Purpose of Deliberations

1
Purpose of Deliberations

• The purpose of writing deliberations or minutes
  of an ARD committee meeting is to provide a
  concise summary of the decisions made during the
  meeting. Additionally, the minutes serve as a
  vehicle for documenting, in writing, important
  issues that were addressed during the meeting.
  It is a summary of basic issues discussed.

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Purpose of Deliberations

• The written report of the ARD committee shall
  document the decisions of the committee with
  respect to issues discussed at the meeting.
• 19 T.A.C 89.1050(e)

3
Purpose of Deliberations

• Well written minutes provide the best evidence
  regarding a fact in dispute and are typically
  generated before the parties are in litigation.

4
Purpose of Deliberations

• Commitments reflected in the minutes are binding
  on the District.
• Michael J. v. Houston ISD, Dkt. No. 364-SE-798
  (Texas Hearing Officer decn November 1998
  James Holtz).

5
Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• Someone is clearly the leader
• There is an agenda
• The seating arrangement is parent friendly
• Everyone is on task
• We seek consensus each step of the way
• Keep it moving and keep it interesting
• Person running the ARD is not taking delibs

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Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• Person who takes the minutes should be a
  district staff person who is not actively
  participating in all aspects of the meeting.
• Create a partnership with the chair of the
  meeting regarding agenda and pace of the meeting.
• Make the minutes reflect the agenda.

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Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• Dont try to do a blow-by-blow. Summarize the
  issues discussed the positions taken the
  parents request and the districts response.
• Stick to the facts avoid vague statements.
• Distinguish between Districts offer of FAPE and
  offer of enrichment activities.

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Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• Summarize the Districts proposed program and
  placement at the end.
• Prior to obtaining signatures, read the minutes
  aloud or establish committee agreement to receive
  minutes at a later date. (Remember ARD committee
  is seeking agreement to program, not minutes.)

9
Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• It is a good practice to always document that
  the parents agree after each section.
• When discussions of goals and objectives are
  generated, be specific about what kind of
  progress the student has made.

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Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• Parents are entitled to copies of their childs
  educational records, but there is no requirement
  that the documents be produced immediately upon
  the close of the meeting. The copy is required
  to be provided to the parent within a reasonable
  time following the meeting.

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Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• Use proper grammar and spelling.
• Be sure that the person writing has legible
  handwriting.
• Use positive and appropriate words and phrases
  whenever possible.

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Characteristics of a good ARD meeting

• Remember that ARD deliberations are part of the
  childs school record and no one other than
  school personnel can write on the document.

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What Should Deliberations Reflect?

• Introductions
• Procedural Safeguards
• Purpose
• Input from parents, teachers, and staff.
• PLAAFP Evaluations and competencies

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What Should Deliberations Reflect?

• Additional assessment needed
• Review disability Criteria and has need for
  specially designed instruction.
• Assistive Technology
• ELL (English Language Learner)
• Review previous goals and progress.
• PARENTS AGREE

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What Should Deliberations Reflect?

• Transition
• New Goals and Objectives developed
• BIP
• Determination of services (ESY, Special Tran,
  Related Services, etc.)
• PARENTS AGREE

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What Should Deliberations Reflect?

• Schedule
• Modifications
• State Assessment note previous results
• LRE
• PARENTS AGREE

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What Should Deliberations Reflect?

• Placement
• Assurances
• Deliberations
• Signatures
• ARD adjourned in agreement.

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What the Deliberations Should Also Reflect

• Good things the parents have to say.
• Parents refusal to Districts requests.
• District offers and parents response.
• Any evaluations considered and clarifications.
• School coordinated and collaborative efforts.

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What the Deliberations Should Also Reflect

• Request for release of information and parent
  response.
• Meaningful parent participation.

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Appropriate Words

• Individualized
• Steady progress
• Necessary to meet the childs needs
• Unique needs
• Educational Need Specially Designed
  Instruction

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Appropriate Words

• Considered
• Least restrictive
• Structured
• At this time
• General education
• Committee is in agreement

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Appropriate Words

• Structured, sequential, multi-sensory, reading
  program
• Ready, willing, and able

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Inappropriate Words

• Inappropriate
• No strengths
• The only options are
• We dont have staff in the summer.
• Thats the way it has always been done.

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Inappropriate Words

• Regression
• No progress
• Too expensive
• We dont do that
• Thats not our policy
• Too many students in my class

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Inappropriate Words

• He takes too much of my time.
• My class is too full.
• We do not have a group that your child will fit
  into.
• Remember do not mention other students names.

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Questions
?

• Questions Reviewed