Legal & Ethical Guide by Kelly Hardin https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl en-us 2020-09-26 23:22:45 UTC 2020-09-28 05:55:00 UTC hello@padlet.com khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/782750311 As an educator, it is our responsibility to provide each student with an equitable education. This requires teachers to fulfill the individualized written plan for students with identified disabilities that outlines the student's services and supports (University of Kansas, 2020). As a future school counselor, one responsibility is to “consult and collaborate with staff to understand the special needs of a student and understand the adaptations and modifications needed to assist students (American School Counselor Association, 2016). This guide will instruct teachers and other counselors on the legal and ethics involved with Individualized Education Programs. The Individualized Education Program is essential to meeting all students' needs in education; therefore, teachers need a clear understanding of why and how Individualized Education Program function in the educational setting.

References
American School Counselor Association. 2016. The school counselor and students with disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_Disabilities.pdf.
The University of Kansas. 2020.

Advice for classroom teachers: Your students with IEPs. Retrieved from https://educationonline.ku.edu/community/advice-for-classroom-teachers.

]]> 2020-09-27 20:52:42 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/782750311 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783222485 According to Alissa Brinkle, co-teacher for the English department at Willis High School, IEPs are essential because they focus on the student, their disability, and how to provide specific classroom support. Schools have a legal obligation to meet all students' needs, and IEPs provide concise, clear goals and modifications necessary for students to be successful in schools (Alissa Brinkle, personal communication, September 25, 2020). In co-teaches classes, the special education teacher supports the teacher in planning and implementing the requirements of IEPs and ensuring that students are meeting their goals(Alissa Brinkle, personal communication, September 25, 2020). Teachers need to think inclusively while collecting data and documenting the students' academic progress with IEPs to vary that students are meeting their goals(Alissa Brinkle, personal communication, September 25, 2020).

Best practices for teachers

IEPs should have measurable and targeted goals for the students
Make sure to include and incorporate parents in the IEP process.
Understand the student’s current level of progress by using baseline data and continually evaluate data.

Many issues are currently impacting the designation, development, implementation, and assessment of IEPs in schools today. The largest problem is the limitations and conflicts dealing with the pandemic and facilitating the students(Alissa Brinkle, personal communication, September 25, 2020). We are currently struggling with determining that all modifications and accommodations are being met for students who are remaining remote learners. Now schools are holding virtual meetings and evaluating data from assignments, but there are limitations with these methods. Another factor is making sure goals align with the departments' essential focus standards while still individualizing the plan for each student’s disability(Alissa Brinkle, personal communication, September 25, 2020).

Brinkle, Alissa. (2020, September 25). Personal interview [Personal interview]. ]]> 2020-09-28 03:32:37 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783222485 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783256146 American School Counselor Association provides an excellent resource for understanding the counselors' role when dealing with 504s and IEPS of students with disabilities. In this document, the American School Counselor Association describes the legal documents that must be followed to meet the requirements for servicing students with disabilities. This resource outlines explicitly the dos and don’ts of the school counselor’s duties related to IEPs and students with disabilities.

American School Counselor Association. 2016. The school counselor and students with disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_Disabilities.pdf]]> 2020-09-28 03:57:58 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783256146 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783262262 Mitchell, Corey. 2020 April 3. How to handle IEPs during the coronavirus crisis? Some expert advice. Education Week. Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2020/04/schools_ieps_coronavirus_crisis.html

In this article, the author presents the legal obligations to addressing the needs of students with disabilities. The article presents the current debate about how these laws are difficult to manage during the pandemic. The author illustrates that many are unsure of how to meet the expectations of IEPs if students are not in-person and how reforms are needed to match the atmosphere of blended or online learning.

]]> 2020-09-28 04:02:57 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783262262 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783267005 The article linked below provides a guide for parents and teachers dealing with IEPs using virtual/ online learning. The articles present six steps to guaranteeing better outcomes when dealing with students with IEPs who are learning remotely. Though there are still many things unknown about COVID, the articles help identify six ways to support students with IEPs like virtual meetings, collecting data, and parent involvement.

Mitchell, Corey. 2020, May 29. Virtual IEP meetings: A 6-step guide for parents and teachers. Education Week. Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2020/05/handling_virtual_iep_meetings_during_distance_learning.html]]> 2020-09-28 04:06:19 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783267005 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783308064 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, (20 U.S.C § 1412).

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 outlines the requirements for addressing the educational needs of students with disabilities. This law presents all necessary information for providing services and resources for students with disabilities.

]]> 2020-09-28 04:33:27 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783308064 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783325232 2020-09-28 04:44:26 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783325232 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783338583 2020-09-28 04:53:05 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783338583 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783352158 Constitutional Law: The fourteenth amendment is often used to protect the individual rights of citizens to education. This law would also protect the rights of special education students in the pursuit of an equitable school education through the implementation of an IEP.

U.S. Const. Art. XIV, § 1.

]]> 2020-09-28 05:01:45 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783352158 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783375771 2020-09-28 05:15:44 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783375771 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783395025 A school counselor must keep student educational records confidential and academic information should be provided only to individuals stakeholders. All information pertaining to the student Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will remain securely stored away to avoid access to confidential information (30 TAC § 681.45).

Professional Counselor’s Code of Ethics, 30. Tex. Admin. Code § 681.45.

]]> 2020-09-28 05:23:58 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783395025 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783420487 2020-09-28 05:39:11 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783420487 khardin6 https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783437867 -Follow the laws and policies listed under IDEA. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
-Utilized multiple sources of data to construct a concise IEP.
-Parent participation and rights should be protected and encouraged throughout the process of developing and implementing an IEP.
-Maintain student confidentiality as outlined in Code of Ethics.
-Access current practices to determine if IEP are being implemented and develop new practices to provide for remote learners.
-Provide specific statements for academic and educational needs for all students and document the progress of the student.
-IEPs is a legal document which requires complete adherence to the statements and information listed within the plan.

]]> 2020-09-28 05:50:38 UTC https://padlet.com/khardin6/zg0yg777lao953dl/wish/783437867