11:59 p.m. on March 11, California, Oregon, and Washington states will be adopting new indoor mask policies and shift from mask requirements to mask recommendations in schools and on buses.
The most up-to-date Washington Department of Health (DOH) guidance for schools and students can always be found on the DOH Schools and Childcare webpage. The Department of Health is currently revising this guidance and expects to release an updated document the week of March 7. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued recommendations regarding masking that should be of interest for families of young children and those with higher risk of COVID-19 complications.
As a reminder, masks are still required for all students, staff, and visitors in Washington school buildings until March 11, 2022 at 11:59 pm, by order of the Governor. As schools prepare for this transition, please continue to center open communication with students and families about individual needs or concerns, including collaborative discussions and problem solving with the IEP team as appropriate.
Inclusionary Practices Project (IPP) & Special Education Support Center (SESC)
WEA’s Inclusionary Practices Project (IPP) and Special Education Support Center (SESC) offers courses online, in real-time, via Zoom. We have added to our winter Zoom schedule.
New Additions:
- February & March 2022 – Special Event - Practical Trauma-Informed Strategies to Reduce Anxiety in Students w/Jessica Minahan, M.Ed., BCBA (4.5 hours) This is a 3-part webinar. Capacity is limited to 100 registrants.
- March 7 & 9, 2022 – The Parents' Perspective: Teamwork: Caregivers and Educators Working Together (4 hours)
- March 15 & 16, 2022 – The Attuned K-12 Educator: Accelerating Literacy (6 hours)
Registration is open. Select your event/course in the drop-down menu on the top of the registration page. Once a course is full, it will no longer appear in the drop-down menu. Clock hours are available. Courses/Clock hours are free.
We keep all updated/new flyers here; check back frequently. You may also check our SESC website, or our WEA synchronous training page or asynchronous training page.
|
Question: How should districts count days for suspensions and expulsions, and what types of removals should be included in the count?
|
2022 Post-School Outcomes Survey (for 2020-21 leavers)
In preparation for the 2022 Post-School Survey, the Center for Change in Transition Services (CCTS) invites you to join quarterly TSF2 User Meetings where we’ll share survey updates and best practices. Educators who are new to the survey or looking for a refresher are encouraged to attend.
TSF2 User Meetings are recorded, live captioned, and ASL-interpreted. For details and meeting registration, visit the Post-School Survey Guidance for Educators page on the CCTS website.
Important Survey Dates:
-
April 27, 2022 | Spring TSF2 User Meeting, 2:30-3:20 p.m.
-
Late May 2022 | Leaver Survey Lists available for review
-
June 1, 2022 | Post-School Survey opens
-
Aug 17, 2022 | Summer TSF2 User Meeting, 2:30-3:20 p.m.
-
Oct 5, 2022 | Fall TSF2 User Meeting, 2:30-3:20 p.m.
-
November 1, 2022 | Post-School Survey closes, 11:59 p.m.
-
January-February, 2023 | Post-school outcome reports and presentations published
-
Feb 8, 2023 | Winter TSF2 User Meeting, 2:30-3:20 p.m.
|
WA AIMS is Accepting Applicants for Cohort 3!
The Washington Administrators Improving Multi-tiered Systems of Support (AIMS) Project is a five-year, Office of Special Education (OSEP) funded grant to OSPI and UW Bothell to support local leadership for multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) in schools and districts across Washington state. The application period for AIMS Cohort 3 will begin February 1, 2022 and end May 21, 2022. AIMS Cohort 3 will begin October 2022. A cohort orientation will be scheduled in September 2022. AIMS participants who complete the required project work will receive a $1,000 stipend at the end of the cohort year. For more information about Washington AIMS and to be added to the mailing list for recruitment updates, please visit the AIMS webpage or contact Bill Rasplica, Project Coordinator.
|
|
OSPI Graduation and Pathway Preparation
Class of 2022 Graduation One-Pager for Students and Families-NEW
A one pager was developed to support families', students' and school teams' understanding of Washington State graduation requirements. To earn a high school diploma, students must meet the credit, Graduation Pathway, and High School and Beyond Plan requirements that serve to demonstrate preparation for their plans after high school. This resource is available on the OSPI Graduation webpage. Additionally, to support all students and families, this document will be translated into several languages. The translations of this document are expected to be posted by April of 2022.
Bulletin No. 013-22 Secondary Education and Pathway Preparation/Assessment and Student Information-NEW
This resource posted February 25, 2022 provides targeted guidance on resolving incomplete courses and also includes guidance on mastery based crediting and other flexibilities to help students resolve any remaining incomplete courses.
State Board of Education (SBE)
The Graduation Requirements Emergency Waiver (GREW) - Updated
The Graduation Requirement Emergency Waiver (GREW) is still in place. The GREW offers a last resort option to waive up to 2.0 credits of ‘core’ or ‘flexible’ credits and/or the Graduation Pathway for students who were on track to graduate. Staff can access a recorded OSPI/SBE presentation about the GREW for support.
Department of Health (DOH)
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) plans to post a Request for Funding Applications (RFA) for the School-Based Health Centers – Improving Health Care Access for Children and Adolescents in Washington grant on March 15, 2022. The application period will close on April 15, 2022.
The grant program will award $1.35 million in 12-month grants to establish and expand school-based health centers (SBHCs) in Washington for K-12 students in public schools, with a focus on communities and populations who have been historically underserved. We are awarding the grants as part of implementing Substitute House Bill 1225. We expect to award three or more of each of the following grant types:
- Planning Grants: Up to $50,000 each, to plan for a new SBHC in a community or school where one does not currently operate
- Start-Up Grants: Up to $250,000 each, to start and open a SBHC where one does not currently operate
- Operational, Expansion, and/or Improvement Grants: Up to $150,000 each, to maintain, improve, or expand existing SBHC operations
Please share this upcoming opportunity with your networks. Potential applicants can begin preparing for the application now by:
- Identifying how a SBHC project could improve a need in their community
- Collecting Letters of Support, Memoranda of Understanding, Memoranda of Agreement, Tribal Resolutions, and/or Tribal Letters of Support from partners, such as:
- School and school district administration
- School nurse
- Organizations or representative groups of the community/population of focus
More information and the application will be posted to the WA Portal website as of March 15, 2022. If you have any questions about the grant opportunity, please contact Mary Simock, School-Based Health Center Program Coordinator, in the Office of Family and Community Health Improvement.
|
|
Safety Net - High Need Individual Applications due March 11, 2022
This is just a reminder that High Need Individual Safety Net applications are due March 11, 2022 by 5 pm.
Questions? Visit the Safety Net website or contact the Safety Net Team.
Meaningful Transitions: Connecting IEP Transition Planning, HSBPs & Graduation Pathways
This course developed by eLearning for Educators at Evergreen State College together with OSPI Special Education and the Center for Change in Transition Services (CCTS) at Seattle U takes a comprehensive dive into IEP Transition, the High School & Beyond Plan (HSBP), and Graduation Pathways. Along the way, you will learn about each piece and how they connect with one another to create meaningful outcomes for students who receive special education services.
Course Objectives
- Explore IEP Transition Plans, High School & Beyond Plans, and Graduation Pathways
- Understand how each aspect connects to one another
- Understand how to apply the processes to individual students
- Develop a solid toolbox of resources
CRE Meets UDL with Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge and Dr. Katie Novak
Have you wondered how frameworks for Culturally Responsive Education (CRE) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) complement and align with one another? Wonder no more!
CSTP is excited to partner with OSPI to host a moderated discussion and Q&A with Dr. Adeyemi Stembridge, author and expert in Culturally Responsive Education, and Dr. Katie Novak, author and expert in Universal Design for Learning. Dr. Stembridge and Dr. Novak will discuss the fundamental alignment of these two movements and address how to leverage these practices to offer more equitable and inclusive experiences for students. They will also address the immediate impact of inclusive lessons, classroom support, and adjustments that can be made to structures at system levels to ensure ALL students can succeed. You don't want to miss this exciting learning opportunity!
Join us on April 15th from 11 am–1 pm PST by registering on the CSTP website. Registrants who attend the live session are eligible to claim 2 clock hours. Can't come to the live session? Register above, and we will send you the recording.
|
|
|
|
ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
