Special Education Parent Advisory Council March 20, 2017 - Meeting ...
MEDFORD LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT Neeta and Nokomis Elementary Schools Child Study Team Office 609-654-5155 x101
Special Education Parent Advisory Council March 20, 2017 - Meeting Minutes I.
Open to Questions/Concerns a. Question regarding focus of the next meeting on May 15th which is designated as Roundtable discussion i. This time will be used to plan for SEPAC meetings for the 201718 school year ii. Request was made for more guidelines to help parents know what to bring to the table for discussion/planning II. Dyslexia Presentation – Presentation by Joan Sacks, 3rd Grade Special Education Teacher a. Questions/Concerns brought up by parents during the presentation: i. Are the strategies introduced by Mrs. Sacks used in the Journey’s program? ii. How are students being identified as reading disabled or dyslexic? Teacher Referral, dyslexia screener, and CST referrals/evaluations 1. Question regarding Dyslexia screener: Journey’s Diagnostic Assessment iii. Parent concern regarding the lack of a Reading Specialist in Medford Lakes compared to other districts iv. Parent concern regarding teacher training in Dyslexia – Teachers currently receive state-mandated two hours yearly v. Parent concern regarding the Regular Education ELA K-5 program (Journeys); referenced Fundations program vi. Parent concern regarding the Special Education reading program (Reading Horizons); concerns regarding whether or not it is research based and teacher training; referenced Wilson program
MEDFORD LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT Neeta and Nokomis Elementary Schools Child Study Team Office 609-654-5155 x101
vii. Question regarding whether or not the syllables can be pronounced and/or if it is provided in Kindergarten viii. Questions/concerns regarding how speech therapists are used in learning and literacy ix. Questions/concerns regarding consultation among teachers/service providers x. Phonological versus phonemic awareness: question regarding programs being used and teacher understanding xi. Reference to Linda-Mood Bell – Not currently being used in district xii. Questions regarding how students are grouped for special education programming - currently grouped by grade xiii. Question as to whether parents can be given information as to what students should be able to do for each grade level (what are the warning signs) xiv. Question regarding classification determination; district currently uses discrepancy model xv. Concerns regarding staff not referring students with concerns with an anticipation they will “catch up” – additional training have been provided to staff in regards to this concern xvi. Concerns regarding Basic Skills - LLI (Leveled Literacy Intervention) has been introduced to K-2 this year to provide more focused reading intervention xvii. Questions/concerns regarding auditory processing: age at which it can be assessed/diagnosed; testing that can be done within the school; role of speech therapists and education of all staff xviii. Questions regarding additional information to be provided on the website about classifications xix. Question regarding the role of funding in relation to additional services/programming
Special Education Parent Advisory Council March 20, 2017 - Meeting Minutes I.
Open to Questions/Concerns a. Question regarding focus of the next meeting on May 15th which is designated as Roundtable discussion i. This time will be used to plan for SEPAC meetings for the 201718 school year ii. Request was made for more guidelines to help parents know what to bring to the table for discussion/planning II. Dyslexia Presentation – Presentation by Joan Sacks, 3rd Grade Special Education Teacher a. Questions/Concerns brought up by parents during the presentation: i. Are the strategies introduced by Mrs. Sacks used in the Journey’s program? ii. How are students being identified as reading disabled or dyslexic? Teacher Referral, dyslexia screener, and CST referrals/evaluations 1. Question regarding Dyslexia screener: Journey’s Diagnostic Assessment iii. Parent concern regarding the lack of a Reading Specialist in Medford Lakes compared to other districts iv. Parent concern regarding teacher training in Dyslexia – Teachers currently receive state-mandated two hours yearly v. Parent concern regarding the Regular Education ELA K-5 program (Journeys); referenced Fundations program vi. Parent concern regarding the Special Education reading program (Reading Horizons); concerns regarding whether or not it is research based and teacher training; referenced Wilson program
MEDFORD LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT Neeta and Nokomis Elementary Schools Child Study Team Office 609-654-5155 x101
vii. Question regarding whether or not the syllables can be pronounced and/or if it is provided in Kindergarten viii. Questions/concerns regarding how speech therapists are used in learning and literacy ix. Questions/concerns regarding consultation among teachers/service providers x. Phonological versus phonemic awareness: question regarding programs being used and teacher understanding xi. Reference to Linda-Mood Bell – Not currently being used in district xii. Questions regarding how students are grouped for special education programming - currently grouped by grade xiii. Question as to whether parents can be given information as to what students should be able to do for each grade level (what are the warning signs) xiv. Question regarding classification determination; district currently uses discrepancy model xv. Concerns regarding staff not referring students with concerns with an anticipation they will “catch up” – additional training have been provided to staff in regards to this concern xvi. Concerns regarding Basic Skills - LLI (Leveled Literacy Intervention) has been introduced to K-2 this year to provide more focused reading intervention xvii. Questions/concerns regarding auditory processing: age at which it can be assessed/diagnosed; testing that can be done within the school; role of speech therapists and education of all staff xviii. Questions regarding additional information to be provided on the website about classifications xix. Question regarding the role of funding in relation to additional services/programming
