Revisiting the Least Restrictive Environment by Stacy S https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8 What are your thoughts... on how we can improve program decision-making for young children with exceptionalities? en-us 2017-11-17 06:12:15 UTC 2017-11-25 17:17:26 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lovecoffee.png We need to change our thinking... verukas78 https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/208420253 I think it is very important to use progress monitoring data to improve program decision-making for children in special education as we need to see children continue to make progress, and with that progress, provide the appropriate opportunities children need in order to keep progressing and receiving services within the least restrictive environment. ]]> 2017-11-19 00:12:23 UTC https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/208420253 LRE brittany_l_dorn https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/208757539 Hi Stacy: This is a cool platform! I agree that progress monitoring is critical. I also think that we need to change the way we look at goal-setting and student progress. We need to shift the discourse away from consequences/being afraid when students don't meet their goals. Because teachers are afraid of this, I think they purposefully (or in some cases, subconsciously) create goals that are easy. They see goal-setting as a summative assessment of teacher capability when it should be considered as a formative assessment of the student. ]]> 2017-11-20 15:34:31 UTC https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/208757539 Data https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/209266961 Hi Stacy, 
I feel one of the best ways to improve any decision-making process is through the use of quality data. Data which is taken through a specific process using procedures which will produce accurate measures of a student’s current performance. I feel that often times the data taking process is rushed and not always measuring what needs to be measured to make the best decisions.  
Heather
]]> 2017-11-21 20:41:28 UTC https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/209266961 I love this! (this is Melody) https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/209332584 What a great little platform, it's like a conversation where you can see everything going on at once. Thanks for sharing. We need to start with the whole child. I know this is cliche, but I really find when you break children down by the skills they don't have and develop IEPs on deficit-based models you are missing the point. I'm really speaking about children with severe disabilities and behavior issues. You really have to capitalize on what works for them in order to achieve progress (I think). Also as Heather said, data is definitely key. Looking at all of the court cases presented and litigation I've been involved in in my career, you have to keep adequate data so you can defend your position. But our personnel preparation programs need to enforce this and teach people how to do it correctly. 

]]> 2017-11-22 05:22:47 UTC https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/209332584 LRE and Placement https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/210053404
 I've talked with so many parents who have gone into IEP meetings where placement is already determined prior to the meeting. I firmly believe that LRE and placement is something that cannot be determined in advance. It needs to be determined by the IEP meetings based upon the individual child's needs. These discussions include review of any data but also by hearing from the family about the future goals for their child.

Lane]]> 2017-11-25 17:13:48 UTC https://padlet.com/verukas78/50rcwvqeoet8/wish/210053404