DATE:
May 22, 2017
TO:
Principals
Elementary and Middle School Resource Team Leaders
High School Special Education Team Leaders
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Admin. of Curriculum & Staff Development
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist
Courtney Titus, Program Special
SUBJECT:
Information Regarding Beginning of 2017-18 School Year
The 2016-17 school year is quickly rolling to a close and the Special Education Department wants to send out a big thanks to all of you for a great school year. We’ve had many challenges, but even more celebrations, and the work you all do each day for students is our biggest celebration.
In looking forward to the coming school year, there are several items that we wanted to make you aware of prior to leaving for the summer:
- Summer Special Education Conference - This year the Special Education Department will be providing professional development in a conference format – Teachers Matter, Teaching Matters: Engagement Strategies for Student Success. The date will be July 31, 8:00 a.m. at Elk Ridge Middle School. All special education staff and all administrators are invited to attend. If you are a special educator and are not on contract that day you will receive a $150.00 stipend for attending the full day. If you are on contract in a year-round school and would need a substitute to attend the conference, we are happy to provide one. Use the program code 1292. We have a great keynote speaker and breakout sessions for everyone. There will also be a specific strand for administrators. You can sign up on JPLS by searching for Special Education Summer Conference (flyer attached). Those that sign up before May 31st will have their names put into a prize drawing at the conference.
- Extended Year for Special Education Teacher Stipends – Next year (2017-18) the legislature has funded 5 days of stipend options for Special Education Teachers, Special Education Preschool teachers, and Speech-Language Pathologists. The details and timesheets will be sent to your school July 1, but we wanted to inform you of the option to use these 4.5 extended days to complete IEP related duties the two weeks prior to or following your contract days beginning July 1, 2017. Year-round off-contract options are also available.
- Compliance Reviews – In an effort to continue to use technology as an efficient PD delivery tool, we will have compliance modules sent out near the beginning of the year. Other PD and compliance training will be provided in small group formats with options for pay or substitutes.
- IEP File Reviews – the chart below indicates those schools that are on the rotation for file reviews (chart attached). You will get more information from your teacher specialist in the fall. Additional file reviews may be requested by administrators or for follow-up purposes from this year’s file review. Those will be scheduled on an individual basis. Also, if you are due for a full JPAS evaluation in 2017-18, please remember that you must have a file review completed with your assigned teacher specialist prior to completing your JPAS evaluation with your administrator. Please schedule those early in the year.
Thanks again for all you do and we look forward to another great year!
