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How are School Psychologists maintaining interventions for students with special needs?
How are School Psychologists maintaining interventions for students with special needs?
New Jersey Specific Guidance for Schools & Districts
New Jersey Specific Guidance for Schools & Districts
Student Accommodations
Student Accommodations
The New Jersey Department of Education states, "Home instruction/services shall be consistent with the student’s Individualized Education Plan Program (IEP) to the most appropriate extent possible. Districts should talk to parents, who are key members of the IEP team, and help them consider how they may best ensure that students with disabilities have the necessary supports, including medical supports, in place during a public health-related school closure. Consultation with the parents should explore how students with disabilities will gain equitable access to home instruction (2020)."
Although this is a temporary situation, the NJDOE says districts must offer special education services to the most appropriate extent possible while students are away from their schools/programs. IEP teams may need to consider compensatory services when students return to school and IEPs may need to be adjusted accordingly. The IEP team should determine the amount of compensatory related services students with IEPs may require, on a case-by-case basis, when school resumes (NJDOE, 2020).
For more in-depth information, please visit https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-covid-19-03-12-2020.pdf.
The New Jersey Department of Education (the Department) is deeply committed to supporting its students, families, and educators as they work to reduce the spread of COVID-19. NJDOE stated they recognized“schooling” cannot continue as usual and that schools and educators will be addressing the diverse needs of their students in different ways. -NJDOE, 2020
Temporary Modifications to Special Education Regulations, N.J.A.C. 6A:14
Adopted by the State Board of Education, April 1, 2020
6A:14-1.1 General requirements
(d) Each district board of education is responsible for providing a system of free, appropriate special education and related services to students with disabilities age three through 21 which shall:
[New] Be provided through electronic communications, virtual, or other online platforms as appropriate and as required by a student’s individualized education program (IEP), during an extended public-health related school closure.
6A:14-3.9 Related services
(a) [New] During an extended public-health related school closure, related services may be provided through telemedicine and telehealth, or through electronic communications, which include virtual, remote, or other online platforms, as appropriate and as required by the student’s IEP to the greatest extent possible.
6A:14-5.2 Approval procedures for clinics or agencies
(f) [New] During an extended public-health related school closure, an approved clinic or agency may provide related services to students with disabilities through the use of electronic communications, virtual, remote, or other online platforms, as appropriate, and as required by the student’s IEP to the greatest extent possible.
What are our responsibilities for ensuring services?
What are our responsibilities for ensuring services?
Stated by the New Jersey Department of Education...
Stated by the New Jersey Department of Education...
Districts should update contact information for every out-of-district placement where one or more of their students with disabilities attends and maintain regular communication during school closures.
This includes in-state and out-of-state approved private schools for students with disabilities, county educational services commissions, jointure commissions, special services school districts, Naples placements, regional day schools, the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf and other school districts.
The providing district must ensure, students with disabilities attending out-of-district placements are provided with instruction during school closures consistent with the student’s IEP to the greatest extent possible.
Districts are encouraged to consult with the student’s school of attendance regarding the nature and delivery of instruction.
Students in out-of-state residential schools may remain in those placements; however, if they will come home during the time of the closure, the local health agency should be contacted for guidance regarding their return to school.
Decisions regarding attendance for students educated outside of the district should be made on an individual district basis.
If an out-of-district placement remains open while a student’s resident district is required to close, and it is determined that the student will not attend school, the home instruction guidance to the resident district applies to that student if he or she does not attend school.
The provision of home instruction should be determined in consultation with the receiving school. Ultimately, it is the sending district’s responsibility to ensure home instruction is provided.
NJDOE, 2020
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