Special Education Services for Students with Disabilities

Board Presentation Special Education Services Byron Union School District Presenter: Special Education Coordinator Lara Robinson Superintendent Reyes Gauna, Ed.d. February 25, 2021

What is Special education? In 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed. It guarantees: Special education provides students with identified disabilities specialized academic instruction and related services designed to meet their unique learning needs, giving them the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. A Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) In the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) With Meaningful Parental Participation (Procedural Rights) For Students ages 3-21 Who have one or more of 13 Qualifying Disabilities. IDEA was reauthorized in 2004 and updated in 2015 under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). 2

13 Qualifying disorders Autism Deafness Emotional Disturbance (ED) Visual Impairment, including Blindness (VI) Speech and Language Impairment (SLI) Orthopedic Impairment (OI) Hearing Impairment (HOH) Intellectual Disability (ID) Multiple Disabilities Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Other Health Impairment (OHI) Specific Learning Disability (SLD) 3

What is a Specific Learning Disability? In order to be eligible for special education services with a specific learning disability, there must be a: Processing Disorder: And a Demonstrated Weakness in One of the Following Areas: Oral Expression Listening Comprehension Written Expression Basic Reading Skill Reading Fluency Skills Reading Comprehension Mathematical Calculation Mathematical Problem Solving a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities And, these weaknesses cannot be due to cultural factors; environmental or economic disadvantage; or limited English proficiency.

Overview of Our Students Who Are the Students Served by Byron Union School District s Special Education Services?

Percent of students receiving special education services by Primary disability 1% 14% 0% 34% 33% 1% 3% 14% Intellectual Disability Hard of Hearing Speech and Language Impairment Visually Impaired Emotional Disturbance Other Health Impaired Specific Learning Disability Autism 6

Percent of Students Receiving Special Education Services by Grade 7% 13% 6% 5% 15% 11% 5% 14% 12% 12% 7 Preschool Third Grade Kindergarten Fourth Grade First Grade Fifth Grade Second Grade Sixth Grade

Percent of Students Receiving Special Education Services by Ethnicity 15% 4% 3% 65% 13% American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Hawaiian or Pacific Islander African American White 8

Other students we have served We currently have two students placed in County programs whose physical and academic needs exceed our resources. We have assessed two students attending private schools within our district boundaries. 9

Services Provided by the special education department 10

Byron Union School Districts Special Education Department provides a continuum of services to our students Teacher Consultation and Support Academics, Behavior, Speech, and Occupational Therapy Speech and Language Services Occupational Therapy Counseling and Behavior Intervention Specialized Academic Instruction Self Contained Classrooms Grades Preschool to 8 Instructional Support Program, including both a push-in and pull-out model Co-taught Classes Multidisciplinary Assessments 11

A Closer Look at our programs and services.. 12

Specialized Academic Instruction-Self Contained classes BUSD currently offers 4 self- contained classrooms: Preschool Kindergarten to Second Grade Third to Fifth Grade Sixth to Eighth Grade for students needing intensive academic and behavioral support. 13

Specialized academic instruction-self contained classes Self contained classrooms offer: Low student ratios Specialized curriculum allowing students to be exposed to grade level standards at a level where they can be successful A Big Day in Pre-K (Preschool) Unique Learning System (Grades 1-8) Opportunities to participate in general education classrooms with neuro-typical peers 14

Related service providers-filling in the missing pieces by supporting the student s ability to access educational opportunities . Speech and Language Pathologists provide direct and indirect services to students individually or in small group settings. These services include: Teaching students produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or addressing problems with their voice or resonance; Improving students abilities to understand others (receptive language), or share thoughts, ideas, and feelings (expressive language); and, Supporting students in the use of assistive technology as an alternate form of communication. 16

Related service providers-filling in the missing pieces by supporting the student s ability to access educational opportunities Occupational Therapists provide direct and indirect services to students individually or in small group settings. Services that they provide include: Identifying where motor skills are interfering with a student s full participation and success in the educational setting; Developing a student s gross and fine motor skills; and, Adapting materials and tools to allow a student to fully participate in opportunities within the educational setting. 17

Related service providers-filling in the missing pieces by supporting the student s ability to access educational opportunities Psychologists provide counseling, conduct assessments, and make recommendations regarding special education eligibility. Board certified behavioral analysts and behavior therapists develop and implement behavior plans to support students in the classroom and on the campus. Counselors provide individual and group counseling to address student social and emotional needs. 18

The People who make these services a reality 19

Byron Union School Districts Out of this World Special education Staff Members Teachers: Somady Ledesma, Mariecar Singson, Chelsea Toon, Lizanne Goodwin, Dorinda Mas, Saundra Worrell, and Brenda Winter Speech and Language Pathologists and Assistants: Lisa Leveque, Sam Sonderman, and staff members from Celebration Speech Group, Martha Vanbik, Vanessa Mendoza, Lucy Valencia, and Chichi Chidi Occupational Therapists: Staff members from Foundations Therapy, Julie Zito, Noreen Lee, and Sofia Macy Counselor: Kerry Bremhorst, MFT Intern Psychologist: Dylan Gruebele, under the supervision of Judith Granada-Dewey Behavior Analysts and Therapists: Staff members from Gateway Learning Group, Atzimba Yaar, Merari Siguenza, and from Maxim, Eric Jimenez Administrative Assistant: Vickey Corker 20

Byron Union School Districts Out of this World Special education Staff Members And all our amazing instructional assistants: Special Education Instructional Assistants- EMS SAI Instructional Assistants Special Education Instructional Assistants- DB and TP Cherral Castilo Maria Morales Janelle Craig Christina Scoggins Lana Taylor Tara Troglin Angee Kumar Barbara Gonzales Kim English Rosario Giddings Analeezia Rios Kari Fox Deana Lubecky Dawn Huebner Julie Lata Adriana Paz Veronica Caballero Trevor Robinson Lori Biegelbeck 21

Goals for 2020-2021 What We Have Accomplished This Year

We are very proud of the following accomplishments this year All Special Education Instructional Aides participated in a 40-hour Behavior Therapy professional development course Special Education Teachers participated in professional development on Writing Legally Defensible IEPs (Provided by SELPA staff, Justine Melendez and Anusheh Khabbaz) Investment in Unique Learning Systems, a curriculum for our self-contained classrooms allowing our moderately to severely handicapped students access to content level standards tailored to meet their unique needs, and Lexia, a program for our struggling readers Parent Academies and Behavioral Support for Families Struggling with Distance Learning In-Person Multidisciplinary Assessments and Instruction, grades K-5 (Self- Contained Classes) 23

THANKS! Any questions? 24