Special Edition, Vol. 1, Issue 18

"So, if all children are part of regular settings and all children participate in the general curriculum, then all educators need to know techniques to care for and educate all children. One of the most powerful crossovers in inclusive education is that all educators are sharing the knowledge that all children are unique, that instruction needs to be individualized. Developmentally appropriate practices are important for all children."

~Penny Lowe Deiner, Inclusive Early Childhood Education

As we continue to share news within SFUSD and beyond, please consider submitting an article for publication. Simply email spedfeedback@sfusd.edu, and we will be delighted to showcase your school or classroom.

Announcements

Cal-Tash's 30th Anniversary conference and membership meeting will be March 2-3, 2012 in Oakland. Click here for more information.
Professional Development for paraprofessionals is scheduled for February 11, 2012. Click here to view the flyer.
Previous Special Edition Newsletters are now accessible online. Please click here to access them.

RTI and Classroom & Schoolwide Learning Supports:

A Guide for Teachers and Support Staff

This guide is designed to:

broaden perspectives of response to intervention,
provide frameworks for contextualizing the work in classrooms and schoolwide,
and generally enhance practices.

It is divided into the following units:

Framing Response to Intervention in the Classroom
Pursuing Response to Intervention Sequentially and Effectively
Pursuing Response to Intervention as One Strategy in a Comprehensive System of Student and Learning Supports

Click here to read more.

Scholarship Opportunity

For the second year, UCLA Extension's Education Department proudly announces the Carolina Hernandez Pavia FIPSE Scholarship Program to train K-12 teachers on how to implement culturally-inclusive positive behavior supports in the classroom. Candidates who complete the program will receive a UCLA Extension Certificate in Educating and Supporting Students with Emotional Disturbance. The certificate program takes six months to complete. Participants complete four online or blended courses. Our next cohort begins in February 2012.

Scholarships are limited. Presently, we have space available for seventy-five participants. There is no cost to schools or teachers! Participants who do not get accepted into the February cohort will be placed on a waiting list for our August 2012 cohort. Participants working in Title I schools are strongly encouraged to apply.

Teachers interested in this program must submit the application (click here) as soon as possible to Laura Harvey atlharvey@uclaextension.edu. You may also contact Laura at (310) 825-4581 with any questions you may have about the program.

SEIS Transition Update

January 24th is our "kick off" of the training for our new IEP management system, SEIS (Special Education Information System). This is really exciting for SFUSD because: SEIS is currently used in over 80% of California's SELPAs, there are currently over 650,000 students statewide identified within the system (this will assist in inter-district transfers), SEIS is formatted to reflect state education codes and therefore increase procedural compliance, and ultimately will help all of us better meet the needs of our students.

Important Information:

All staff should be signed up for a SEIS training. If you have not registered please contact Sarah Ashton (ashtons@sfusd.edu)
Training will take place at the Cabrillo Campus and Independence HS.
Please be ON TIME, bring your laptop, as well as a current caseload list with IEP & Evaluation dates.
Once you have attended the training you will be given your Username & Password for SEIS. This will allow you to login to your account and view your caseload.

With any IEP's completed in December 2011 and January 2012:

Ensure the Brown file has is a signed copy of the current IEP.
IEP's will NOT need to be manually typed into SEIS.
If you have an electronic copy of your IEPs held in December and January, please email those to your coordinator prior to your training date.
If you do not have an electronic copy of your IEPs held in December and January, please bring those hard copies to your training.
Check out the SEIS Homepage on the Intranet for Updates and Announcements!https://district.sfusd.edu/dept/sped/seis/default.aspx

There will be additional Training available throughout the Spring. Check the SEIS Homepage for announcements.

SEIS 101 (Navigating the System)
SEIS for Administrators/Clerical Staff
SEIS Content: Offer of FAPE, Writing Measurable Goals, Accommodations

Thank you for your dedication and hard work during this transition. If you have any questions please contact Sarah Ashton (ashtons@sfusd.edu) the SEIS Implementation Coordinator.

Articles for Reflection and Professional Development

This is an ongoing section where we will provide a current and relevant research article. The goal is to promote discussion and intellectual stimulation amongst SFUSD staff, schools, and the community.

The article Understanding and Minimizing Staff Burnout from the Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA provides a critical look at the underlying causes of teacher burnout and practical strategies to reduce their devastating effects.

Click here to read more.

Sincerely,

Communications Team

Special Education Services, SFUSD

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