IDEA Archives - Helping Families with Kids with Special Needs

Don’t Let The 8.5% Cap on Special Ed Continue

In 2016, after the publication of a series of investigative articles by Brian M. Rosenthal in the Houston Chronicle, many parents with children in Texas public schools obtained confirmation of one of their worst fears – their children were missing out on education opportunities that could enrich their children’s lives. It may not sound like much to a parent with a typical child who can catch up on academics with a tutor, but for parents with children who require special education services and accommodations, catching up can feel impossible.

The U. S. Department of Education conducted their own investigation which concluded that Texas Education Agency (TEA) led schoold districts to delay or deny special education services to students by instituting an arbirtrary cap for enrollment of services at 8.5%.

Now, the TEA owes the public school children in Texas a proper education and the TEA is asking for your help. We have until April 18th to offer comments on the draft of the the strategic plan to get our schools in line with rest of the country with regards to special education.

Click on the link below to read more information on the draft and to offer your comments.

https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Press_Releases/2018/TEA_accepting_comments_on_draft_strategic_plan_for_special_education_through_April_18/

Have an ARD Meeting Soon? Be Prepared.

In the next week weeks, many parents of children who receive special education services under the federal IDEA Act will be invited to their child’s public school to attend an Admission, Review and Dismissal (“ARD”) meeting.

At this meeting, the ARD team will review the current Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) for the student and propose recommendations for the child’s education plan –

To ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. – IDEA (§300.1)

At the ARD meeting, parents can agree or disagree with some or all of the proposals. If there is a disagreement with the proposed IEP, the ARD team can take a recess, negotiate terms, and reconvene (in ten days typically).

Preparing for such a meeting can be stressful for parents based on fear and anxiety for possibly failing your child by not protecting their rights or not demanding proper education services.

Parents who are engaged with the IEP process can find success by reading up on the following:

school records (including daily reports),
assessments from school and private sources (and knowing which new assessments should be requested), and
education laws.

U.S. Supreme Court provides guidance in the recent Endrew F. case that a student offered an educational program providing “merely more than de minimis” progress from year to year can hardly be said to have been offered an education at all, setting the floor for the application of the holding in the Rowley case that the school must confer an IEP reasonably calculated to enable the child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances.

At the ARD meeting, show up with your questions and notes and if you are considering agreeing to a new service or the removal of a service that you are not comfortable with but are willing to try out the situation temporarily, agree to try it out and have a follow-up meeting in a month to re-assess the situation. Under IDEA, the ARD meeting can occur annually or a often as needed allowing a parent to request a meeting in writing.

Take your time at the ARD, listen to suggestions, and stay on track with your goals for the meeting.

Have an Upcoming ARD?

Fall semester school obligations have begun. Parents of students in general ed have probably had their 15 minute one-on-one meeting with the teacher. For the rest of us, we are preparing for upcoming ARD meetings. ARD stands for Admission, Review and Dismissal. For my son, I am at the review stage of the ARD process. We have an individualized education program (“IEP”) in place from the last school year. The IEP is a contract and all the services described in the IEP must be provided by the school district.

In my situation, at the next ARD meeting, there will be a review of the prior IEP terms and suggested revisions based on my son’s new education needs. One example of what will probably be discussed is the reduction of support. Some members of the ARD committee have informally signaled to me that they will be requesting less paraprofessional in-class support time for my son during his inclusion in his general education classes. When I first heard of this potential change, I was frightened.

Parents involved in the ARD process may suffer an emotional toll. In my situation, I have a concern that once I agree to reduce in-class support, my son may never get the support back when he really needs it. In contrast, I do want my son to gain independence and have an opportunity to blossom without the support of a SpEd professional. Will my decision short-change my son’s educational experience? To make an informed decision, pre-ARD actions need to be taken. I will review my son’s daily reports, his classwork and homework grades, and interview the special ed professionals that observe him in the general ed classroom.

As my son’s advocate, preparation for the ARD meeting is time-consuming and sometimes frustrating. To assist with organization aspect of the preparation, I will update my IEP binder with daily reports, progress reports, copies of communications with the school, therapist and doctor reports, and previous IEPs. For those of you who are preparing an IEP binder, if you discover that you are missing school records, give your school a written request for the records, as you are allowed under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”). The IEP binder will help you decide on IEP goals and provide you with evidence to support your arguments during the ARD meeting, if needed.

Being a present and contributing member of the ARD team can be hard work, but your child will need your involvement to get the most out of his or her public school experience.

Senate Vote Texas Vouchers for School

Parents,

All your work from years of ARD meetings, IEPs, and lawsuits will disappear once your student receiving special education services from public school uses vouchers for private school education. Private schools are not forced to follow the laws protecting your child’s education rights.

Click here to listen to the call from Filis Law Firm’s managing attorney Leona Filis to Pacifica Radio encouraging Texans to call their senators and tell them to vote NO to public school vouchers.

This segment was taken from the 7/24/2017 broadcast found at http://kpft.org/programming/newstalk/open-journal/

The Texas School Voucher proposal passed 19-12 in the state senate. The next step is the Texas House. Please contact your representatives.

Merely More than De Minimis is NOT the Standard – Endrew F. – U.S. Supreme Court Special Education Case

This week, many families with children with special needs celebrated the United States Supreme Court ruling in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (“IDEA”) protects children with disabilities through a mandate that each eligible student receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (“FAPE”), by means of a uniquely tailored individualized education program (“IEP”). In this case, the Court found that student Endrew F. failed to receive an appropriate public education. Special Education and related services are to be provided so that the student may advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals from the IEP, and when possible, be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum.

The Court noted in its opinion that at age two, Endrew F. was diagnosed with autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder generally marked by impaired social and communication skills, “engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.” With this diagnosis, Endrew F. was eligible to receive special education services. Endrew F.’s parents were dissatisfied with the public school’s inability to provide and IEP different from any of the IEPs for the past few years. With no satisfactory results from the school district, Endrew F.’s parents withdrew him from school and enrolled Endrew in a private school that specializes in educating children with autism, where Endrew excelled.

Endrew F.’s parents sued the school district for failure to provide an appropriate public education for Endrew F. The Supreme Court noted that a IEP is unique for the circumstances of the child for whom it was created. The standard for the student’s educational program must be appropriately ambitious in light of his circumstances, not merely more than de minimis progress from year to year.

Parents and advocates, when you are in attendance at an Admission, Review, and Dismissal meeting (“ARD Meeting”), argue with confidence so that your child to receive an education appropriately ambitious in light of your child’s circumstances.

What to Expect in the New School Year

There is a new focus on the alarming rise of special education student suspensions.

The U.S. Department of Education – Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services released a letter dated August 1, 2016 restating a goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to offer eligible children with a disability a free appropriate public education (FAPE). The letter “serves to remind school personnel that the authority to implement disciplinary removals does not negate their obligation to consider the implications of the child’s behavior needs, and the effects of the use of suspensions (and other short-term removals) when ensuring the provision of FAPE.”

Be proactive.

If your child’s Individual Education Program (IEP) has already been prepared for 2016, the new school year can mean you will have a new IEP team member, new classroom, and new teaching method. Your child’s IEP may need to be modified to address any new behaviors your child may have due to the changes in his or her classroom routine.

School is starting soon and parents are invited to meet the teacher. This is a great opportunity to quickly discuss some key points with the newest member of your child’s IEP team. Typically, schools will offer 15 to 20 minutes with your child’s new teacher so start the school year off right. Have a friendly introduction letter ready to hand off to your child’s new teacher so that he or she can later take their time to read and review the special details you determine are important for knowing your child. Offer proven strategies for the new teacher that may have worked with your child over the summer break to establish a safe, supportive learning environment, such as wearing head phones when in a loud environment. Point out what is important in the IEP. Add your contact information and make sure you answer the calls or emails in the event your child’s new teacher reaches out to you. Respect your child’s teacher’s time.

Stay current with new special education legislation and news. Parents of children receiving special education services in self-contained classrooms can write a letter to the school district to have cameras installed in the classroom. See an example letter. The Texas Education Agency has created a comparison chart of laws applicable to schools and students receiving special education services.

Finally – Cameras in the Special Ed classrooms Commissioner’s Rules

The Texas Education Agency has finally posted the Adopted New rules regarding Cameras in the Classroom, effective August 15, 2016.

You may go to TEA website for more information. I have pasted below the text for your viewing pleasure.

Text of Adopted New 19 TAC

Chapter 103. Health and Safety

Subchapter DD. Commissioner’s Rules Concerning Video Surveillance of Certain Special Education Settings

§103.1301. Video Surveillance of Certain Special Education Settings.

(a) Requirement to implement. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, in order to promote student safety, on request by a parent, trustee, or staff member, a school district or open-enrollment charter school must provide video equipment to campuses in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §29.022, and this section. Campuses that receive video equipment must place, operate, and maintain video cameras in self- contained classrooms or other special education settings in accordance with TEC, §29.022, and this section.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of TEC, §29.022, and this section, the following terms have the following meanings.

(1) Parent means a person described in TEC, §26.002, whose child receives special education and related services for at least 50 percent of the instructional day in the ~~[a]~~ self-contained classroom or other special education setting. Parent also means a student who receives special education and related services for at least 50 percent of the instructional day in the ~~[a]~~ self-contained classroom or other special education setting and who is 18 years of age or older or whose disabilities of minority have been removed for general purposes under Texas Family Code, Chapter 31, unless the student has been determined to be incompetent or the student’s rights have been otherwise restricted by a court order.

(2) Staff member means a teacher, related service provider, paraprofessional, or educational aide assigned to work in the [a] self-contained classroom or other special education setting. Staff member also includes the principal or an assistant principal of the campus at which the [a] self- contained classroom or other special education setting is located.

(3) Trustee means a member of a school district’s board of trustees or a member of an open- enrollment charter school’s governing body.

(4) Open-enrollment charter school means a charter granted to a charter holder under TEC, §12.101 or

§12.152, identified with its own county district number.

(5) Self-contained classroom means a classroom on a regular school campus (i.e., a campus that serves students in general education and students in special education) of a school district or an open-enrollment charter school in which a majority of the students in regular attendance are provided special education and related services and have one of the following instructional arrangements/settings described in the student attendance accounting handbook adopted under

§129.1025 of this title (relating to Adoption by Reference: Student Attendance Accounting Handbook):

(A) self-contained (mild/moderate/severe) regular campus;

(B) full-time early childhood (preschool program for children with disabilities) special education setting;

(D) residential care and treatment facility–full-time early childhood special education setting;

(E) off home campus–self-contained (mild/moderate/severe) regular campus; or

(F) off home campus–full-time early childhood special education setting.

(6) Other special education setting means a classroom on a separate campus (i.e., a campus that serves only students who receive special education and related services) of a school district or open- enrollment charter school in which a majority of the students in regular attendance are provided special education and related services and have one of the following instructional arrangements/settings described in the student attendance accounting handbook adopted under

§129.1025 of this title:

(A) residential care and treatment facility–separate campus; or (B) off home campus–separate campus.

(7) Video camera means a video surveillance camera with audio recording capabilities.

(8) Video equipment means one or more video cameras and any technology and equipment needed to place, operate, and maintain video cameras as required by TEC, §29.022, and this section. Video equipment also means any technology and equipment needed to store and access video recordings as required by TEC, §29.022, and this section.

(9) Incident means an event or circumstance that:

(A) involves alleged “abuse” or “neglect,” as those terms are described in Texas Family Code,

§261.001, of a student by an employee of the school district or charter school or alleged “physical abuse” or “sexual abuse,” as those terms are described in Texas Family Code,

§261.410, of a student by another student; and [or]

(B) allegedly occurred in a self-contained classroom or other special education setting in which video surveillance under TEC, §29.022, and this section is conducted.

(c) Exclusions. A school district or open-enrollment charter school is not required to provide video equipment to a campus of another district or charter school or to a nonpublic school. In addition, the Texas School for the Deaf, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and any other state agency that provides special education and related services to students are not subject to the requirements in TEC, §29.022, and this section.

(d) Use of funds. A school district or open-enrollment charter school may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any person to implement the requirements in TEC, §29.022, and this section. A district or charter school is not permitted to use Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B, funds or state special education funds to implement the requirements of TEC, §29.022, and this section.

(e) Dispute resolution. The special education dispute resolution procedures in 34 Code of Federal Regulations,

§§300.151-300.153 and 300.504-300.515, do not apply to complaints alleging that a school district or open- enrollment charter school has failed to comply with TEC, §29.022, and/or this section. Complaints alleging violations of TEC, §29.022, and/or this section must be addressed through the district’s or charter school’s local grievance procedures or other dispute resolution channels.

(f) Regular school year and extended school year services. TEC, §29.022, and this section apply to video surveillance during the regular school year and during extended school year services . [Decisions regarding whether video surveillance will be conducted in self-contained classrooms and other special education settings in which extended school year services are provided are left to local discretion.]

(g) Policies and procedures. Each school district board of trustees and open-enrollment charter school governing body must adopt written policies relating to video surveillance under TEC, §29.022, and this section. At a minimum, the policies must include:

(1) a statement that video surveillance is for the purpose of promoting student safety in certain self- contained classrooms and other special education settings;

(2) the procedures for requesting video surveillance and the procedures for responding to a request for video surveillance ;

(3) the procedures for providing advanced written notice to the campus staff and the parents of the students assigned to a self-contained classroom or other special education setting that video and audio surveillance will be conducted in the classroom or setting;

(4) a requirement that video cameras be operated at all times during the instructional day when students are in the self-contained classroom or other special education setting;

(5) a statement regarding the personnel [~~individuals~~] who will have access to video equipment or [~~cameras and~~] video recordings for purposes of operating and maintaining the equipment or recordings [~~and the roles and responsibilities of those individuals~~] ;

(6) a requirement that a campus continue to operate and maintain any video camera placed in a self- contained classroom or other special education setting for as long as the classroom or setting continues to satisfy the requirements in TEC, §29.022(a);

(7) a requirement that video cameras placed in a self-contained classroom or other special education setting be capable of recording video and audio of all areas of the classroom or setting, except that no video surveillance may be conducted of the inside of a bathroom or other area used for toileting or diapering a student or removing or changing a student’s clothes;

(8) a statement that video recordings must be retained for at least six months after the date the video was recorded;

(9) a statement that the regular or continual monitoring of video is prohibited and that video recordings must not be used for [~~routine~~] teacher evaluation or monitoring or for any purpose other than the promotion of student safety;

(10) at the school district’s or open-enrollment charter school’s discretion, a requirement that campuses post a notice at the entrance of any self-contained classroom or other special education setting in which video cameras are placed stating that video and audio surveillance are conducted in the classroom or setting;

(11) the procedures for reporting a complaint alleging that an incident occurred in a self-contained classroom or other special education setting in which video surveillance under TEC, §29.022, and this section is conducted;

(12) the local grievance procedures for filing a complaint alleging violations of TEC, §29.022, and/or this section; and

(13) a statement that video recordings made under TEC, §29.022, and this section are confidential and a description of the limited circumstances under which the recordings may be viewed.

(h) Confidentiality of video recordings. A video recording made under TEC, §29.022, and this section is confidential and may only be viewed by the following individuals, to the extent not limited by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) or other law:

(1) a staff member or other school district or charter school employee or a parent of a student involved in an incident described in subsection (b)(9) of this section that is documented by a video recording for which a complaint has been reported to the district or charter school;

(2) appropriate Texas Department of Family and Protective Services personnel as part of an investigation under Texas Family Code, §261.406;

(3) a peace officer, school nurse, [or] administrator trained in de-escalation and restraint techniques as provided by commissioner rule , or a human resources staff member designated by the school district’s board of trustees or open-enrollment charter school’s governing body in response to a complaint or an investigation of an incident described in subsection (b)(9) of this section; or

(4) appropriate Texas Education Agency or State Board for Educator Certification personnel or agents as part of an investigation.

(i) Child abuse and neglect reporting. If a person described in subsection (h)(3) or (4) of this section views a video recording and has cause to believe that the recording documents possible abuse or neglect of a child under Texas Family Code, Chapter 261, the person must submit a report to [~~notify~~] the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or other authority in accordance with the local policy adopted under

§61.1051 of this title (relating to Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect ) and Texas Family Code, Chapter 261.

(j) Disciplinary actions and legal proceedings. If a person described in subsection (h)(2), (3), or (4) of this section views a video recording and believes that it documents a possible violation of school district, open- enrollment charter school, or campus policy, the person may allow access to the recording to appropriate legal and human resources personnel of the district or charter school to the extent not limited by FERPA or other law. A recording believed to document a possible violation of school district, open-enrollment charter school, or campus policy may be used in a disciplinary action against district or charter school personnel and must be released in a legal proceeding at the request of a parent of the student involved in the incident documented by the recording. A recording believed to document a possible violation of school district, open-enrollment charter school, or campus policy must be released for viewing by the district or charter school employee who is the subject of the disciplinary action at the request of the employee.

(k) Access rights. Subsections (i) and (j) of this section do not limit the access of a student’s parent to an educational record of the student under FERPA or other law. To the extent any provisions in TEC, §29.022, and this section conflict with FERPA or other federal law, federal law prevails.

Requesting Education Records – FERPA

If you are working on your child’s IEP and records binder this summer, make a list of the records you are missing from school. Parents can the right to INSPECT AND REVIEW their child’s education records. Special Education students, including services provided to students under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Public schools and school districts receive funds under programs administered by the U.S. Dept. of Education. FERPA is Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. Sec 1232g, 34 CFR Part 99) that applies to the above-described educational agencies and institutions.

There are areas of confusion regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.
Is your child’s school is a covered entity?
Are the health records “education records” or “treatment records” and what is considered “protected health information” under HIPAA?

If you are running into problems accessing your child’s records, call my office.