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Special Services

Special Services Guidance for Back to School 2020-21

The details in these guidelines are subject to change as directives are provided by governing authorities and/or health officials or as environmental conditions change.

Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD will ensure that students with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). We will ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, each student with a disability can be provided the special education and related services identified in the student's individualized education program (IEP).

General Guidance:

Students with disabilities will follow the same district instructional and operational guidelines and protocols with special consideration given to meet their individual needs.

Students who are entitled to instructional and related services through an ARD (Admission, Review and Dismissal)/IEP, §504 Plan, etc. ​and​ ​who choose to enroll in Coldspring-Oakhurst’s ISD’s Online/Virtual instruction will be required to convene an appropriate meeting to revise their supports and services to ensure the District meets their individual needs. These meetings will occur within the first three weeks of school. This will take place even if a plan is already in place from last year.

Transportation for Online/Virtual instruction students taking on-campus courses will not be provided, except as documented through an ARD/IEP if the student is eligible for special education transportation as a related service in order to access their special education services.

Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD will review all health plans and IEPs during the first three weeks of student re-entry into brick and mortar settings and revise them through an ARD with appropriate safety protocols as needed.

Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD is committed to meeting the unique needs of students with disabilities by ensuring that ARD/IEP or 504 Committees convene as needed to discuss needs, review progress, and make individualized recommendations for our students.

Special Education Services On-Site Students with disabilities will follow the same district instructional and operational guidelines and protocols with special consideration given to meet their individual needs.

Related Services Onsite/Remotely

Speech-language pathologists and teachers of the deaf or hard of hearing will wear clear face masks/shields as needed.

Speech-language pathologists and teachers of the deaf or hard of hearing will wear clear face masks/shields as needed.

Speech and Counseling services will be offered via tele-therapy.

Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, Orientation & Mobility, Vision, and Deaf Education services for students who choose Online/Virtual learning will be offered walk-in services on campus.

Provision of Inclusion Services Remotely

Special and general education teachers will collaborate to ensure lessons are designed to meet the needs of all students.

  • Provide daily support via phone, technology (Google Classroom, Zoom).
  • Provide scheduled face to face tutoring/IEP support as agreed upon.
  • Develop alternate assignments in collaboration with general education that meet the same TEKS or Goals/Objectives in the IEP to match the student’s unique needs.

Lack of Progress Guidance

Whether on-site or virtual, special education teachers should review the progress of each student on their caseload weekly (i.e., grade books, data collection, etc.) and determine what, if any, additional supports may be needed for each student to continue to progress in the general education curriculum and on their IEP goals/objectives.

Special education teachers should consider alternate strategies/supports to ensure continued progress (Alternative assignments, IEP support time). Special education teachers should, after other interventions have been unsuccessful, contact a diagnostician to request an ARD/IEP committee meeting to address lack of progress.

Times of Closure

Virtual learning will be commensurate with general education students; however, IEP contingency plans will be followed and/or developed as needed based on students' unique needs.  ARDs will proceed virtually throughout closure, adhering to legal timelines

Exposure Prevention Strategies

Special education services are oftentimes delivered in a small group setting with hands-on support. In addition to the measures outlined in the operational plans for our schools, Special education teachers and service providers will take care to reduce any unintentional exposure by:

  • Creating supplementary aid and manipu lative kits for each student
  • Follow procedures for sanitizing items prior to adding to a student’s bag
  • Laminate supplemental aids so they can be easily cleaned and reused
  • Strategically scheduling students
  • Limit variation of student groupings
  • Adhere to district guidelines regarding number of students and staff in a specific location at any given time
  • Use dividers if students need to work in close proximity to complete activities
  • Provide visual supports or schedules that highlight social distancing when transitioning between classrooms or activities

 

Questions? Email Special Services Director Jennifer Rudloff at jrudloff@cocisd.org.