2020/09/16

September 16, 2020 Meeting notes

Howard County SECAC Agenda

September 16, 2020 General Meeting 7:00pm-9:00pm

Zoom Virtual Meeting

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Call to Order – 7:05pm
Welcome and Introductions
1. Purpose and Vision

The Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) advises the school system on the needs of students with disabilities. We collaborate with other community disability advocacy groups to improve special education and the lives of our students in Howard County, MD.

Announcements:
1. Wrightslaw books. “Special Education Law” and “From Emotions to Advocacy” are available for parents. Choose 1 book and email us to reserve your copy. Training webinar will be on Saturday, Sept 26th 11am and noon. Will be recorded and put on our website.
2. As always, keep an eye on our website as we update it when we receive new information! View News and Advocacy https://howardcountysecac.com/news-and-advocacy
3. MSDE TA Bulletins 20-03 Supplements
  1. Guidance documents.
  2. Not for 504s.
  3. http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/20-03-Supplement.pdf
    1. Tips for Monitoring Student Progress through Alternative Service Delivery Models
    2. Rephrase statements as questions.
  4. http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/20-03-SDI-Supplement.pdf
    1. Specially Designed Instruction through Alternative Service Delivery Models (ASDM): Implementation Tips
  5. http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/20-03-Co-Teaching-Supplement.pdf
    1. Teaching/Learning and the Least Restrictive Environment in Alternative Service Delivery Models
4. Policy Volunteers (We have 3 volunteers! Thank you!)
  1. Policy 6010 – School Attendance Areas
  2. Policy 9260 Student Search and Seizure
  3. Policy 5200 and 5220 Pupil Transportation and School Bus Contracts
    1. Email secacchair@gmail.com
    2. 3-7 meetings
    3. All virtual right now.
5. SECAC Board
  1. Stephanie – DDHoCo is hosting a Universal Screening on Sept 30th. Flyer will be included in meeting follow up email.
6. Policy Committees
  1. No policy updates.
Department of Special Education Introductions and Updates
1. Trish Gunshore – Compliance, Non-Public and Family Support
  1. Sept 29-Oct 1. Parent Empowerment Conference - 2nd Annual
    1. Register at the following link. - hcpssne.ws/empower
    2. Cap of 250 people per session.
    3. Power Points will be posted but sessions will not be recorded.
  2. Parents should have received a welcome letter from teachers and in the next few weeks the ASDM notice.
    1. There’s a parent FAQ that will be posted to the HCPSS website soon.
    2. Info at Parent Empowerment Conf as well.
2. Ann Scholz – Family Support and Resource Center
  1. Weekly email students with IEPs.
  2. Not 504s.
  3. Lots of calls about virtual learning. Helping parents find the right person to get answers from, help advocate for their children.
3. Jen Harwood – I&T and RECC Birth to 5.
Board of Education Introductions and Updates
1. Vicky Cutroneo – BOE Liaison
  1. Moving toward small group instruction
  2. She is asking the school system to provide transparency about COVID positivity in schools when face to face resumes.
  3. Capital Budget Public Hearing soon.
  4. Advocate for fully funding special education budget.
2. Christina Delmont-Small – BOE Liaison for Non-public
  1. Small groups for students not doing well in virtual.
  2. School system needs to meet students
3. Zach Koung – SMOB
Questions
1. Getting back to the building in small groups. Is that all special education?
  1. Trish Gunshore. Dr Martirano spoke at last BOE about small group. Looking at students with disability. Will start with students that need help accessing online learning. Then teen parenting program. Then particular spec ed needs. Bill Barnes has a working group with health, facilities, etc… Staff being surveyed.
  2. Jen Harwood – I&T, Regional programs MINC-EL and MINC-PK programs are the focus for birth-5.
2. What types of additional assistance does HCPSS offer to students who are regressing and are requiring full time parent support in order to access learning?
  1. Conversation had during ASDM meetings. Encourages parents/guardians to talk to the team about experiences from the spring and ESY and how those needs are to be met during the school team this fall.
3. ASDM –
  1. Expecting being able to do the entire IEP except the following. The opposite of the spring.
  2. Meeting to discuss recommendations.
  3. IEP will be updated accordingly with text boxes to explain.
  4. IEP will be reverted when we return to fully operational.
4. If IEP not implemented on day 1 we are recommending parents ask for make up services. Not compensatory services.
5. For MS and HS can we ask for make up academics?
  1. They should be implementing the services but ask during the ASDM meeting.
6. Social goals on IEPS? How can those be addressed in the virtual environment.
  1. Should be addressed in ASDM plan. Either to say how or that it can’t be done.
7. Reading groups and interventions, how is that being done?
  1. It would be on the schedule from their ASDM.
8. When should ASDMs be sent out?
  1. By 9/21.
9. How is attendance being counted for students who can’t
  1. Need to discuss this during ASDM.
10. Does a student have to have a specific objective on IEP in order to get assistance with time mgmt/schedule?
  1. Bring up during ASDM. If not a goal it won’t be in the draft.
11. How is LexiaCore being used to develop reading goals?
  1. Not sure. Should be in the ASDM.
12. Heard there will be 1:1 aides to communicate directly with the student in a confidential way. What will that look like and when will that roll out?
1-1 Assistance
1. HCPSS Family Support and Resource Center https://www.hcpss.org/special-education/family-support-and-resource-center/
2. The Parents Place of Maryland www.ppmd.org
3. SECAC secacchair@gmail.com
Next Meeting Dates
1. October 21, November 18, December 16, January 20, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16. Location subject to change, pending school closure.
Adjournment