PLESD Special Education Services Department Update

PLESD Special Education Services Department Update2/16/12 Marilyn Bertolucci Coordinator of Special Education ServicesDisability Categories IDEA lists 13 different disability categories under which 3- through 21-year-olds may be eligible for services. The disability categories listed in IDEA are: autism deaf-blindness deafness emotional disturbance hearing impairment intellectual disability multiple disabilities orthopedic impairment other health impairment specific learning disability speech or language impairment traumatic brain injury visual impairment (including blindness)Rio Del OroLearning Center, serving 21 students (3 assessments are in progress) and providing intervention/enrichment.1 Education Specialist2 Paraprofessionals, Learning Center2 Paraprofessionals, 1:1 student support Special Day Class, serving 9 students1 Education Specialist2 Paraprofessionals, SDC

CobblestoneLearning Center, serving 10 students (5 pending assessment) and providing intervention/enrichment1 Education Specialist2 Paraprofessionals, Learning CenterRiverside MeadowsLearning Center, serving 29 students and providing intervention instruction in Math and ELA1 Education Specialist4 Paraprofessionals, Learning CenterAny questions? Now on to the Mental HealthIn the past..AB 3632 The Past: California Assembly Bill 3632 A child who qualifies for special education services and who requires psychiatric services may receive services at no cost. AB 3632 requires the coordination of these psychiatric services to be between the School District and County Mental Health.Also known as Government Code Chapter 26.5Under the federal special education law, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, children with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education with the assistance of services. One of these related services are psychiatric services. 8The former Governors the short versionOctober 8, 2010, former Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the $133 million dollars that was supposed to reimburse county mental health facilities He also suspended AB 3632/26.5On February 25, 2011, the California Court of Appeal issued an opinion which upheld Governor Schwarzeneggers action as constitutional.

And now to the present.California Assembly Bill 114AB 114On June 30, 2011, Assembly Bill 114, Chapter 43, Statutes of 2011 (AB 114) was signed into law. several sections of Chapter 26.5 were amended or rendered inoperative ending the state mandate on county mental health agencies to provide mental health services to students with disabilities. Sutter Yuba Mental Health stopped providing services to our students 10/8/10AB 114We must rely on the IDEA for requirements regarding the provision of related services and must comply with applicable federal law and implementing regulations. ensure that students continue to receive all services delineated in their IEPs without interruption and in compliance with all applicable federal timelines.Related services under IDEA are defined in Section 300.34 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): 34 CFR 300.34(a)developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from their education: transportation, speech-language pathology , audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, early identification and assessment of disabilities in children, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes. Related services also include school health services and school nurse services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training.

Current FundingSome additional funding but.Resource 6512 $21,264.90 Resource 3327 $6,843.65 Total $28,108.55

The Catch..The funding cannot be used to build our services ie. hiring staff, providing intervention services, building a program.A small portion of the money can be used for planning, training and administration costs.Most of the money must go to providing services to students with mental health related services as part of their IEP.The CatchIf we do not use the money by the end of the fiscal year we will return it to the SELPA for redistribution. If this happens its a good thing.

Currently (2/14/12) we have no students requiring mental health services or residential placement as per their IEP.

This could change any day.

The FUTRUEEvery student. Everyday. Whatever it takes!Discussion & Planning As a SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) we are considering an array of options to provide services to students. contract with county mental health agenciescontract with organizations or professionals in the communityhire qualified personnel as district staff or a combination of approaches

District Level PlanningBoard Policy of intervention, referral and identification (RIT and assessment for special education services in the area of Behavior)Build a team of professionals who can help support students with mental health needs.Licensed Education PsychologistLicensed School CounselorBoard Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)School Site Level PlanningAn adopted system of positive behavior supports that is written as policy. Additional professional development for administrators, teachers and support staff focusing on positive behavior techniques and more challenging behaviors. Positive Staff Culture- we have to be the role models and be open to offering support to students

All three sites are already implementing and refining positive behavior systems as well as providing professional development.

Next Steps..Present to the Board for approval final a Mental Health Services Plan by the end of this school year. Continue to develop and refine positive school site culture and supports.Investigate hiring a full time Educational PsychologistPonder the addition of a School CounselorCelebrate and be thankful that we are PLESD!

Finally..Every student. Everyday. Whatever it takes.

Questions?