“Managing the Transition Process”Kyrene Special Education Parent Advisory Council (KSEPAC)

January 7, 2016

Elementary to Middleand

Middle to High School

Kyrene Special Education Parent Advisory Council (KSEPAC)

The Kyrene School District established the Kyrene Special Education Parent Advisory Council (KSEPAC) to promote collaboration between parents and educators and to improve the positive outcomes for students with disabilities in preschool through eighth grade.

Kyrene Special Education Parent Advisory Council (KSEPAC)

The KSEPAC mission is to promote the academic and non-academic achievement of our children with disabilities through collaboration among parents, educators and the community. To achieve this, KSEPAC will: • Encourage the implementation of best practices and

evidence based resources with consistent application across all schools•Advocate for the continuous improvement of clear and

open communication•Provide educational opportunities for stakeholders•Develop a series of activities that promote inclusive

practices and a sense of community

Objectives of Meeting•To increase your understanding of Special Education Services in Middle School.•To increase your understanding of Special Education Services in High School.•To understand what resources are available to support you with managing the transition process for your child to Middle School and High School.

Kyrene Special EducationStudent Learning and Support Services (SLSS) Shari Dukes• Director

John Balles• Assistant Director

• Lori Conroy• Special Education Teacher Specialist

Danielle Pardon• Special Education Teacher Specialist

Jo Shurman• Special Education Teacher Specialist

Cindy Walters• Special Education Teacher Specialist

Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD)Special Education

William Santiago•Director of Special Education

Transition Thoughts

•The purpose of a smooth transition is to ensure that the student begins the new year in a new school with all the necessary supports in place to allow him/her to be successful.•Provide a high quality experience for each student and their family.•Make appropriate transition plan for each student.

Transition Process•To ensure student success, new school staff needs to be made aware of the student’s needs and the necessary support(s) the student requires.

•Articulation meeting between current and new school special education teachers•Discuss student strengths and needs•Recommendations for services•No IEP decisions are made

Special Education Eligibility –Elementary to Middle School

•Special Education placement and services on IEP continue to middle school•Student may have a 3 Year Re-evaluation to update

assessment information in current school•Same related service options (OT, PT, Speech) per

IEP decision •Educational services may look different

Differences between Elementary and Middle School

All Students

• 5 different classes and teachers per day• Periods: 68 min per class (60 min on Wed)• Academic Lab (30 min/4 days)• Transition between each class• Homework• Electives/Exploratories• Lunch• No Recess• Extracurricular activities

Students with Special Needs• LRE option• General Education• Co-Taught• Pull Out Resource

• Language Arts• Math

• Extended Resource (ED/DD)• In other classes based on student’s

needs

LRLRE Services in Middle SchoolSchool LA and Math

Pull Out Resource or CoTaught

Extended Resource EDEmotional Disability

Extended Resource DDDevelopmental Disability

Akimel A-al ✔ ✔

Altadena ✔ ✔

Aprende ✔ ✔

Centennial ✔ ✔

Kyrene ✔ ✔ ✔

Pueblo ✔ ✔ ✔

Pull Out Resources – Middle School•Math•TransMath

•Reading•Corrective Reading•Soar to Success•Wilson

•Writing•Step Up to Writing

•AT•Read & Write Gold

Transition Process: 5th – 6th• IEP meeting •Aug-Dec: begin discussions about new school

program at annual IEP•Dec-May: IEP meeting or addendum•Discuss new school options for implementing IEP• Include service times on IEP and address Specially

Designed Instruction on IEP•Meeting may include middle school resource

teacher• IEP and/or Re-Evaluation is due in August•Should be done in Spring of 5th grade year by current

school or district

Open Enrollment (OE) Elementary to Middle School

•If a student is OE at an elementary school, the student is granted OE for the feeder middle school. NO application is necessary.•If a different middle school is desired, has to apply for OE•OE is different from Least Restrict Environment (LRE) and program placement•www.kyrene.org/oe

Special Education Eligibility –High School•Special Education services on IEP continue to HS•Student may have a 3 Year Re-evaluation to update

assessment information in current school•Same related service options (OT, PT, Speech) per

IEP decision •Educational services may look different•Unique to High School•Post-secondary Transition Plan•Transfer of rights at age 18•Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Twenty-Three credits must be successfully completed in the areas listed below to graduate from Tempe Union High School District Schools.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSEnglish 4.0 creditsMathematics 4.0 creditsScience 3.0 creditsWorld History and Geography 1.0 creditAmerican/Ariz. History 1.0 creditU.S./Ariz Government 0.5 creditEconomics 0.5 creditHealth Education 0.5 creditPhysical Education 1.0 creditFine Arts/practical Arts/Vocational Education (CTE) 1.0 creditFine Arts/Vocational Education (CTE) 1.0 creditElectives 5.5 credits

23.0 credits • For more information about class offerings, specific programs and course fees please refer to the Tempe Union High

School District course catalog.• Student’s IEP Team will determine the level of competency required to meet Arizona State Standards in reading, writing

and math.

Differences between Middle School and High School

• Location• Size• Classes – choices, age variability, requirements• Expectations (homework, behavior, credits)• Responsibility • Access to teachers• Seeking assistance – self advocacy• Extracurricular activities (no pass, no participation)• Zero Hour and 8th hour• Movement from one grade level to the next

LRE Services in TUHSD School Co-taught and

resource classes

Emotional Disability Program (EDP)

Functional Academic/ Lifeskills Class

Corona ✔ ✔

Desert Vista ✔ ✔

Marcos De Niza ✔ ✔

Mountain Pointe

✔ ✔ ✔

Tempe High ✔ ✔

McClintock ✔ ✔ ✔

Compadre (Level A only)

Transition Process: 8th – 9th• IEP meeting •Aug-Dec: begin discussions about new school

program at annual IEP•Dec-May: IEP meeting or addendum•A student’s IEP must include age-appropriate transition

assessments related to training/education, employment, and where appropriate, independent living skills. The IEP must include those transition services (including course of study) needed to assist the student in reaching post-secondary goals.

• IEP and/or Re-Evaluation is due in August•Should be done in spring of 8th grade by current

school or district

Transition Steps (HS)

•Students attend high school transition meeting.•Students and parents fill out and submit required high

school registration paperwork.•Students and parents attend high school open house.•Students submit schedules.

Scheduling

•After freshman orientation, 8th grade students will work with their 8th grade case manager to choose courses that align with their IEP.•Freshman schedules will be turned in to the

registrar/guidance counselors during freshman registration.•Schedules entered in computer by high school chair•NOTE: Electives fill up quickly, so please hand in

registration/classes on time.

High School Offerings•High School Course Offering Booklet•Required Courses•Course of Study•Pre-requisites•Regular Education/Special Education listings•EVIT (East Valley Technical Institute)•Extra Curricular Activities•Clubs

TUHSD Resources (varies by school site)• Study Skills Class•Math and Spanish Tutoring • National Honor Society Tutoring• Teacher Appointments/Office Hours• Drop Out Prevention Coordinator• Learning Lab• Homework Lab• Guadalupe Liaison•Math Lab• Freshman Boot Camp

Open Enrollment (OE) Middle School to High School•OE for TUHSD is separate from Kyrene•OE in Kyrene does not automatically mean OE in TUHSD•OE policy is on TUHSD website•Need IEP with Application•Based on capacity at school•Enroll at home high school while waiting confirmation•Do not hold off transition meeting or sharing of

information until OE acceptance•Deadline for OE in TUHSD is February 1st

•http://www.tempeunion.org/Page/182

Middle School Information: February 4, 2016 6pm at District OfficeFor parents of 4th and 5th grade students, Kyrene will be hosting a Middle School Information Night. Our District believes that education is about the whole child and must provide for the social, emotional, developmental and academic needs of every student and will discuss how this is addressed in all of our middle schools. Middle school principals will highlight information on the district-wide high quality programs offered by all of our middle schools. In addition, parents can expect to learn about: • middle school expectations • grading, homework • opportunities for students to explore personal areas of interest through electives and extracurricular programs • an explanation of class placements• before and after school programs • parent engagement • how students can earn high school credit in Spanish and math • Specialized programs and options available in the various middle schools will also be shared. You

can always visit our website for more information on middle school options. www.kyrene.org

TUHSD Showcase Dates • Parents of incoming 9th graders are invited to attend the Fall Showcase activities at any or all Tempe

Union High Schools. The activities will be held in the high school auditoriums and gymnasiums. Counselors and department representatives will be available to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• Graduation Requirements• High School Credit System• Rules and Regulations• Four Year Programs of Study (E-CAP)• Special Programs• Grading System• Student Scheduling

• Corona del Sol High School - Monday, November 30, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.• Marcos de Niza - Monday, December 7, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.• Mountain Pointe High School - Monday, January 25, 2016 - 6:00 p.m.• McClintock High School - Monday, January 25, 2016 - 6:00 p.m.• Tempe High School - Monday, February 1, 2016 - 6:00 p.m.• Desert Vista High School - Monday, February 1, 2016 - 6:00 p.m.

Middle School Visits:

High school guidance counselors and other representatives will meet with our incoming ninth grade students two times as part of the course selection process. • STUDENT ORIENTATION – WEEK OF JANUARY 18, 2016

• During Student Orientation, you will be given a course catalog describing all of the courses that are offered to students in Tempe Union. Please take the time as a family to review this catalog and the accompanying course selection materials. In addition to the information that these meetings will provide, the high school guidance counselors can discuss the complete curriculum and specific requirements regarding your high school program with you.

• PRE-REGISTRATION – WEEK OF FEBRUARY 1, 2016• High school counselors and the Assistant Principal for Academics will meet

with each student at his/her middle school campus to collect and finalize the course selection process.

Parent Information

Kyrene: www.kyrene.orgTUHSD: http://www.tempeunion.org//site/Default.aspx?PageID=2222

Transition Thoughts

•Power in Partnership Communication is critical

Home and school Current staff and new staff

Trust All parties have the student’s best interest in

mind Process

If things aren’t working-revisit Adjustment period

Students with disabilities are more likely to transition successfully if:

•They establish meaningful relationships with faculty and staff•Feel connected to their school•Establish meaningful relationships with peers•Establish goals – make a connection between the here and now and their future•Know and understand their disabilities and how to compensate for them.

Questions

Next KSEPAC Meeting

March 24, 2016 – “What is Special Education?”•Parents who are new to special education or

would like to increase their knowledge about the special education process will have the opportunity to ask questions.