Admission, Review, And Dismissal (ARD) Committee Meeting .

9/29/2020Admission, Review, andDismissal (ARD) CommitteeMeeting Essentials forParentsVirtual WorkshopSeptember 29, 2020Copyright 2020. Texas Education Agency. All Rights Reserved.Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to reproduce the copyrighted workis granted to Texas public school districts, Texas charter schools, and Texaseducation service centers for non-profit educational use within the state ofTexas, and to residents of the state of Texas for their own personal, non-profiteducational use, and provided further that no charge is made for suchreproduced materials other than to cover the out-of-pocket cost ofreproduction and distribution. No other rights, express or implied, aregranted hereby.For more information, please contact Copyrights@tea.texas.gov.21

9/29/2020This presentation is provided by theChild Find, Evaluation, and ARD SupportsNetworkNicole D. Price, LSSP, NCSPChild Find, Evaluation, and ARD Supports Network RepresentativeThe handout for this virtual workshop can be accessed rents42

9/29/2020Helpful ResourceWorkshop Topics Overview Duties of the ARD Committee Who Must Attend the ARD Meeting Meeting Notices and Parent or Guardian Requests Participation Options and Tips What’s in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) What to Do if You Disagree Tips to Advocate for Your Child Links to Resources3

9/29/2020Duties of the ARD Committee7The ARD CommitteeFollowing an initial evaluation, the ARD committee is the team that meets to:Determinewhether your childmeets eligibilityrequirements.Develop an IEP forhim or her, ifappropriate.Determine whatspecial educationand relatedservices areneeded.84

9/29/2020The ARD CommitteeThe ARD committee meets at least once ayear to: Review your child’s current IEP anddiscuss your child’s progress Develop a new IEP for the upcomingyear9Periodic Review and Revision of the IEPThe ARD committee must also meet to review and revise theIEP as needed to address: A lack of progress toward your child’s annual IEP goals or inthe general education curriculum; The results of any reevaluation; Information about your child provided to, or by, the parent/guardian as part of a review of existing evaluation data(REED); Your child’s anticipated needs; or Other matters, such as transition services5

9/29/2020Amendment Without a MeetingChanges to an IEP may bemade by amending the IEP if: You and the school agreenot to hold an ARDcommittee meeting tomake the changes; and The school develops awritten document tochange your child'scurrent IEP.11Amendment Without a Meeting If the IEP is amended without an ARDcommittee meeting, the ARD committeemembers, including you, must beinformed of those changes. A copy of the revised IEP must be providedto you if you ask for it.6

9/29/2020Amendment Without a MeetingAn amendment cannot be conducted for: eligibility determinations, changes of placement, and manifestation determination reviews (MDRs).An ARD committee meeting must be conductedfor these situations.Who Must Attend the ARD Committee Meeting?147

9/29/2020Required ARD Committee MembersParent/GuardianRegular EducationTeacherIndividual Who CanInterpret theInstructionalImplications ofEvaluation ResultsSpecial EducationTeacherOther individuals whohave knowledge orspecial expertiseregarding the childRepresentative of theSchool DistrictStudent With aDisability*15Additional ARD Committee MembersRepresentative of AnyParticipating AgencyLikely to Be Responsiblefor Providing or Payingfor Transition ServicesCareer and TechnicalEducation (CTE)RepresentativeOther Teachers: Teacher of students with visualimpairments Teacher of students who aredeaf or hard of hearingLanguage ProficiencyAssessment Committee(LPAC) MemberOther Personnel: Juvenile Justice AlternativeEducation Program (JJAEP)Administrator Early Childhood Intervention(ECI) Service Coordinator8

9/29/2020Meeting Notice and Parent or Guardian Requests17Notice of the ARD Committee MeetingThe ARD committee meeting must be at a time andplace that you and school can agree upon.Parent(s) or guardians should receive written noticeof the meeting at least 5 school days before themeeting, unless you agree to a shorter timeframe.Meeting notice should be in your native languageand include: Meeting purpose Place and time of the meeting List of the people attending189

9/29/2020Notice of the ARD Committee Meeting Be sure to promptly reply to the meeting notice If you cannot attend, you can ask the district toreschedule the meeting to another date/timethat will work for both you and the school You may want to give the school some alternatedates and times when you can attend.19Notice of the ARD Committee MeetingBe sure to: Confirm that your child’s school has your correctmailing address, phone number(s), and email address. Update your contact information if changes are needed. Let the school know if you need an interpreter, oraltranslation, or anything else to help you participate.2010

9/29/2020Parent/Guardian Request for an ARDMeetingWritten Request for anARD MeetingSchedule and hold the meetingProvide Prior Written NoticeExplaining Why the School Refusesto Schedule a Meeting21Participation Options & Tips2211

9/29/2020Options for ParticipationFace-to-FaceVirtualAsk toReschedulePhoneAllow Schoolto Proceed23Tips for Parent/Guardian ParticipationRequest a draftof the IEP priorto the meetingso that you mayreview proposedgoals andservices.Write down allquestions,concerns, orsuggestionsthat you haveprior to themeeting.Bring ideas tothe tableduring themeeting.Remember youare your child’svoice.12

9/29/2020Preparing for a Virtual ARD Meeting Ask about the technology platform being used andrequirements for using it successfully. Share any technology concerns or potential barriersyou may have about participating in the meetingvirtually and confirm participation. Create your back-up plan (e.g., print documents orask for print copies, charge your phone, have call-innumber readily available).“Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets” - U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs25Preparing for a Virtual ARD Meeting Ask for an agenda and meeting norms. Forexample, use video if possible, keep the focus onyour child, and mute the microphone when notspeaking. Remove distractions and minimize backgroundnoise as much as possible. Request interpreters or other supports if needed.“Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets” - U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs2613

9/29/2020Participating in a Virtual ARD MeetingBe patient – technology may not work as intended. Assumeeveryone is doing their best.Listen closely and wait to share your thoughts and ideas untilthe current speaker finishes.Introduce yourself before speaking and use video if possible.27Participating in a Virtual ARD MeetingStop frequently and provide participants enough time to askand respond to questions and feedback.Discuss and agree on the processes for obtaining forms orsignatures, if necessary.Confirm the method for receiving a copy of the completedIEP document (e.g., mail, email) and the anticipated arrivaldate.2814

9/29/2020What is in an Individualized Education Program(IEP)?29What’s in an IEP?Present levelsof academicachievementand functionalperformance(PLAAFP)Annual goalsDescription ofspecialeducation andrelated services supplementaryaids andservicesParticipationin state anddistrictwideassessmentsOther areas,includingtransitionservices whenageappropriate3015

9/29/2020PLAAFPsPresent levels ofacademicachievement andfunctionalperformance(PLAAFP) Current functioningand progress Academic &functional Share anyinformation or dataAnnual Goals Developed to meetyour child’s needsAnnualgoals Measurable Progress is monitored16

9/29/2020Services: Special Education, Related,& SupplementarySpecial educationand relatedservices supplementaryaids and services Services needed to: Enable child to advance towardannual goals Be involved and make progressin general curriculum Be educated and participatewith students withoutdisabilities When/Where/How of services,supports, and modificationsState & District-wide Assessment State assessmentsParticipationin state anddistrictwideassessments STAARSTAAR Alternate 2TELPASTELPAS Alternate District-wide assessments17

9/29/2020TransitionTransition Coordination of actions toassist moving from schoolto post-school activities Prior to turning 14 orearlierSpecial Factors: Assistive Technology Must be considered by ARDcommitteeAssistiveTechnology(AT) A formal AT evaluation maynot be required AT must provide meaningfuleducational benefit to student18

9/29/2020Additional Special vironment(LRE) Maximum extentappropriate with childrenwithout disabilities Continuum of placementoptions19

9/29/2020Extended School YearExtendedSchool Year(ESY)Services Beyond the regular schoolyear Critical areas indicate severeor substantial regression IEP goals identifiedClosure MinutesClosure Prior Written Notice Mutual agreement20

9/29/2020Prior Written Notice5 SchoolDaysRefuses toinitiate orchangeProposesto initiateor anguage41Mutual AgreementAll members of the ARD committee should agree on thedecisions made (or come to consensus), if possible. The school has the ultimate responsibility to ensure thatthe IEP includes the services your child needs in order toreceive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The IEP must indicate whether you and the administratoragree or disagree with the decisions of the ARDcommittee.21

9/29/2020What if I must be offeredthe opportunityto end themeeting andcome back laterARD committeemembersconsideralternatives andgatheradditional dataARDcommitteecomes backtogether at amutuallyagreed upontime and placeMust not exceed 10 school days unless parties mutually agree otherwiseIf the committee still does not agree at the second meeting, the school mustimplement your child’s IEP it has determined appropriate, and theparent/guardian must be offered the opportunity to write a statement ofdisagreement.Copy of IEPProvided at nocostTranslationprovidedDelivered assoon aspossibleAdditionalcopy uponrequest4422

9/29/2020Tips for Advocating for Your Child45Tips for Advocating for Your ChildEducate inorder toadvocateAsk aboutextra help,supports,andinterventionsWritedown yourthoughtsandconcernsStart byspeakingwithsomeoneyou trustKnow it’s OKto speak upShowemotion –but berespectfulAsk asmanyquestionsas youneed“8 Steps to Advocating for Your Child at School” A. Morin. Understood.org.4623

9/29/2020ResourcesSpecial Education Information Center (SPEDTex)www.spedtex.orgPartners Resource Network-Texaswww.prntexas.orgChild Find, Evaluation, and ARD Supports rent/guardiancenterhub.org/virtual-/47Thank you for joiningus!Questions? Comments? Please emailchildfindtx@esc4.net24

Notice of the ARD Committee Meeting 19 Be sure to promptly reply to the meeting notice If you cannot attend, you can ask the district to reschedule the meeting to another date/time that will work for both you and the school You may want to give the school some alternate dates and times when you can attend. Notice of the ARD Committee Meeting 20 Be sure to: Confirm that your .