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Memo No. |
Date |
Subject |
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Weekly Briefing #2153
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May 4, 2007
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To inform
selected principals of a change in The Bertha Abess Children's Center, Inc.
program model serving emotionally handicapped (EH) or severely emotionally
disturbed (SED) students at designated school sites for the 2007-2008 school
year.
TO SELECTED PRINCIPALS:
-
The attached letters
should be distributed to BACC parents and staff to inform them that a
program model change for the BACC emotionally handicapped (EH) or severely
emotionally disturbed (SED) program at your school site will occur.
-
At the beginning of the
2007-2008 school year, The Bertha Abess Children’s Center, Inc. (BACC)
will no longer be involved in the management and provision of ongoing
support of the EH or SED program at your school site.
-
BACC will no
longer provide secretarial services, counseling services or psychiatric
consultation services to EH/SED students and their families.
-
BACC will continue to
provide services as specified in the contractual agreement with Miami-Dade
County Public Schools at only six (6)designated BACC elementary SED
programs.
-
The EH or SED program at
your school will encounter some programmatic modifications which will
result in the provision of ongoing professional development and technical
support from the District for teachers and administrators.
-
The Office of Special
Education and Psychological Services will identify and assign staff to
provide counseling services as delineated in students' Individual
Educational Plans. Psychiatric consultation services will also be
provided by a mental health agency to SED students only.
-
Ms. Robin J. Morrison,
Instructional Supervisor, Division of Special Education, will contact the
schools to establish timelines for the initiation of services and to
inform school site and Regional Center administrators of the mental health
provider assigned to provide counseling services at the affected schools.
|
Contact: |
Robin J. Morrison ( 305-995-1806 ) |
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Department: |
Division of Special Education |
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Weekly Briefing #2072
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May 4, 2007
|
|
To inform
administrators and parents of new legislation that impacts Speech/Language
(S/L) services for students with disabilities.
ALL PRINCIPALS:
-
Effective July 1, 2006,
changes in Section 1003.01, Florida Statues, were made that affect
speech/language (S/L) services for students with disabilities.
-
Through the monitoring
of Florida's implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) found that
Florida school districts had failed to provide S/L services as related
services for students with disabilities who needed the services to benefit
from special education.
-
As a result of the
passage of House Bill 7087, districts were required to amend their current
Policies and Procedures for the Provision of Specially Designed
Instruction and Related Services for Exceptional Students (SP&P) document.
-
Please see attached
memorandum informing Regional Superintendents of this change in
legislation.
-
Please distribute the
letter to parents (see attached) informing them of the change in
legislation by Monday, May 7, 2007.
|
Contact: |
Dr.
Deborah Finley ( 305-995-1864 ) |
|
Department: |
Division of Special Education |
|
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|
Weekly Briefing #1955 |
April 25, 2007 |
Special Education Transportation Requests for the 2007 Passport to Real World
Connections |
|
Weekly Briefing #1951 |
April 25, 2007 |
Special Education Unit Allocation Personnel Requests fro the 2007 Summer
Services Program |
|
M088 |
April 20, 2007 |
Speech and/or Language as a Related Service |
|
Weekly Briefing #2055
|
April 13, 2007
|
|
To ensure that principals submit requests for
consideration for the provision of unique accommodations in the
administration of the 2006-07 Summer Retake of the FCAT for eligible
students with disabilities in compliance with the FDOE guidelines.
-
A unique accommodation is an accommodation that
requires changes or alterations to the test materials/booklet and does not
alter the underlying content of the assessment. Examples of unique
accommodations are: securing papers to work area; increasing spaces
between test items; fewer items placed on each page; tabbing or modifying
pages to allow easy turning or location of information.
- Unique accommodations do not
include regular print versions of the test that have been enlarged through
mechanical or electronic means or Braille versions of the test.
- Students with disabilities may be
considered for the Kurzweil 3000 text to speech pilot program if the
student's IEP indicates that the student is physically impaired
AND
he or she uses Kurzweil 3000 text to speech software on a regular basis to
receive instruction.
- All requests for unique
accommodations on the FCAT must be approved by the Commissioner of
Education.
- Eligible students:
students with disabilities with current IEPs or Section 504 plans who need
the unique accommodations to enable them to demonstrate mastery of the
Sunshine State Standards on the state assessment.
- School Procedure:
A request for consideration of a unique accommodation for an eligible
student must be submitted in writing by the school principal on school
letterhead to Mr. Will Gordillo, Administrative Director, Office of
Special Education and Psychological Services via fax: 305-995-2053 or
school mail: Location # 9720, by
Friday, April 20, 2007.
Written requests for unique
accommodations must be submitted by using the attached form. Requests for
Kurzweil pilot program must be submitted on the FCAT Text to Speech PILOT
PROGRAM form. A copy of the student's IEP/504 Plan must also be provided.
- For further information, please
contact Ms. Joanne Rosen, District Staffing Specialist, Division of
Special Education, at 305-995-4697, email:
jrosen@dadeschools.net or Ms. Cathy Orlando, Instructional Supervisor
at 305-995-1295, email:
corlando@dadeschools.net.
- Questions regarding the
assessment of students who are visually impaired should be directed to Dr.
Deborah Finley, Instructional Supervisor, at 305-995-1290, email:
dfinley@dadeschools.net.
|
Contact: |
Cathy Orlando (
305-995-1295 ) |
|
Department: |
Division of Special
Education |
|
|
Weekly Briefing
# 1188
|
December 12, 2006
|
Compliance with Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirement for Parental Consent
(Medicaid Certified School Match Program).
ALL PRINCIPALS:
-
M-DCPS is enrolled as a
Medicaid provider in the Medicaid Certified School Match Program and is able
to bill Medicaid and receive reimbursement for health-related services
provided to Special Education (SPED) students covered under the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
-
Pursuant to the attached
memorandum from the Florida Department of Education, M-DCPS should secure
written parental consent that complies with the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA).
-
The “Medicaid Certified
School Match Program (MCSMP) Parental Consent” form has been designed to
comply with FERPA requirements by informing the parent/guardian of the
following: 1) what information will be shared about the student (e.g.,
student name, Medicaid #, etc.); 2) who we are sharing the information with
(e.g., Medicaid’s fiscal agent); and 3) what the purpose is (e.g., to
determine Medicaid eligibility status and billing).
-
Attached please find copies
of all three versions of the “Medicaid Certified School Match Program Parental
Consent” form FM-7032 E,H,S (i.e., English, Haitian Creole and Spanish) which
are also available online through the Records and Forms Management website.
-
For regular education
students, who have been referred for a psycho-educational evaluation during a
Child Study Team (CST)/School Support Team (SST) meeting, the “MCSMP Parental
Consent” form must be provided and explained to the parent/guardian by the
principal’s designee, thus securing written parental consent.
-
For SPED students, the
“MCSMP Parental Consent” form will be provided and explained to the
parent/guardian by the principal’s designee at an Individual Educational Plan
(IEP) meeting (e.g., annual or interim IEP review), or at another convenient
venue when the school staff and the parent/guardian are meeting regarding the
student with a disability, thus securing written parental consent.
-
In addition to the “MCSMP
Parental Consent” form, a field has been added to the “PF8 Parent Information”
screen in the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) for data input at
each school site by the principal’s designee.
-
If the parent/guardian
checked “Yes” on the “MCSMP Parental Consent” form, then data input on the
ISIS PF8 screen should be indicated as “Y” on the Medicaid Parental Consent
field for each student.
-
If the parent/guardian
checked “No” on the “MCSMP Parental Consent” form, then data input on the ISIS
PF8 screen should be indicated as “N” on the Medicaid Parental Consent field
for each student.
-
The original signed “MCSMP
Parental Consent” form must be placed in the student’s cumulative record.
-
A copy of the signed “MCSMP
Parental Consent” form must be provided to the parent/guardian.
-
A copy of the signed “MCSMP
Parental Consent” form must be mailed to the Regional Center’s SPED
Instructional Supervisor.
-
A copy of the signed “MCSMP
Parental Consent” form must be mailed to: Location #9602 – Annex Rm. 407M M-DCPS
Medicaid Reimbursement Programs.
|
Contact: |
Ms. Terry Reyes-Gavilan, Supervisor ( 305-995-2798 )
|
|
Department: |
Office of
Special Education and Psychological Services |
|
Weekly Briefing
#1116 |
December 11, 2006 |
Click here fore Weekly Briefing #1116 / ALL PRINCIPALS: Procedures for
Requesting Unique Accommodation on the 2006-07 Florida Comprehensive Assessment
Test (FCAT) |
Weekly Briefing
#1414
|
December 11, 2006
|
|
Briefing ID #:
1414
ALL PRINCIPALS:
Alternate Assessment Procedures And The 2006-2007 Florida Alternate
Assessment Report (FAAR)
Category: Required
Action |
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Audience: |
All Principals/APs, All
Administrative Offices , Student Services |
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Due Date: |
Feb 09, 2007 |
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Meeting Date: |
n/a |
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Please review the
following information with all staff members who are administering an alternate
assessment to any students with disabilities in grades 3-11.
-
Students with disabilities who meet criteria for an
alternate assessment may be tested anytime between January 8, 2007 and January
19, 2007.
-
Starting January 8, 2007 the alternate assessment scantron
forms, for students with disabilities who will participate in alternate
assessment, will be sent to your location with your
FCAT Writing
materials from the Office of Assessment, Research and Data Analysis.
-
When you receive the forms please review all of the
materials included in your school’s packet. If you require a copy of the FAAR
manual it can be downloaded from
http://www.firn.edu/doe/bin00014/pdf/faarm.pdf.
-
Make sure that you have a scantron form for each student
who participates in alternate assessment grades 3 - 11 in your school.
-
If you need additional scantron forms, please email Liane
Smith, Senior Secretary, Division of Special Education at
lasmith@dadeschools.net. Please include the name of the school and how
many forms are required at each grade level. She will forward them to you in
school mail.
-
If a student has withdrawn from your school, bubble
‘withdrawn’ on the student’s scantron form and indicate that he has withdrawn
on your 2006-2007 FAAR Master List.
-
If the student is not
participating in alternate assessment this year, but is participating in
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), bubble the appropriate box on
the scantron form and indicate that the student is participating in FCAT on
the 2006-2007 FAAR Master List.
-
Follow all the directions listed in the
2006-2007
FAAR: Quick Guide for Teachers
(enclosed in the packet).
-
The special education teacher must initial for each student
in the appropriate section on the 2006-2007 FAAR Master List.
-
The blank 2006-2007 FAAR Master List should be completed if
there are additional students with disabilities (grades 3 - 11) at your school
who will not participate in the 2006-2007 FCAT but who
will participate in alternate
assessment.
-
Complete the 2006-2007 FAAR Master List and submit for the
principal or designee’s signature. Packets
without an administrative signature will not be accepted.
-
Keep a copy of your school’s 2006-2007 FAAR Master List for
your records.
-
The
original scantron forms and the original Report Master Lists must be
returned to the Test Distribution Center (TDC) along with your FCAT Writing
materials on February 9th (Secondary) or February 12th (Elementary). Your
cooperation is appreciated.
If you have any questions,
please call Ms. Jill Brookner, Instructional Supervisor, Division of Special
Education, at 305-995-7580 or email at
jbrookner@dadeschools.net
|
Contact: |
Jill Brookner (
305-995-7580 ) |
|
Department: |
Division of Special
Education |
|
|
Weekly Briefing #1364
|
December 1, 2006
|
|
Briefing
ID #: 1364
URGENT: December 1, 2006, Special Education
Student Count (Survey 9)
Category:
Required Action |
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Audience: |
All Principals/APs |
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Due Date: |
Nov 30, 2006 |
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Meeting Date: |
n/a |
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To remind
schools to update Special Education (SPED) students' Individual Education
Plans (IEP) and ensure that the IEP conference date is accurately entered on
the ESE Services (PF17) screen in ISIS by November 30, 2006.
-
It is imperative that
SPED students in your school have a current IEP and that the IEP
conference date is accurately entered on the ESE Services (PF 17) screen
in ISIS.
-
Survey 9, a Florida
Department of Education (FDOE) data base transmission, used to generate
federal dollars, requires the existence of a current IEP for a SPED
student to be counted for the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) funding.
-
If the current IEP
date is not entered, or if the IEP date in ISIS is greater than one year
old on December 1, the student will not be counted for Survey 9.
This will
result in a decrease in the amount of funding the district receives.
-
IEP meetings must be
scheduled and conducted, and current
IEP dates and matrix domain ratings must be entered by November 30, 2006,
for all SPED students whose IEPs are currently out of compliance (i.e.,
greater than one year old) and for those that will be due on or before
December 1, 2006.
-
Out-of-date IEPs, as
well as IEPs which are due during the current month, are reported on a
monthly basis to each school on the
Exceptional Student IEP Status Report
(Product number T0503P67-01).
-
Staffing specialists
will assist you, as needed.
-
It is extremely
important that the district capture every dollar to which it is
entitled.
-
If there are any
questions, or if assistance is needed, please contact this office, or
your Regional SPED Instructional Supervisor.
|
Contact: |
Esther Calvo-Chebbi, Budget Analyst ( 305 995-1721 ) |
|
Department: |
Office of Special Education and Psychological Services |
|
|
Weekly Briefing
#992
|
October 27, 2006
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|
Briefing
ID #: 992
ALL
PRINCIPALS: Alternate Assessment Workshops for Teachers of Students
Taking An Alternate Assessment
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Audience: |
All Principals/APs |
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Due Date: |
n/a |
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Meeting Date: |
Nov 29, 2006 |
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Master Calendar: |
View Master Calendar |
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The purpose of
these workshops is to disseminate information regarding procedures,
guidelines, and timelines for the administration of alternate assessment for
students with disabilities.
The Division of Special
Education is announcing Alternate Assessment Workshops for Teachers of
Students Taking an Alternate Assessment. Please direct appropriate teachers
to register on line for one of the following workshops:
-
November 29, 2006 from
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Riviera Middle School Auditorium
-
December 6, 2006 from
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Edison Middle School Auditorium
-
January 16, 2007 from
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Riviera Middle School Auditorium
Substitutes
will be provided and the funding structure will be disseminated at the
workshop.
|
Contact: |
Jill Brookner (
305-995-7580 ) |
|
Department: |
Division of Special
Education |
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Weekly Briefing
#1061
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October 27, 2006
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Briefing ID #:
1061
ALL PRINCIPALS:
Reporting Alternate Assessment Participation For Students With Disabilities
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Audience: |
All Principals/APs, All
Administrative Offices |
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Due Date: |
Oct 25, 2006 |
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Meeting Date: |
n/a |
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Attachment(s): |
Reporting_Alternate_Assessment_Participation_for_SWD.pdf |
To inform staff of
the requirement to update the PF18 screen for all students with disabilities to
ensure the accuracy of data reported to the Florida Department of Education.
The data for
alternate assessment participation must be entered in the Integrated Student
Information Screen (ISIS) PF18 at the school site:
-
Select "D" on the Student
Services/Exceptional Education/Special Programs Menu Screen.
-
Enter "N" for no, if the
student will not participate in an alternate assessment. Remove the alternate
assessment date, if one was previously entered.
-
Enter "Y" for yes, if the
student will participate in an alternate assessment. This should be done
immediately following the IEP meeting where the assessment decision is made.
Once the alternate assessment is administered, the date of the assessment must
be added to the PF18 screen.
-
Principals are encouraged to
view the ESE Alternate Assessment report #T0503P85-01 by using the
Control-D/Web Report Viewer to ensure each student's IEP matches what has been
reported to FDOE.
|
Contact: |
Jill Brookner (
305-995-7580 ) |
|
Department: |
Division of Special
Education |
|
Weekly Briefing
#968
|
October 25, 2006
|
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Briefing ID #:
968
ALL PRINCIPALS
- Alternate Assessment Meeting for Administrators
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Audience: |
All Principals/APs |
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Due Date: |
n/a |
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Meeting Date: |
Oct 26, 2006 |
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Master Calendar: |
View Master Calendar |
|
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|
The purpose of this
meeting is to disseminate information regarding procedures, guidelines, and
timelines for the administration of alternate assessment for students with
disabilities.
The Division of Special
Education is announcing Alternate Assessment Meetings for Administrators ad
follows:
-
Alternate Assessment
Meeting for Administrators located in the north on October 26, 2006, at
Miami Edison Middle School in the hospitality room from 8:30 a.m. until
11:00 a.m.
-
Alternate Assessment
Meeting for Administrators located in the south on October 26, 2006, at
Riviera Middle School in the auditorium from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
|
Contact: |
Jill Brookner (
305-995-7580 ) |
|
Department: |
Division of Special
Education |
|
Weekly Briefing
#1086
|
October 24, 2006
|
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Briefing ID #:
1086
ALL PRINCIPALS
- Interagency Agreement For The Transfer of Assistive Technology (AT)
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Audience: |
All Principals/APs |
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Due Date: |
Nov 02, 2006 |
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Meeting Date: |
n/a |
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Attachment(s): |
_k12-06-131.pdf |
To ensure
compliance with the FL Interagency Agreement for Transfer of Assistive
Technology (AT). This agreement meets the requirements of Senate Bill 2550. AT
Procedures/forms appear on the AT website
http://assistivetech.dadeschools.net
-
This Senate Bill became
effective 7/1/05
-
The Interagency Agreement
is required to provide a mechanism by which a person may request that an
Assistive Technology (AT) device remain with the student through the
continuum from home to school and to post-school
-
Information regarding the
rights of students to request the transition of their AT devices must be
provided to the student, his or her family and the transition IEP team
|
Contact: |
Roni Bader-Tables (
305-271-5701 ) |
|
Department: |
District AT Committee
Chairperson |
|
Weekly Briefing
#1091
|
October 24, 2006
|
|
Briefing ID #:
1091
ALL PRINCIPALS:
Assistive Technology (AT) Contact Person
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Audience: |
All Principals/APs |
|
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Due Date: |
Nov 02, 2006 |
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Meeting Date: |
n/a |
|
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|
Attachment(s): |
AT_Contact_Person.pdf |
As mandated by
federal law, IDEA Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services must be
considered for all students in Special Education(SPED). Each IEP team must
consider AT. An individual at each school must be appointed as AT Contact
Person.
-
To increase the student's
probability of success, it is necessary for this contact person to
coordinate the AT services at the school
-
The AT Contact Person will
be critical to the success of the implementation of AT services
-
The responsibilities of
the AT Contact Person are outlined on the attached memo
|
Contact: |
Roni Bader-Tables (
305-271-5701 ) |
|
Department: |
District AT Committee
Chairperson |
|
Weekly Briefing
#897
|
October 23, 2006
|
|
Briefing
ID #: 897
SELECTED
PRINCIPALS: Field Trip Funds for Programs for Emotionally Handicapped
(EH) and Severely Emotionally Disturbed (SED) Students
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Audience: |
n/a |
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Due Date: |
n/a |
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Meeting Date: |
n/a |
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| |