July 1213, 2006 Northland Inn Brooklyn Park, MN

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July 12-13, 2006 Northland Inn Brooklyn Park,
MN
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Enrollment Options in an Alternative Programs
Alternative programs are considered choice
programs. Students may choose to self-refer to
an alternative program. Parents of a student
may request enrollment for their child in an
alternative program. Students may be referred
by their district to an alternative
program. Students could be placed in an
alternative program as an alternative placement
option. The student may be dual-enrolled in
an alternative program and the traditional
school. The student cannot be denied entry
because of the existence of an IEP. If a
district places a student in an ALC for any
reason, they are obligated to provide
transportation

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• What are the criteria for a student to be
  enrolled in a State Approved Alternative Program?
  
• Eligible students under age 21 are those who
  meet any of the following criteria
• are performing substantially below grade level
• at least one year behind in credits for
  graduation
• are pregnant or parents
• have experienced physical or sexual abuse
• are chemically dependent
• have mental health problems
• have been homeless recently
• have withdrawn from school or been chronically
  truant or
• speak English as a second language or have
  limited English proficiency.

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Can a school district unilaterally place a
student in a state approved alternative
program? Based upon the specific language
contained in Minn. Stat. 124D.128, Subd. 3, a
school district may not unilaterally place a
student in an ALC.

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What are some important issues for ALC MARSS
reporting? Every membership hour that is
claimed must be associated with a credit/class
for students enrolled in ALCs. Only students
age 16 and older can be claimed using the
independent study model. Attendance is always
the student-teacher contact time, whether its
generated in a seat-based setting or via
independent study Students in state-approved
work-based learning can also be claimed for
documented work time, not to exceed membership.
Membership for work-based learning is based on
the credit the student earns, not the hours
worked.

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More MARSS Each district must make a
determination on how MARSS reporting information
is to be transferred from the IEP Team / Special
education teachers to the MARSS
contact.    Special education students will have
a new MARSS data element for this year. There
is a new field called Special Ed. Service Hours
that is required for MARSS reporting for the
06-07 school year. Your MARSS contact should
watch for training this fall regarding the new
fields.  This is important because it WILL
affect your funding. Students with IEPs
generating membership via independent study must
have service hours reported. We are not
entirely sure about other ALC students such as
night school, targeted services, or summer
school.

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The Intake meeting is where many complications
associated with providing special education in
alternative schools can be avoided. This is your
BEST OPPORTUNITY to develop workable solutions
for identified problems areas. The team MUST
consider the appropriateness of the program, but
be prepared to offer other options. These should
be considered ahead of time.

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Care And Treatment
Appropriate settings

Area Learning Center
Regular School
School Within A School
Homebound Or Home School
Seat-based
?
Independent Study
Other options
Charter School
Day Treatment
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• Seven essential elements of effective (special
  education) programs (in alternative schools)
• Quinn Rutherford, 1998 Rutherford, Nelson,
  Wolford, 1985
• functional assessments
• functional curriculum
• effective and efficient instructional
  techniques
• programming for effective and efficient
  transitions
• comprehensive systems
• appropriate staff, resources, and procedural
  protections for students with disabilities
  (Rutherford Howell, 1997) and
• educational climates that are supportive of the
  student's social/emotional needs (Quinn, Osher,
  Hoffman, Hanley, 1998).

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What It Takes For A Special Ed Teacher To Get
The Job Done On Time.
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Does the student have a current IEP
(Individualized Education Plan)? Does this
student have a lapsed IEP? Has this student
been referred to the ALC/ALP as an alternate
placement by an IEP team?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Has this student ever received pull-out services
of any kind? (including speech, Title I, homework
help, targeted services) Has the student
recently been exited from special education
services? Has the student ever been referred
for testing, but did not qualify for special
education services?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Has any school district denied a request on this
students behalf for a special education
assessment? Is the student currently receiving
any accommodations or modifications related to
schoolwork, behavior, or social/emotional
issues? Was the student in the process of an
evaluation or re-evaluation for special education
services at the time the choice was made for
enrollment in the alternative program?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Has the student ever been evaluated for learning
problems outside of the school system? Has the
student ever been evaluated for mental health
concerns outside of the school system? Have any
of the students previous teachers recommended a
special education assessment in the past?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
To your knowledge, has this student been the
subject of discussion at a Student Assistance
Team or Child Study Team meeting? Do you feel
this student has limited access to academics
because of undiagnosed physical concerns such as
hearing loss, visual impairment, or limited
mobility? Has this student ever been on
medication for Attention Deficit issues?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Has this student ever been on medication for
depression? Has this student ever been suspended
from school for more than 10 days in any one
school year? Has this student ever been the
subject of a Manifestation Determination meeting?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Has this student ever had a Functional Behavior
Assessment (FBA)? Has this student ever received
an alternate assessment instead of other
standardized testing? Has this student ever had
a transition assessment?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Has this student ever had a district intervention
plan or a 504 plan? Do you feel this student is
working significantly below potential? Do you
think this students behavior interferes with
school performance?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Do you think this students mental health
interferes with school performance? Do you think
this students social competency interferes with
school performance? Do you think the alternative
program will improve this students academic,
social, or mental health status without special
education assistance?
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Special Education questions for the intake team
Do you think this student belongs in special
education?
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What to look for in the file? Current and recent
grades Discipline records Attendance
records Behavior plans Anecdotal records Due
Process Papers IEP/ER
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I found an IEP. What now? Can it be followed as
written in the ALC setting? Can all services
called for be provided without special
arrangements? Are properly licensed staff
available for all services that are listed? Does
the students schedule in the ALC allow for all
services to be met?
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Dont forget the two questions that MUST ALWAYS
be asked? Does the student meet eligibility
requirements for special education services? Is
the student in need of special education services
to be successful academically?
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July 12-13, 2006 Northland Inn Brooklyn Park,
MN