Esquer, Stephen <esquers@sfusd.

edu>

SpEd News October, 2016

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Special Education Services, SFUSD <scottr@sfusd.edu>
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To: esquers@sfusd.edu

Wed, Oct 5, 2016 at 7:20 PM

September 2016 News, Special Education Services, SFUSD

SpEd October News & Updates

Professional Development by your
Content Specialists
Wednesday October 12 3:00 - 4:00 at Hillcrest
Thursday October 13 4:00 - 5:00 at Denman
Basic Topics Being Covered: Academic RTI, ERMHS, Vision and Hearing, SBAC/Assessments,
Aligning Goals with Core Curriculum, Application Process and Service Tracker

Click here to sign up!

Contact Sara with questions: mireless@sfusd.edu

Professional Development for Teachers of Students with

Moderate to Severe Disabilities
Saturday Workshop Series
- EQUALS Math Curriculum Training

- Job Alike Learning Community

- Educational Benefit

click here for more info!

Online Training for Special Education: Using the DRDP (2015)

Web Conference Registration Open
Do you know of early interven1on or preschool special educa1on sta who have not yet received training
on using the DRDP (2015)? The Desired Results Access Project is oering an online Short Course at no
cost.

click here for more information

Alternative Dispute Resolution

What is the Alternative Dispute Resolution program at
SFUSD?
The Special Education Services Department of SFUSD has
partnered with the Bar Association of San Francisco to
offer a new way to resolve complaints with the school
district regarding the learning needs of your child.
Professional facilitators through the Bar Association's Alternative Dispute Resolution
Program offer skilled mediation for the prevention and resolution of complaints
between parents and school district personnel in a cooperative forum of problemsolving called the Collaborative Conference.
What is the Collaborative Conference?
The 2-hour Collaborative Conference is a no-attorney zone for the confidential
discussion of complaints needing resolution. A skilled, experienced facilitator
certified in mediation practice and trained in the policies, procedures and law of
special education facilitates the formal meeting. The goal is to create a positive,
peaceable approach to finding student-centered resolutions. The Collaborative
Conference is voluntary, optional and completely confidential. Additionally, the
content of what is discussed during a Collaborative Conference, including any
information exchanged regarding any provided materials, is to remain confidential
and shall not be repeated in a future forum. If at any time a family does not want to
continue with the Collaborative Conference, they can end their participation and all
other complaint resolution options continue to be available.
Communication Strategies Coaching for YOU!
The Communications Strategies Program for District Personnel is a collaboration
between SFUSD and The Bar Association of San Francisco's ADR Program. Its goal
is to bring effective communication strategies to district supervisors and school
district personnel for the prevention and resolution of complaints related to services
of special education students. The Communications Strategies Coaching Program
will provide as needed, on a weekly basis, up to two-hours of consultation from
professional Bar Association facilitators. The facilitators are trained in special
education processes and parent-teacher-specialist relationships in order to counsel
school district case managers, content specialists, supervisors and service providers

on communication and resolution strategies for complaints.

There will be a rotation of an on-call facilitator available every week of the school
year.
Contact the SFUSD ADR Program Administrator if you are interested in speaking with
the available communications strategy facilitator regarding a complaint, including
CDE complaints. The Administrator will alert The Bar Association of San Francisco of
the scheduling request and confirm the date and time of your phone consultation by
email/phone.
ADR links:
ADR Communication Strategies Coaching Brochure
ADR Collaborative Conference Brochure
ADR on SFUSD's website
ADR on our SpEd website
Please contact the ADR Program Admin with any questions:
Ricki Jo Scott
scottr@sfusd.edu
415-420-9198

Apps your students need, from the

Experts you trust!
Approved apps from experts (understood.org)

We are here to support you!

Please reach out with any questions, concerns and ideas.

Below are some useful links:

NEW!!!! Procedural Safeguards, LEA Billing, CAC information and

ADR all merged into one document! This is what you print and
distribute at every.single.IEP you hold. (also in SEIS document
library)
Procedural Safeguards, LEA, CAC and ADR
SpEd teacher PD series
(for new teachers and a refresher!)

Updated Seis form for LAU PLAN

Service Tracker Desk Card
CELDT update
Educational Benefit Chart (used during
CDE presentation)
Ed Benefit Chart with Instructions
Having trouble logging into Cornerstone?

Stephen Torres-Esquer
Our Phenomenal Teacher of
the Month!
Stephen has been a wonderful addition
to our team at Lowell HS. He is positive
and engaging in his classroom with staff
and students. He also goes above and
beyond in his work with an ability
advocates club he and his students lead,
The Direction (you can also follow them
on facebook and twitter!)
The club has developed ability
awareness presentations that have been
delivered in numerous classes on campus and they attend and perform at
festivals and events around SF. Stephen is fearless and fantastic! His students
are flourishing in his classroom and have increased access to the broader
world thanks to all of his efforts. ~Tracy Joseph
Mr. Stephen is a Special Ed teacher for the moderate to severe students with
Autism. He is the Founder of "The Direction: Ability Advocates" which he and
his students present Ability Awareness presentations at Lowell High School
and at community events throughout San Francisco. His students advocate to
stop bullying and promote the acceptance of all people, regardless of any
differences! Mr. Stephen has changed many of his students views on
disability, by taking out the "dis" and focusing on their abilities! He is a true
inspiration, not only to his students, but to all of us at Lowell High School! Well
done, Mr. Stephen! ~ Astrid Miliffe, SLP

Nominate a Teacher or Service Provider to be Featured in

Next Month's Newsletter

Educator Nomination form

Inspirational Quote from Dr. Blanco

"Develop a passion for learning. If you

do, you will never cease to grow."
-Anthony J. D'Angelo
New QTEA (Prop A) Opportunities for Educators
QTEA Professional Development overview for sites
QTEA Professional Learning Communities
PLC flyer

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting

The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is
to advocate for effective Special Education programs and services, and advise the
Board of Education on priorities in the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).
Next CAC Meeting:

Thursday 10/27
6:30 - 8:00 pm
SFUSD Board of Education Candidate Night
5:45 - 6:30 p.m.Coffee Chat
SFUSD Special Education Supervisors will host an Open Forum Group Coffee Chat before the regular
CAC meeting from 5:45 - 6:30pm
CAC meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month (except July, November and December)

Are you passing these out at each IEP meeting? You should be!

Procedural Safeguards, LEA, CAC and ADR

SFUSD SpEd Links

SFUSD SpEd Website
ATIC Website

October News Links

Safe Schools Week
10/16 - 10/22
SpEd Newsletters

Community Links
CAC Website
Support for Families

Special Education Services | SFUSD | 415-759-2222 | Website

STAY CONNECTED

Special Education Services, SFUSD, 3045 Santiago Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
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