A message from Student Support Services:

To Our RCSCSD Families,

We are here to support you and your family throughout this school closure event due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Teachers and Related Service Providers are hard at work uploading documents, lessons, activities and resources to our RCS Work from Home Website. Families without access to technology can request and get materials in printed format. Please know, the materials provided to you are resources for your child, but should NOT be a cause for stress and anxiety. Feel free to reach out to your child’s teachers and related service providers to let them know how your child is doing and what would best help. All staff are frequently accessing their emails and - by now - have called or emailed each of their students/families. If you have any concerns about this at all - call us (518) 756-5200 ext 3025.

What we have asked staff to do:

• Make contact with each of you and find out what way works best for continued communications.
• Connect with families/students at least as often as reflected on their IEP (for example - Special Ed teachers in self contained classes or integrated co-teaching classes will contact you daily; your speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, social worker will contact you however many times a month your child’s IEP calls for services).
• The SpEd teachers and related services providers will provide enough skill building and review resources so that if your child is able to participate, they have enough work for a reasonable amount of review and practice per week.
• Teachers and related service providers will update and add information throughout the duration of our school closure.
• Your teacher and service providers will answer any questions or concerns during the regular contact during the week.

Please know that the work your child does is it not being included in grades at this time. If participating in this is too stressful or you want to just pick and choose what works for your family - that’s OK. Staff will continue to support and connect with you.

If you have the tech capability - Do encourage your children to engage with their teacher and classmates virtually so they still feel connected.

Don’t forget to take care of yourselves - relax, recharge and refocus on your family and your needs! Those are the priorities. The school work will sort itself out. Let us know what you need, if you are doing OK, if something is not working, if something is awesome. We will work to make things better.

If you are one of our Essential Employees still working (THANK-YOU), allow your children to unwind during the day. No learning will happen if students are scared, stressed, anxious or withdrawn. Allow this to be a time to be flexible and creative.

Again, we are here. Do not hesitate to reach out with concerns or questions by phone or email.

Ann Jackson, Director- Office for Student Support

ajackson@rcscsd.org

(518) 756-5200 ext 3025

Colleen Agostinoni, CSE Chairperson

cagostinoni@rcscsd.org

(518) 756-5200 ext 3025

Information regarding services during this crisis:

Committee on Preschool Special Education - Program and Services

(Children turning 3 through 5)

Please note: Ravena-Coeymans- Selkirk Central School District is located in two counties Greene County and Albany County

Greene County -

For any family who lives in Greene County, the county has informed preschool programs and providers to follow the district closures. No services will be available during the duration of the closure. Your provider may reach out to you to provide some home activities. If this has not happened and you’d like some support - let us know. We will help in any way possible. Once RCSCSD reopens, Agencies and Providers can agaon service children.

Albany County -

Albany County has advised districts that it is their decision if students will attend center-based services if those center-based settings are still open. The governor has closed all schools at least through March 31st. No programs are open at this time. Providers who go into homes and Day Care centers are not considered “Essential Workers” and will not be able to provide services until released by the Governor’s orders

When Center-based programs open, RCSCSD preschoolers can attend their IEP programs. When the Governor lifts restrictions on Essential Workers, the Related Service Providers can again serve children in daycares and at home.

We highly recommend that students stay home, and providers NOT go into home, if children, family members or providers are symptomatic and/or at risk for complications.

Committee On Preschool Special Education - District Functions

CPSE Referrals

We are accepting all referrals. Packets will be sent and consents received.

CPSE Evaluations

All evaluations require face-to -face contact and will not be conducted during the time of required closures.

CPSE Meetings

Will all be conducted via teleconferencing. Expect to get calls from our office to set those up and gather phone contact information.

Committee on Special Education (Children in Kindergarten through 12th grade)

IEP Program and Services

All children with Individual Education Plans will have regular and ongoing contact with their Teachers and Related Service Providers as we described above.

CSE Referrals

We are accepting all referrals. Packets will be sent and consents received.

CSE Evaluations

All evaluations require face-to -face contact and will not be conducted during the time of required closures.

CSE Meetings

Will all be conducted via teleconferencing. Expect to get calls from our office to set those up and gather phone contact information.

Section 504

504 Program and Services

All children with Section 504 Accommodation Plans will have regular and ongoing contact with their Teachers and Related Service Providers as we described above.

504 Referrals

We are accepting all referrals. Packets will be sent and consents received.

504 Evaluations

All evaluations require face-to -face contact and will not be conducted during the time of required closures.

504 Meetings

Will all be conducted via teleconferencing. Expect to get calls from your School Counselor’s office to set those up and gather phone contact information.