Everyone Reads

February 23, 2022

Learning Services exists to Prepare Students for Their Future by empowering students, teachers, and school communities.

Learning Services is broken into six departments to serve the Olathe Public Schools.

Below you will find updates from departments and their team.

BSEL Department Updates

Director - Angie Salava

Here's what you need to know:

Strategies for Increasing Your Students Sense of Belonging

Do your students feel a strong sense of belonging at your school? Use these strategies to help increase it.

Professional Development Dept. Updates

Assistant Director - Jenna Kuder

Here's what you need to know:

Summer Conference is Coming!

Make plans now to join us for our Olathe Summer Conference on June 1, 2, and 3. We are excited to announce our keynote speakers: Jimmy Casas, Salome Thomas-EL, Dr. Jeffrey Zoul, Joy Kelly, Tabatha Rosproy, and Scott Flluke. Click this link for additional information about Summer Conference 2022 and instructions on how to register.

Big 3 Challenge

Special Services Department Updates

Executive Director - Anjanette Tolman

Here's what you need to know:

A Focus on IEPs – PLAAFP: Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance

A student’s IEP should be the roadmap of his/her FAPE (free appropriate public education.). Within the IEP document, we outline special education services and supports specific to the student based on his or her unique needs. IDEA requires that every student’s IEP must contain certain specific components in order to meet procedural requirements. One of these required and very important components is the PLAAFP or Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance. PLAAFP statements summarize the student’s abilities in both academic and/or functional skill areas and include how the student’s disability affects the involvement in the general education curriculum. In our system – we break these statements down into strengths and needs. High quality PLAAFP statements encompass statements about student strengths and needs along a spectrum of broad areas of strengths and need to specific areas of strengths and needs. These broad to specific statements include information about the student’s current performance, the impact of the exceptionality, and measurable baseline data if the need will be addressed through a goal.

Tip: When writing PLAAFP statements – including the headings: Current Performance, Impact of Exceptionality, and Baseline Data in the needs section will help you to ensure you address the students’ needs fully from broad to specific needs.

If you have questions, needs, or would like additional training on writing quality PLAAFP statements – please reach out to your Special Services Instructional Coach!

The IRIS Center. (2019). IEPs: Developing high-quality individualized education programs. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/iep01/

Summer Connections Programs Dept. Updates

New Educator Director - Dr. Ann Addison

Coordinator of Instructional Coaching - Kelly Tines

Here's what you need to know:

Changes to Summer Academy

We would like to share a change to how Summer Academy will look in 2022. As you know, in recent years, Summer Academy has been an invitational opportunity for students to continue their learning. This year, we are transitioning to a new, more personalized model of helping some of our students stay connected to their school. This year, individual schools will have the opportunity to create a summer program of their choosing to offer to students. Schools will not be required to offer a summer program for students. But those who would like to are encouraged to do so and apply for district funding for their program.

More information will be shared in the coming weeks as principals and their building teams make decisions on how and if they would like to participate in this pilot year.