I am writing to tell you that for personal reasons I will be leaving SFUSD effective the end of the fall semester, December 16. It is with great sadness that I share this news with you as I had planned to stay here for many, many years. Without a doubt, I love this job, I love SFUSD, and I love the Bay Area.  However, in order to support and care for my family I must return to Minnesota.  As I'm sure you understand my family must come first.

Please know that I am passionate about the important work we are doing and I am conflicted in knowing that my departure will create another transition for the special education department. However, I take solace in knowing that, thanks to all of you, the important work to improve access and equity for children with disabilities has taken root in our school district. We have a dedicated, energetic team of special education administrators and coordinators who are ethically, principally and authentically committed to continuing our work. 

I appreciate your support during this transition period and beyond and I remain confident that SFUSD can and will reach its goals!

Sincerely,

Cecelia Dodge, Assistant Superintendent

Special Education Services

Division of Instruction, Innovation and Social Justice

San Francisco Unified School District

750 25th Avenue, 2nd Floor

San Francisco, CA 94121-3612

Phone: 415-379-7697

Fax: 415-750-8624

Email: dodgec@sfusd.edu

Clarification on How English Learner Students Who Receive

Special Education Services are Exited from EL Services

School staff might mistakenly assume that once they indicate in the IEP that a student no longer needs EL services, the student is no longer considered EL.  From the English Learner Support Services side of things, this is not correct. The correct way to complete this action is the alternate reclassification process. The alternate reclassification process must be followed if the IEP team determines that EL services are no longer deemed necessary to meet the student's needs. 

Use of the alternate reclassification process must be documented in the notes section of the IEP and/or in the special factors folder under considerations for language needs. The following specific wording is suggested:

"IEP TEAM DETERMINED THAT THE PRIMARY REASON THE STUDENT DID NOT MEET STANDARD OR MODIFIED RECLASSIFICATION CRITERIA IS DUE TO HIS/HER DISABILITY RATHER THAN LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND THE STUDENT NO LONGER NEEDS ENGLISH LEARNER SERVICES.  THE TEAM AGREES THAT THE STUDENT BE RECLASSIFIED AS RECLASSIFIED FLUENT ENGLISH PROFICIENT (RFEP). THE ALTERNATE RECLASSIFICATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION ENGLISH LEARNERS FORM WILL BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO ELSS."

Please refer to the attached resources (click on the links to learn more):

• EL Reclassification Flowchart (Elementary and Secondary)
• IEP & Reclassification Guidelines for ELs who Receive Special Education Services with Attachment E
• Alternate Reclassification Form

For more information or support contact Kevin Chávez at 415-379-7730 or chavezk@sfusd.edu.

SFUSD is thrilled to welcome Sarah Cragg on board as our new Lead Speech-Language Pathologist! Sarah started in this position in July 2011 after the previous Lead SLP, Tim Murch, left the role to move to the East Coast.

As the Lead SLP, Sarah is a resource for her peers and a liaison between Central Office and the speech-language pathologists in general. Some of Sarah's exciting plans for the position include building an intranet site especially for the speech-language pathologists and forming work groups for SLPs to create projects based on topics of interest.

A graduate of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Sarah grew up in Indiana and moved out to the West Coast in 2001 to pursue her master's degree in Communicative Disorders at San Diego State University. She also spent time teaching English as a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia from 1999-2001. Sarah has been a speech-language pathologist with SFUSD for five years, starting in 2006.

Welcome to the team, Sarah! We're excited to have you on board!

Speech-Language Pathologists in SFUSD have a wonderful opportunity to improve their clinical skills thanks to a series of Professional Development presentations provided by the Diagnostic Center of Northern California. The DCNC provides a variety of services to special education students, their families, and local school districts.

The topic of the first of four free PDs will be African-American Students in California Schools: Guidelines for the Assessment of Language and Communication and will be presented by Priscilla Harvell, M.A., CCC-SLP. The presentation will take place on Monday, November 29, from 9:00 to 12:00 at the Roosevelt Middle School auditorium (460 Arguello Blvd.). For more information, please contact Gretchen Sharp at sharpg@sfusd.edu.