Special Education Update and Priority Populations

Friday, August 21, 2020

August 21, 2020

Special Education and Priority Populations

Dear Families,

GMRSD is committed to providing students with disabilities specialized instruction, related services, and supports to the fullest extent possible while abiding by the current necessary health and safety requirements. Students will receive the services documented in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) through remote instruction to start the new school year that begins on September 14, 2020.

As determined by each student’s individual needs, the following will be provided:

  • A regular and consistent schedule of classes, services and therapies as required by the student’s IEP, offered synchronously and asynchronously
  • |Accessible and universal design based applications with multiple entry points, adaptive features, and embedded supports such as screen readers and picture dictionaries;
  • Accessible structured learning time;
  • Frequent interactions with teachers, related service providers and/or contracted providers via phone, email, and live virtual meetings.

The district will consult with families about the provision of special education services and families will receive written notification describing how, where, and when specialized services will be provided. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has advised districts to develop “Covid-19 Special Education Learning Plans” that describe the agreed upon services given the district learning model. The district will be starting remote but this is subject to change between remote, hybrid, and in-person learning given district capacity to meet health/safety standards as well as community transmission and mitigation efforts of the virus. Additionally, as long as Covid-19 remains as a public health threat families have the option of 100% remote learning. Given immunocompromised or medically fragile students and/or family members, we know some our families of children with disabilities are choosing this option.

Priority Populations and Determination of Need

According to the DESE, students with significant and complex needs, as well as all preschool children, should be considered for additional days of in-person instruction. DESE defines “significant and complex needs” as follows:

Students already identified as “high needs” through the Individualized Educational Program (IEP) team process on the IEP form entitled “Primary Disability/Level of Need-PL3.” These students must meet at least two of these criteria:

  • Services provided outside of the general education classroom;
  • Service providers are special education teachers and related service providers;
  • Special education services constitute more than 75% of the student’s school day;
  • Students who cannot engage in remote learning due to their disability-related needs;
  • Students who primarily use aided and augmentative communication;
  • Students who are homeless
  • Students in foster care or congregate care; and/or
  • Students dually identified as English Learners.

Accordingly, while the District is making every effort to provide all students with disabilities as much in-person instruction as is feasible, additional days of in-person instructional time will be prioritized for some students based on level of need. Final determinations of need will be made on an individualized basis and in coordination with families. Additional in-person instructional time is contingent on the District’s ability to adhere to health and safety protocols.

Prior to school opening on September 14, 2020, families of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) should expect to receive a communication from your student’s special education teacher and/or educational team leader with further information about educational service planning specific to your child or children. In addition, families of students with priority consideration (identified above) will be sent a short electronic survey via email in the coming days. The survey will give families a place to communicate your intentions and assist the district in planning for priority cohorts. We look forward to hearing from our families on how we can continue to work with you on addressing your student(s) special education learning needs during these extraordinary times. In the words of Opray Winfrey, "Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." With so much uncertainty, we are all certainly doing our best.

Sincerely,

Dianne Ellis
Pupil Services Director