Students with Special Needs
Harmony DC has developed a solid plan to provide instructional, speech therapy and related services to students in Special Education and Section 504 virtually through our Distance Learning Program. Below you will find detailed information on how these services are provided followed by brief guidelines for Section 504 and special education evaluations, IEP, and 504 meetings.
How will we provide instructional services?
- For students in special education and 504 programs, accommodations and/or modifications are implemented by our teachers in Schoology.
- For students in pullout programs, our special education teachers create small groups on Schoology and provide resources and support virtually.
Instructional Services for Students in 504 Programs: Accommodations continue in general education setting and will be implemented by subject teachers.
Inclusion Services: Accommodations, modifications, and IEP implementation continue in general education Schoology classrooms. Inclusion teachers are added as co- teacher to applicable general education Schoology classes as per IEPs. They provide support to students with inclusion services in collaboration with subject teachers and assist in implementing IEPs and accommodations.
Resource Services: Resource teachers create their own Google Classrooms, provide resources and support virtually for the subjects applicable per students’ IEPs. IEP goals, accommodations and modifications are implemented.
Behavior Services: Behavior teachers create Google classrooms for their students. The first week’s general lessons in Google Classrooms focused on structuring the distance learning in the student’s home. Lessons are included to address the students’ behavior IEPs/BIPs. Behavior teachers are required to contact parents a minimum of once weekly to assist with behavior in the home. Teachers may be requested to contact parents more frequently if the student’s behavior warrants or parents are requesting more frequent contact.
Dyslexia Services: Dyslexia teachers create Google Classrooms for their students receiving instructional dyslexia services per IEPs or 504 plans. Dyslexia lessons review strategies to keep students refreshed on phonics, reading and writing.
In order to provide students with special needs a learning opportunity equal to that of their general education peers, these instructional services started with and are part of our Distance Learning Program.
Confidentiality: Students access to their usual Special Education through Schoology.
How do we provide Speech Therapy and Related Services?
Speech and Related Services: To the greatest extent possible, speech therapy and related services (such as Counseling/Psychological Services, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Assistive Technology (AT), Sign Language, Braille, and Auditory Impairment (AI) Services) are provided during Harmony’s distance learning program. These services utilize a combination and variety of methods including provision of resources and equipment, weekly check-ins for assistance to parents and students and/or virtual service through teleservice (via internet or telephone). Assistive Technology and other devices may be picked up by parents at the schools.
Campus officials and service providers will contact parents and provide a notice about the delivery method, schedules, service times, expectations from the parents and students, and other relevant details. When direct in-person instruction resumes, the IEP committee may meet to review student progress, discuss and decide whether IEP needs to be revised and additional speech therapy and/or related services are needed.
Brief Guidelines for Section 504 and special education evaluations, IEP and 504 meetings:
504 Evaluations, Review, Annual Meetings and Services: To the greatest extent possible, Section 504 plans are implemented during the distance learning program. A 504 meeting will be held for students whose 504 plan is due for annual or review and for students whose plan requires evaluations.
IEP Meetings: In this time of distance learning and to the greatest extent possible, Harmony DC holds virtual IEP meetings and provides virtual services as required by your child’s IEP. Initial, re-evaluation and annual IEPs that are due or will be due soon and IEPs requested by parents will be conducted virtually. IEP committee discussions will cover the services to be provided when the student is physically at school and those to be provided through distance learning
Evaluations:
Initial Evaluations: Service Providers and Harmony will complete initial FIE assessments to the greatest extent possible. If the assessment is complete (no further face to face testing or classroom observation is required) or partially complete sufficiently to determine eligibility for one or more suspected disabilities , an evaluation report will be written, provided to you and an IEP will be held virtually. If Initial evaluation testing cannot be completed, testing will be completed when students return to school until then no disability condition and services can be determined due to insufficient data. In such cases, RtI accommodations will be provided to initial referrals.
Three year and other Re-evaluations: The IEP committees will meet virtually to decide on services to be provided to the greatest extent possible.
After school facilities reopen and resume normal operation, services as specified in the student’s (IEP/504 Plan) will continue. If parents or the student’s (IEP Committee /Section 504 Committee) wish to consider the need for revision of IEPs/ 504 plans and additional services, an IEP/504 meeting will convene.
For current questions about this information or any other questions or current concerns regarding services and accommodations to your child, please contact your campus Special Programs-Section 504 coordinator or Principal. If you have disagreements with the above-mentioned plan, please know that either the campus or the parent may request ARD or 504 meeting to discuss services and revise the plan at any time during the closures. Please feel free to contact the campus officials mentioned above. We will certainly hold those meetings per parent requests.
The health and safety of our student and their families is our greatest concern and we thank you, ask for your understanding, patience and assistance as we continue to educate and service your child per their IEPs and 504 plans in these unprecedented and difficult times. Be safe.
