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10. ASK recommends that at least five (5) days prior to all student success
team, 504 or IEP meetings, parents be provided with complete results of
assessments performed either by district personnel or at the district’s
request, so that parents have sufficient time to review and analyze such
assessments and are allowed to develop any questions or comments they may want
to make at the meeting with district personnel regarding their child. This is
not presently occurring, in violation of IDEA.
11. ASK recommends that MBUSD utilize resources available to improve the
training and expertise of district personnel through consultation with outside
experts and by taking advantage of training programs which would enable them to
better serve the needs of students who receive special education services. The
Diagnostic Center of Southern California provides student assessments and
in-service training and consultation at no charge to local education agencies.
As well, the Southwest SELPA has recently added an Autism Collaboration Team
which supports and consults with districts within the SELPA regarding students
with autism [5]
12. ASK recommends that MBUSD adopt a written policy regarding behavior which
supports the establishment of a "Behavior Environment Support Team"
[BEST] consisting of district personnel who have been trained to develop a
behavior support plan and environmental supports for any student who has a
pattern of behavior which impedes his or her learning or the learning of others.
Many of our students have behaviors related to their disabilities which often
are misunderstood by the classroom teacher (or other district personnel) or too
often are misinterpreted as "willful disobedience" or "lack of
trying" and other similar descriptions. Other behaviors relate to a student’s
inability to focus or attend or depend upon environmental factors in the
classroom that neither the student nor the teacher is aware of.[6]
Additionally, it
is recommended that the district require the certification of a Behavior
Intervention Case Manager [BICM] for the district and that it direct district
personnel to attend the training workshops currently being offered by Diana
Browning Wright, the state-appointed trainer on IDEA Mandates related to
discipline, behavior and behavior plans.
13. ASK recommends that MBUSD move from an adversarial stance to a
collaborative approach which:
-
recognizes that while parents of children with special needs seek
to improve their children’s educational outcomes, it is only
because we want for our children with special needs the very same
thing we want for our typical children, i.e. an adequate,
appropriate education which includes high expectations and equitable
access to programs, and district personnel who are willing to work
with us to achieve these goals;
[5] A list of additional local consultants and
professionals is in the process of being compiled and will be
made available to the district.
[6]
Most if not all of these behaviors have been identified by
Diana Browning Wright, M.S. School Psychologist/Behavior
Analyst, Diagnostic Center, Southern California who is currently
the state-appointed trainer on IDEA Mandates related to
discipline, behavior and behavior plans.
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