4 Best Practices for Progress Monitoring during Virtual Learning As expected, monitoring progress in a virtual environment for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) can look a little different than in the traditional brick-and-mortar setting. Due to distance learning, providing high-quality, evidence-based progress monitoring and reports can be difficult. [More]
Planning for Extended School Year (ESY) During a Pandemic The past several months brought about unprecedented shifts in how schools are providing instruction to complete the 2019–2020 school year. As the year ends and health and safety concerns related to providing face to face instruction remain uncertain, special education directors are facing news challenges in planning ESY. [More]
The “COVID-19 Slide” will likely prove to be much more significant than the typical “Summer Slide.” Here is how you can start planning now! When schools start to re-open and students return to the classroom, one thing is certain. Recoupment of regression during the “COVID-19 Slide” will be front and center in everyone’s mind. Students will display wider variations in academic performance than ever before. As such, it is critical to start planning now for how you will identify and manage students with learning losses and social-emotional needs. [More]
Utilizing Paraprofessionals to Support Virtual Learning Recently, due to the COVID-19 emergency, school districts, teachers, and families across the U.S. have scrambled to create and provide meaningful virtual instruction to students. As everyone joins the efforts to crowdsource resources, manage logistics, and develop formal procedures, it is essential for teachers to consider how paraprofessionals can play an important role in delivering supports to students. There are more than 1.2 million paraprofessionals currently working to support various academic, behavior, and social needs of students, and their contributions during this critical time impact the quality of services students receive. [More]
Delivering Related Services Remotely During the COVID-19 Crisis The COVID-19 emergency has prompted school districts across the United States to rethink how they provide related services to students with disabilities, many of whom are presently receiving limited educational supports and no services at home. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA), related services include speech and language therapy; occupational therapy; physical therapy; and counseling services. One way to deliver related services remotely is known as telepractice. Under telepractice, related services are delivered remotely using a web conferencing tool, web camera, laptop, tablet, or smartphone to deliver services. [More]