Special Education

Harmony Public Schools (HPS) has developed a solid plan to provide instructional services to students in Special Education, Section 504 and Dyslexia programs virtually through our Distance Learning Program. Please see below the details of our plan. For any questions or additional information please contact Lorrinda Patton at lpatton@harmonytx.org

How will we provide instructional services?

1. For students in special education and 504 programs, accommodations and/or modifications will be implemented by our teachers in Google Classrooms

2. For students in pullout programs, our special education teachers will create Google Classrooms and provide resources and support virtually.

Instructional Services for Students in 504 Programs: Accommodations will continue in general education Google classrooms and will be implemented by subject teachers.

Mainstream Instructional Services: Accommodations, modifications and IEP implementation will continue in general education Google Classrooms by general education teachers.

Inclusion Services: Accommodations, modifications and IEP implementation will continue in general education Google Classrooms. Inclusion teachers will be added as co- teacher to applicable gen ed Google Classrooms per IEPs. They will provide support to students with inclusion services in collaboration with subject teachers and assist in implementing IEPs and accommodations.

Resource Services: Resource teachers will create their own Google Classrooms, provide resources and support virtually for the subjects applicable per students’ IEPs. IEP goals, accommodations and modifications will be implemented.

Life Skills Services: Life Skills teachers will create Google Classrooms for their students in life skills program. Goals, accommodations, modifications, academic contents, functional and vocational skills will be addressed through instruction provided in Google classroom per the students’ IEPs. Daily lessons and reading books will be assigned from N2Y Unique to cover academic contents. Activities will be planned to assist with functional, vocational and living skills per IEPs.

Behavior Services: Behavior teachers will create Google classrooms for their students. The first week’s general lessons in Google Classrooms will focus on structuring the distance learning in the student’s home. Lessons will be included to address the students’ behavior IEPs/BIPs. Behavior teachers are required to contact parents a minimum of once weekly to assist with behavior in the home. Teachers may be requested to contact parents more frequently if the student’s behavior warrants or parents are requesting more frequent contact.

Dyslexia Services: Dyslexia teachers will create Google Classrooms for their students receiving instructional dyslexia services per IEPs or 504 plans. Dyslexia lessons will review strategies to keep students refreshed on phonics, reading and writing.

In order to provide students with special needs a learning opportunity equal to that of their general education peers, these special services will start with and be a part of our Distance Learning Program.

Confidentiality: Students will access to their usual Special Education or Dyslexia teachers through Google Classrooms. The class identifiers will not include any term implying that it is a Special Education, 504 or Dyslexia program but your child will receive an invitation to join the Classroom by a teacher they will recognize as one who has been providing these special services.

Speech Therapy and Related Services, ARD Committee Meetings, 504 Committee Meetings and FIEs: We are continuing to receive guidelines from State and Federal sources regarding each of these matters and will develop and issue our plans as we receive these further directives and instruction. Until then, your patience is appreciated as we work to ensure that the needs of all our students are met.