+ Strategies for Implementing Student IEPs in the K-12 Virtual Education Environment. May 23, 2011

Transcription

1 + Strategies for Implementing Student IEPs in the K-12 Virtual Education Environment May 23, 2011

2 + The Comprehensive Center Network By insisting on high achievement for all students, regardless of geography or life circumstance, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) has made the need for high quality technical assistance paramount for state education leaders. We are part of 16 regional comprehensive centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education activated to support education leaders in our states as they strive to meet the goals of ESEA and improve achievement outcomes for all students. The Regional P-12 Virtual Education Initiative The NE/NYCCs are addressing P-12 Virtual Education opportunities and challenges in a three-pronged manner: examining policies, initiatives, and practices within and outside the region to provide a context around the current state of virtual education Recently convened a regional summit to both facilitate and disseminate this information and to understand education leaders highest priority information and policy needs and concerns around this topic hosting a series of webinars for leaders to discuss strategies for expanding access to quality educational opportunities for diverse learners in their own states and in the region

3 + Webinar Agenda The goal of today s webinar is to develop an understanding of strategies used by prominent virtual schools to effectively support students who have Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Today we will: Review issues related to policy and practice around implementing IEPs in the virtual education environment Discuss methods of preparing teachers to implement IEPs in the virtual education classroom (and providing them with ongoing support) Provide a forum for attendees to share how their state virtual education programs are serving students with IEPs; and share successes and challenges Ask you to complete the required USDOE evaluation: LTZ8KKX

4 + About our Speakers Liz Pape President Virtual High School (VHS) Erin Berry-Sams, Ph.D. E-learning Counseling and Research Supervisor Virtual Virginia Jeffrey Jacobson ESE Specialist Florida Virtual School (FLVS)

5 VHS Students on IEPs: Policy, Preparation and Practice Liz Pape Virtual High School

6 Today s Focus Challenges VHS policies regarding students on IEPs VHS teacher and SC preparation for working with students on IEPs How it works in practice 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

7 Challenge 1: the VHS consortium model Non-profit, global consortium of nearly 700 member schools offering innovative online courses Currently in 15 th year of operation and 14 th year of online course delivery Originally funded by the Federal DOE through a $7.8M technology grant five years of research & development 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

9 Challenge 2: VHS s teaching model Participating school provides: 1 teacher to teach a VHS online 1 teaching period per day 1 VHS Site Coordinator Internet access for students VHS course scheduled time for students VHS provides: Over 200 standards based courses across all content areas Professional development training and mentoring Hosting of the virtual school Technical and administrative support 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

11 VHS Policies Special Education/Equity Accommodations for Students with Special Needs (504 Plans or Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs)) Collaboration Tools Policy 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

12 Special Education Equity VHS commitment to improving education of disadvantaged students No student should be denied access due to special needs PL (IDEA) Enrollment decisions made at school in consultation with VHS course catalog info Responsibility of school VHS SC to notify VHS teacher of student s IEP or 504 plan requirements Lists types of possible accommodations such as: voice input technology, alternatives for audio content, time accommodations for clock-sensitive assignments, screen reader 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

13 Accommodations for Students with Special Needs Primary responsibility to provide educational accommodations rests with student s school (see VHS consortium model) VHS teacher as student s school s adjunct faculty member who must be provided with info on educational adaptations or accommodations necessary in student s VHS course(s) Communication done through VHS SC VHS provided with copy of 504 plan or IEP which is kept on file for duration of semester School provides student with needed equipment or physical accommodations 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

14 Collaboration Tools Policy Meet global student needs through asynchronous tools, such as online discussions For synchronous sessions for office hours, tutorials or Q& A sessions, use within course tools and record sessions 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

15 Preparation VHS teachers in Netcourse Instructional Methodologies Review VHS policies re students with special needs Discuss how VHS course design accommodates students with special needs Discuss perceived limitations of online learning environment as well as perceived benefits Discuss how technical factors, such as connection speed, can impact student learning and how to mitigate Discuss how to accommodate for multimedia in online courses Learn about standards for image accessibility and compliance in online courses 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

16 Preparation VHS Site Coordinators in Site Coordinator Orientation Review VHS policies re students with special needs Discuss their communication plan to VHS teachers of students with special needs 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

17 Practice Good practice starts with good design standards and tool selection VHS requires transcripts for all audio clips Video clips are alt texted : alternative text that describes the image or video in a manner that advances the learning LMS supports screen readers, collaborative and other tools VHS manages safeguarding of student IEPs and 504 plans VHS oversees teachers adherence to student accommodations 2011 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

20 Virtual Virginia

21 Virtual Virginia A program of the Virginia Department of Education. The supplementary program is designed to provide access and opportunity for underserved students throughout the Commonwealth. Our population is 95% Virginia public school students; however, we do have private school, home school, and out-of-state students. Students receive approval from their counselors and are registered by their local school to participate in our program

22 Identifying Students with Special Needs As part of the registration process, counselors are asked to indicate if a student has a 504 plan or IEP. Counselors provide the VVa Supervisor of Counseling and Research a copy of the documentation. The plans are reviewed to determine if the accommodations are applicable in the online environment.

23 Identifying Students with Special Needs The VVa counselor works with the instructor to review the accommodations and provide any additional information needed. We discuss any potential challenges for the student given the disability and the online environment. Assistive technology needed is provided by the local school. The VVa counselor stays in communication with the local school counselor in the event there needs to be additional accommodations placed on the 504 plan or IEP for online courses

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26 ESE Specialist Jeff Jacobson Having spent the past four years teaching at FLVS, I have witnessed ;irst- hand the need for this department and it is my pleasure and privilege to be the lead of this new team! The pure excitement of building a program from the ground up is exhilarating. As we create this blueprint for the rest of the virtual world to see, we invite all of our instructors to become part of something many already do everyday as FLVS instructors. Our vision is clear and our desire unmatched. Our intentions are to provide teachers, parents, and students with the best possible educational experience. To provide tools for teachers, training for parents and staff, and guidance for speci;ic situations are just a few of the services that we plan to offer.

27 any %me, any place, any path, any pace FLVS History Snapshot Founded in 1997 Country s first, state- wide, internet- based public high school Also have out of state and interna%onal based programs FREE for all Florida resident students Offer over 100 courses, including 14 AP courses In , FLVS served over 97,000 students The student is at the center of every decision made!

28 FLVS ESE Enrollment 69834; 10% Self Reported IEP Enrollments 640,730; 90% Enrollments Without IEP

29 How does the ESE department support FLVS Families and Staff? What we provide Teacher support Instructional strategies IEP interpretation assistance IEP implementation consultation Collaborative problem solving Parent support Facilitation of parent/teacher collaboration Conferences Informal/Formal parent education Student support Strategy implementation Success plan development Professional Development for FLVS Staff IEP 101 Applying Differentiated Instruction in the Virtual Setting Optimizing ESE strategies in the virtual setting

30 FLVS Teacher Responsibilities to ESE Students At FLVS we will Follow the accommodations in a student s existing IEP Use the existing IEP as tool to assist our students Provide accommodations according to the IEP Do everything possible to ensure student success

31 FLVS ESE Process Upon identifying a student with an IEP/504, are encouraged to teachers 1. Request the I.E.P/504 from the parent during the Welcome Call 2. Send the IEP to your ESE Specialist by or fax. 3. Contact their ESE specialist to discuss student s IEP. 4. Review the I.E.P./504 and pay close to attention to the student s disability type and accommodations. 5. Consult with the student and parent to gain knowledge of student learning styles, special requirements, and/or instructional strategies which have proven successful with this student.

32 Challenges & Successes CHALLENGES - Self- reported data - Training a large staff - Curriculum - Class size - Access to records SUCCESSES - Direct InstrucZon - Data driven professional development - Course development methods - Web tools - Pace

33 Pilot Program SUMMER PILOT - FLVS will have a group of ESE cerzfied instructors work exclusively with ESE students in a few of our top enrollment courses. This will give us data to improve our ESE student complezon rate.

34 + Webinar Evaluation The goal of today s webinar was to develop an understanding of strategies used by prominent virtual schools to effectively support students who have Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Please share your feedback on this event and let us know how else we can support your regional virtual education efforts! Complete the required USDOE evaluation: LTZ8KKX

35 + Strategies for Implementing Student IEPs in the K-12 Virtual Education Environment May 23, 2011