Exceptional Student Education (ESE) encompasses services for students with disabilities as well as gifted students between the ages of 3 and 21. Every school district is required to serve students with various disabilities through programs the district develops.
In meeting the needs of students, the federal law IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) requires that all states support students with disabilities. Superintendent Dr. Lori Romano stated that Florida is a “local control” state, which allows each district to make specific policies to address those needs. So while all districts follow the same general guidelines, JoAnn Forcino, Supervisor of Student Services stated, “It is the how that is different.”
Highlights of changes to the policy for the 2016-2017 school year include:
• A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) will be used by the district and the problem solving process is outlined in the policy (previously referred to as Response to Intervention). These levels of interventions are used to help a student who may be struggling academically, and are reviewed periodically (monthly, weekly) to determine if more intense help is needed.
• Notice of the resolution meeting will be hand-delivered to the student’s residence within 15 days of the parent making a request for due process. Parents can suggest an alternate date/time for a meeting.
• Additionally, the policy establishes circumstances for a “school-based team” to determine if a child may need an evaluation for ESE services, obtaining parental consent for evaluations, and gives 30 days to respond to a parent’s request for an evaluation, and 60 days to evaluate. It also gives guidelines for data collection.
• Students with IEPs may also be able to obtain a standard diploma with a Scholar or Merit designation, depending on which direction he/she chooses.
Board member Gus Guadagnino remarked that it seems that school districts are the buffer between the DOE and the parents. He would like to see the parents’ concerns brought directly to the DOE, including the parents’ concerns for their children with medical needs.
Medical doctors will sometimes write a prescription for specific services for a child. The information is discussed at an MTSS meeting. According to Cathy Dofka, Director of Exceptional Student Support Services, the school has to look at the educational needs for the child, not just the medical needs, which is why the Special Policies and Procedures manual is important.
“It’s two different worlds,” said Forcino, but the information from a doctor would be helpful in determining whether an evaluation is needed. “We live in the world of educational relevance,” she said. “We have to look at how is the student’s diagnosis perhaps impeding the progress in the general curriculum.” The school can then provide accommodations to help a child receive the education he/she needs.
Because these are policy changes, input is welcomed at a public hearing to be held 28 days from the 09/06/16 workshop date. The public is invited to submit their questions or comments to Cathy Dofka and JoAnn Forcino or attend the hearing in person. According to the HCSB calendar, the first school board meeting in October is scheduled for 10/04/16.