Midwest Regional Special Education Law Conference October 31 November 1, 2006

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1 Midwest Regional Special Education Law Conference Sponsored by: The Department of Special Populations, The College of Education, The Center for School-University Partnerships and The Minnesota Department of Education

2 WELCOME Conference Overview: In an attempt to assist schools in implementing the new IDEA 2004, Minnesota State Mankato is please to host the first ever Midwest Regional Special Education Law Conference. On October 31 and November 1, top national experts on Special Education Law will convene at the University to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding IDEA 04 and issues related to case law and recent legal decisions. With the proposed federal regulations out and the final regulations expected to be published soon, this conference is particularly timely. Target Audience: 1. School District Administrators including Special Education Directors, Superintendents, and Principals. 2. Due-process Facilitators 3. Special Education Teachers 4. Parents and Advocates of Children with Disabilities 5. Attorneys and Administrative Law Judges 8:30 10:20 Keynote Lynwood Beekman, J. D. What s New and So What on the Regulations and from the Courts? 8:30 10:20 Keynote Conference Schedule at-a-glance Day 1 - Tuesday, October 31 10:30 11:50 Breakout Sessions > Lynwood Beekman, J. D. ADR: Got a Big Dispute/Mess? Hoping there s an option other than Hearing, Mediation, or Total Capitulation? There is!! > Susan Etscheidt, Ph. D. Related and Supplemental Services Paraprofessional Services Assistive Technology Services 12:00 1:50 Lunch/ Keynote Eric Hartwig, Ph. D. Summer of Love or Winter of Discontent? Day 2 - Wednesday, November 1 10:30 11:50 Breakout Sessions 2:00 3:40 Breakout Sessions > Eric Hartwig, Ph. D. Functional Behavioral Assessment > Susan Etscheidt, Ph. D. Extended School Year Services: A Review of Eligibility Criteria 12:00 1:50 Lunch 2:00 3:40 Breakout Sessions Conference Site/Directions The Conference will be held in the recently remodeled Centennial Student Union on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Mankato is in south central Minnesota, at the intersection of U. S. Highway 169 (north/ south) and U. S. Highway 14 (east/west), and is within a convenient driving distance of two Interstate Highways, Interstate 35 (north/south) and Interstate 90 (east/west). Directions and a campus map are available at: Mitchell Yell, Ph. D. No Child Left Behind, IDEA 2004, and Evidenced Based Interventions > Mitchell Yell, Ph. D. Writing Legally Correct and Educationally Appropriate IEPs. > Amy Roberts, J.D., Jim Mortenson, J. D. and Barbara Case, J.D. Special Education Complaints and Hearing Decisions: Current Trends in Issues and Findings in Minnesota > Susan Torgerson, J. D. and Amy Goetz, J. D. Point-Counter-Point: What is Legally Sufficient Educational Benefit? Is the Rowley Standard Dead? > Darren Kermes, J. D. and Mary Ruprecht Addressing Behavior for Students with Disabilities: Options for Consideration - Manifestation Determination, Interim Alternative Educational Placement and Positive Behavior Supports

3 NATIONAL SPEAKERS Lyn Beekman, J.D., was in legal practice for 36 years. For the first 16 years he represented parents and their children with disabilities. During this same period and later, he also represented the Michigan Education Association and its members, including teachers, school psychologists, school social workers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, etc. From 1987 through 1997, he represented just school districts on matters relating to special education and Section 504. In January 1998, he left the practice of law to establish Special Education Solutions (SES), a special education dispute resolution and training center. Since 1978, Lyn has served as a hearing officer in over 500 hearings. He has also served as a state review officer in 3 states, a mediator, neutral evaluator, arbitrator, and complaint investigator in another 300 cases. In addition, Lyn has provided consultive assistance or hearing officer trainings for 46 states and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as presentations at state conferences on how to avoid and resolve disputes. Eric P. Hartwig, Ph.D., received his doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is a nationally recognized expert in Special Education Law. He is experienced and licensed as a Director of Pupil Services, District Administrator and a School Psychologist. Presently, he is the Administrator of Pupil Services for the Marathon County Children with Disabilities Education Board and is the author and principle trainer on the Justin-Time: Behavioral Initiative Project. Dr. Hartwig has done extensive research on discipline, school violence, psychoeducational assessment and related special education issues. Dr. Hartwig has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly works in the areas of discipline and the new IDEA, expulsion hearings, manifestation determination, and FBA s. Susan Etscheidt, Ph.D., is an Administrative Law Judge and Professor of Special Education, University of Northern Iowa. Susan teaches courses in the area of behavioral disorders, behavior management and special education law and policy. In addition to her involvement in the teacher preparation program at UNI, Dr. Etscheidt is an administrative law judge for special education appeals in Iowa. Her research interests and activities include law and policy, instructional management, and inclusion. She has authored three books on legal issues in special education, and has published numerous articles on legal topics in special education. Dr. Etscheidt provides inservice presentations and workshops to school administrators and personnel, and serves as a policy consultant for school districts. Mitchell Yell, Ph.D., is a Professor in Special Education in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, South Carolina. He is the author of The Law and Special Education, 2 nd edition, and No Child Left Behind published by Merrill/Prentice Hall. He has also published over 60 journal articles, 12 book chapters, and has conducted numerous workshops on many aspects of Special Education Law. For the past 16 years Dr. Yell has conducted extensive research on legal issues in special education. His primary goal has been to extrapolate principles from legislation and litigation, communicate them to parents, teachers and administrators in a clear, nonlegal manner, and to assist school districts in the formation of legally sound, research-based, policies.

4 Featured Speakers (Brief Overviews) Amy Goetz of the School Law Center located in St. Paul, Minnesota is an experienced education attorney. Her practice focuses on representing parents and students in matters of education law with a focus on special education issues. Susan Torgerson of the law firm Kennedy & Graven, Chartered, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota is an experienced education attorney practicing in the area of general school law matters with concentration in student matters, special education and disability law litigation. Darren Kermes is Director of Special Services for New Prague Area Schools in New Prague, Minnesota and also interim Director of MRVSEC. Mr. Kermes is also an attorney. Mary Ruprecht is Director of Special Education for Rum River Special Education Cooperative located in Cambridge, Minnesota. Rum River Special Education Cooperative serves seven school districts. Jim Mortenson is an attorney and is Due Process Hearing Coordinator for the Division of Compliance and Assistance of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Mr. Mortenson practiced education law with a focus in special education issues prior to working for MDE. Parking Free shuttle transportation from participating hotels to the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus will be provided. Conference participants are encouraged to utilize the shuttle services from the hotels including commuter participants. Limited paylot parking is available in Lot 4. Cancellation Policy Requests for cancellation must be made in writing to the Center for School-University Partnerships. Refunds will be given on requests received prior to October 1, less a $20 administrative fee per registrant. Registrants can transfer their registration to another person. Continuing Education Clock hours and continuing education units will be made available to attending participants at the close of the conference. Minnesota Continuing Legal Edcuation (CLE) credits will be available for attorneys. Conference Contact Information Center for School-University Partnerships College of Education Minnesota State University, Mankato 117 Armstrong Hall Mankato, MN Ginger Zierdt, Director CSUP ginger.zierdt@mnsu.edu Phone: Fax: Amy Roberts is an attorney and is the Director of the Division of Compliance and Assistance of the MDE. Barbara Case is an attorney and is the Due Process Supervisor of the Division of Compliance and Assistance of MDE. Meals Lunch and refreshments during breaks are included in the registration fee for this two-day conference. Please make your meal selection when registering. Lodging For your convenience, the following hotels are offering discounted conference rates to conference participants. It is recommended to make your lodging arrangements early and ask for the 2006 Midwest Regional Special Education Law Conference special rate at the time you make your reservation. AmericInn Hotel & Suites 240 Stadium Road, Mankato (507) Best Western Hotel & Restaurant Hwy. 169, North Mankato (507) , (800) Country Inn & Suites Junction Hwy 22 and 14, Mankato (507) Grand Stay Residential Suites 1000 Raintree Road, Mankato (507) Holiday Inn 101 East Main St., Mankato (507) , (800) HOLIDAY Registration Seating is limited. Advance registration is recommended. (Duplicate this form as needed for additional registrants.) You may also register for the conference online at after May 31. Conference Registration Fees: $ $ After October 15, 2006 Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Ginger Zierdt at (V) 800, or 711 (MRS/TTY) Midwest Regional Special Education Law Conference Please make payment to: MRSE Law Conference. Mail to: CSUP, 117 Armstrong Hall, Mankato, MN Name: Employer/Position: Address: City/State/Zip: Address: Work Telephone Number: Home Telephone Number: Meals (Check one): Regular Menu Selection Vegetarian Menu Selection Special Needs/Requests:

5 2006 Midwest Regional Special Education Law Conference Center for School-University Partnerships Minnesota State University, Mankato 117 Armstrong Hall Mankato, MN *210181* A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Minnesota State Mankato is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Academy for Child and Family Studies, Institute for Continuous Improvement at (V), or 711 (MRS/TTY) at least 5 days prior to the event. This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the above numbers.