Now it's crunch time...the IEP Timeline Calendar that Dr. Tucker put out in February has all of the most important upcoming dates. The first and maybe biggest hurdle is to get all of the re-evaluations that are due by 10/01/10 completed and turned in to the psychometrist or timeline compliance team. Re-evals were actually due earlier this week; if you have any outstanding, please let me know the status so that I can provide assistance if possible. I understand that it may seem like overkill to request them before the end of April, but the psychometrists and timeline team must have time to review the files and request additional information if needed PRIOR to your leaving your school for the summer.
Next on the list is to provide submissions for ESY services to Sharleen Williams. Those should be completed as you are meeting with parents for IEP development.
Also, the IEP verification forms are due by the middle of May. Remember that your principal needs to sign your form as his/her acknowledgement that your IEPs are actually completed. DO NOT wait til the last minute to write your IEPs and have meetings. For the most part, your IEPs should already be in draft form with your last few meetings to be held in the next two weeks. Please let me know if you'd like for me to review any of your IEPs or if you would like my participation in an IEP meeting.
Some basic reminders:
- Don't write a paraprofessional is required unless you have me participate in the meeting.
- Write all of your goals and benchmarks in MEASUREABLE terms.
- Be SMART with your goals and benchmarks
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
TimeLimited - Well written goals will describe what the child will do, when and how he’ll do it, and what the time frame will be for achieving it.
GOALS need to have a Course of Study # attached to them; benchmarks should be steps that are needed to be taken to achieve the goal, and should NOT have a COS # attached.
This is an example of a properly worded benchmark:
"By the end of the second grading period, Junior will correctly answer at least 4 of 5 comprehension questions after he listens to the teacher read a story. "
In my next posting, I'll give some example statements of special education services and specially designed instruction.
Til then, hear these words by Fosdick, Harry Emerson: "The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it."
