Services during COVID-19 School Closing

Dear Parents/Guardians of students with IEPs:

I know that many of you have questions about what the school closure and transition to remote learning means for your child with an IEP. I would like to start by thanking you for your patience as we continue to work through these unprecedented challenges. We are receiving some guidance from the US Department of Education, Ohio Department of Education's Office of Exceptional Children, and our State Support Team. We hope for continued clarification in the near future, but for now we can give you the following answers:

What are we doing to complete Evaluation Team Reports?

If your child was in the process of having an Evaluation Team Report completed, school psychologists will be in touch with you to discuss options. Some ETRs will need to be delayed if direct assessment of your child is required to complete the process and determine eligibility for special education and the assessments did not occur prior to school closing. The District is working to complete all ETRs within the given timeline. If the ETR cannot be completed, the process will be initiated again once school reopens.

What are we doing about convening IEP meetings?

Your child's special education provider (case manager) will contact you to schedule the annual review IEP meeting through a video conference (ZOOM) or by phone. We are working to meet all of our timelines and continue to work together to create a current IEP that reflects your child's special needs.

How will special education services continue for my child?

School districts must provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) commensurate to the opportunities being provided to all students and consistent with the need to protect the health and safety of students with disabilities and those individuals providing education, specialized instruction, and related services to these students. IEP services will need to be conducted remotely and with reasonable accommodations. 

Our special education providers will be working collaboratively with our general education teachers, counselors and related service providers to create online learning opportunities around essential skills as we move forward. Many have already set up Google Classrooms and have provided practice and reinforcement lessons and activities. Related service providers, such as occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, have shared activities and resources that parents can use at home.

Communication specific to your child will come through your child's primary special education provider. In the coming weeks, your child's team will continually evaluate how your child's needs are being met, and adjustments may be made within available learning structures.

Thank you for your flexibility in the coming weeks. I recognize that this extended absence may be disruptive to your child's routines and expectations. Please contact me if your concerns or questions cannot be addressed by your child's special education provider. Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Marty Patton, Asst. Superintendent of Special Services

martha.patton@bayschoolsohio.org

440-617-7324