In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and students leaning from home, The Arc Pikes Peak Region remains committed to promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and that includes ensuring that students’ IEPs (Individualized Education Program) plans are followed to the best of a school’s ability.
Our organization reached out to the Special Education Directors of the school districts that serve Colorado Springs to inquire what those districts are doing for students on IEPs. Below are the responses we received, or the information we found on the school districts’ websites.
If you need to request educational advocacy for your student, please click here.
Harrison School District 2
Harrison School District 2 is determining comprehensive services on a case-by-case basis. Likely, in most circumstances, when a student is being brought forth for an initial evaluation, they may already be receiving services from a special education provider, and, if they are, those services will continue. After beginning the initial evaluation process, we will compare data from prior to COVID-19 closure, to the student’s current progress. If there is regression that is considered significant, and the team agrees that this would not have occurred with in-person special education services over the course of the closure, the team will determine what comprehensive services will be offered.
D2 WILL CONTINUE WITH DISTANCE LEARNING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
Harrison School District 2 Parent Letter: Department of Special Programs
Widefield School District 3: (Q&A with The Arc PPR)
The Arc PPR: Students were in the middle of an evaluation. What is going to happen with that?
Widefield School District 3 (WSD 3): We will hold the evaluation meeting and the IEP Team will determine if there is enough information to proceed with eligibility and then decisions will be made from there based on what info is or is not available.Therapists are obviously not going to be able to do hands on therapy, will they be doing something different for the time being? Our therapists are providing work; doing phone services; online services; virtual therapy opportunities
The Arc PPR: Will my child get compensatory time when we return to school?
WSD3: This depends on the student and their data upon return to school. we will not offer overarching, mass compensatory services to all Special Education (SpEd) students. Our district is doing maintenance of skills across all students, sped or otherwise.
The Arc PPR: My school is telling me to sign an amendment, does that keep my child from receiving compensatory time?
WSD3: We aren’t using amendments for anything other than what we normally do.
The Arc PPR: My family doesn’t have a computer for my child can access online content from teachers. Will the school help us get one?
WSD3: We are not providing computers at this time; all parents can have access to paper packets of the content- either by picking them up or having them mailed.
The Arc PPR: Can we receive physical work instead of computer work?
WSD3: Yes, see above.
The Arc PPR: How will previously-scheduled IEP meetings work?
WSD3: These meetings will work via Zoom, Google Hangout or Phone Conference.
Fountain Fort Carson D8
- Therapists are delivering services via technology, either by video conference or by phone.
- The teachers are using Schoology for content delivery, and they are providing technology to families who do not have computers, equaling one computer for every three children in the family.
- The district distributes computers on Mondays and Thursdays. Additionally, D8 is also offering physical packets for students who don’t work effectively on computers.
- The district is trying to offer para support for Special Education Students with familiar paras via technology.
- Compensatory time will be determined on a case by case basis when students return to school
Colorado Springs School District 11
- D11 will continue with IEP meetings using WebEx
- D11 is creating Interim Service Plans for students that can include contact from teachers and therapists
- Compensatory time will be determined on a case by case basis when students return to school
Cheyenne Mountain District 12
- D12 is froviding technology (laptops) or physical work for students
Academy School District 20
Click here to read D20’s announcement on E-Learning with an IEP.
Falcon District 49
Falcon School District 49 is still working through virtual meetings. As of now, it looks as though all families have been contacted by their service providers to work out what e-learning will look like through various virtual platforms. D49 is working to be as inclusive as possible. What that looks like for virtual classrooms is that the SpEd teacher would be in the classroom with the general education instruction, and he or she might go to another meeting room within the Zoom platform or Schoology to work on the individual skills with the student on their caseload. This might also include the SLP, OT, or PT. D49 is also doing separate activities depending on the parent’s preference. Families seem to be very positive, and the district is receiving great feedback. Meetings are being held virtually.
From Falcon School District 49: “On March 30, District 49 re-opened for learning under the new conditions of operations required by the coronavirus health emergency. For the time being, D49 will pursue excellence as E49, which acknowledges our move as a district to an E-learning and E-working model! Thank you for walking with us as we navigate our new landscape and season of learning created by this epidemic. Our primary concern is protecting learning time while respecting the needs of families and students during this challenging time. We are also providing equipment to families who need support to participate in E-learning.”
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