Teacher Appreciation Week!
Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated during the first full week of May each year. In 2024, it’s May 6–10. This weeklong event provides us with the opportunity to recognize the contributions teachers make to our lives. We are grateful to have this opportunity to thank the educators across our state and to celebrate all they do for the students and families of Washington. To learn more about Teacher Appreciation Week, read stories about exceptional educators, or honor an outstanding teacher, visit the National Education Association website.
MTSS Integrated Conference - Registration Open!
WASA and OSPI are excited to announce the 2024 Integrated MTSS Conference. This year’s conference Empowering Excellence: Co-Designing Systems through Instructional Leadership will be held on the campus of Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman July 31–August 2. With our theme of Empowering Excellence: Co-Designing Systems through Instructional Leadership the focus of the conference will be on best practices and approaches that address the strands listed below:
• Family, Student & Community Engagement
• Reducing Restraint & Eliminating Isolation
• Student Well-being & Mental Health
• Tiered Academic Supports
Day 1 will be organized with breakouts featuring job-alike teaming.
Days 2 & 3 will be geared toward collaborative teams.
Learn more about the conference and register here. We encourage prompt registration as we expect this conference to fill quickly!
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Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network Spotlight: EdWeek Article
Education Week recently featured an article spotlighting two of Washington state's demonstration site schools for inclusive education. The article highlights the school's innovative approaches to fostering meaningful inclusion, emphasizing collaboration between general and special education teachers, personalized support for students with disabilities, universally designed spaces that benefit all students, and a commitment to creating supportive learning environments where all students are needed and belong. Ruby Bridges Elementary and Monroe High School are demonstration site schools in Washington that serve as a model for inclusive practices, showcasing how schools can successfully implement inclusive education to benefit all students. To learn more about Washington state IPP Demonstration sites, part of the Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network, visit the IPP Demonstration site webpage.
Updated Guidance on Adapted Physical Education
In September 2023, on the recommendations of the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), Adapted Physical Education (APE) was approved to be added as a specialty endorsement. Effective May 1, 2024, teachers with any special education endorsement or Health/Fitness endorsement are now eligible to add the APE specialty endorsement to their certificate. This policy change to WAC 181-82A-208 is significant, as educators who obtain the APE specialty endorsement will be fully qualified in Washington to provide specially designed instruction (SDI) and fulfill the other duties of a special educator when appropriate.
OSPI has published Updated Guidance on Adapted Physical Education to assist districts and school teams in providing inclusive accessible physical education services to all students and to understand the staffing options available to them under WAC 392-172A-02090 Personnel Qualifications concerning the newly added APE specialty endorsement option. This guidance includes an overview of APE, guidance to support staffing options under WAC 392-172A-02090, and includes a frequently asked questions section.
Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) Meeting
May 21–22, 2024
Walla Walla, WA
The Washington state Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) will conduct a hybrid meeting on May 21–22, 2024, 8:30 am–4:30 pm. The in-person location is the Walla Walla Center for Children & Families, 1150 W. Chestnut, Walla Walla, Washington. The meeting is open to members of the public interested in Washington special education services. The agenda will be posted the week prior to the meeting. The SEAC two-day meeting will also be offered virtually (no registration required)
Public Comment will begin at 11:30 am on Tuesday, May 21. Public Comment is scheduled for 30 minutes. Each public comment will be restricted to three minutes and will only be allowed during this designated timeframe. If you would like to email your comment to be read at the meeting, please send it to the SEAC email address no later than the close of business on May 16.
SEAC Community Forum – In person only!
The SEAC, in partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), is hosting an in-person community forum to share about the role of SEAC and host a discussion about inclusionary practices in early learning and post-secondary transition services! Join us!
The SEAC Community Forum (in-person only)
Walla Walla Center for Children & Families
1150 West Chestnut, Walla Walla, Washington
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
5:30 pm–7:00 pm
Required registration for the community forum is here or scan the QR code shown below.
QR code to register for SEAC Community Forum 5-21-24 5:30 pm
Click here for this month’s Fiscal & Data updates on the following topics:
- Data Reporting for Students with IEPs: End of Year Federal Special Education Data Reporting
- OSPI Special Education Data, Fiscal, and Program Office Hours
- Safety Net Reminders
- Fiscal Reminders
Click here for this month’s ECSE updates on the following topics:
- Operationalizing High-Quality Dual Language Programming
- Indicators of High-Quality Inclusion: Multiple Language Translations Available
- Resource: Positive Solutions for Families (PSF)
- 2023 State of Preschool Yearbook
- 2024 Northwest Early Learning & Pyramid Summit Registration Opens May 15th!
Click here for this month’s Dispute Resolution updates on:
- Burden of Proof: Information & Considerations for Due Process Hearings
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