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]
COVID-19 School Closures and Special Education: Shifting Instructional Practices to a Digital Environment With COVID-19 moving much of traditional K-12 instruction online, educators across the United States are quickly building their capacity to provide equitable services in a new way. They are researching distance learning, setting-up class websites, reaching out to their students and parents, and becoming familiar with the available free digital tools to help them connect with their students. Television stations in many communities are partnering with school districts to conduct media campaigns to raise community awareness, set expectations, and inform students and their parents on what they need to do to get started with distance learning. The sudden shift presents unprecedented challenges for all teachers, especially for those serving students with disabilities. [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]
Conducting IEP Meetings During COVID-19 By Matthew Korobkin, Senior AdvisorOver the next several weeks, school districts and families of students with disabilities may be concerned about how IEP meetings will be convened and how timelines will be met. During a time of “social-distancing” because of COVID-19, school districts should consider hosting remote IEP meetings in order to meet the timeline requirements set forth by their state education agency. [More]