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"Needs not Labels, Services not Places, Names not Numbers"
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In the News...
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SFUSD Goals & Special Education
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Access And Equity
Students with Vision Impairments and the iPad
 | Mariyah Patel
1st Grade
Ulloa Elem |
This year, seven students with visual impairments from first through tenth grades started learning how to use an iPad to access their curriculum. With a flick of a finger, a drag in the right direction, or a series of taps, they are able to read digital books, type notes, do internet searches, and prepare homework. Starting with an iPad, students with visual impairments are able to let VoiceOver read the screen, zoom in with simple gestures, invert the display colors, alter text size, and even dictate sentences for the iPad to type. When this power is coupled with a digital library called Bookshare, students with visual impairments experience full access to thousands of books. Using the iPad to access curriculum for these students has made learning fun and inclusion an even more positive experience for them. To read the full article click here. Link
-Ahmet Ustunel, TVI, Assistive Technology Specialist
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Student Achievement
SpEd & MLPD: A Strong Partnership for Kids
 | Julio Moreno
TSA, MLPD |
The Special Education Department and Multilingual Pathways Department collaborated extensively during the 2013/14 school year to ensure compliance related to students who are English Learners with IEPs. SpEd and MLPD worked with the CDE Advisory Board to streamline the reclassification process for English Learners. Positive, proactive and regularly dedicated collaboration time allowed the departments to build a common understanding of the critical components of mandated compliance. From this collaboration new guidance documents of the reclassification process were created. The new documents can be found on the SEIS (Special Education Information System) website in the "English Learner" folder of the document library, or on the Multilingual Pathways Department intranet site. Case Managers will also find a new checklist titled, "Developing Compliant IEPs for ELs with SpEd Services" to assist in ensuring compliance and appropriate IEPs. SpEd and MLPD will continue to work closely together to support teachers and students as we implement Common Core State Standards and the new assessment measures in the 2014/15 school year. Questions on the reclassification process? Email Julio Moreno at morenoj1@sfusd.edu.
-Julio Moreno, Teacher on Special Assignment, MLPD
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Accountability
SEIS Stars & CASEMIS Champions!
 | | The 2014 SEIS Star Award |
Congratulations to the 264 teachers and related service providers who received SEIS Stars in May for Compliant Caseloads! The SEIS Star award was given to Case Managers with Caseloads with zero compliance issues. Teachers and Administrators worked hard to ensure Caseloads were compliant and error free in preparation for the Summer. 341 CASEMIS Champion Awards were given to Case Managers who had CASEMIS error-free Caseloads. We are required to submit our annual June CASEMIS report to the state with zero CASEMIS errors. Thanks to the dedicated Teachers, Administrators, Content Specialists and Supervisors the June 2014 CASEMIS report is sure to be our most accurate CASEMIS report to date! |
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Celebrations!
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Teacher of the Year!
Marissa Miller, PreK, Paul Revere Elementary
Congratulations to Marissa Miller for being honored as one of the Mayor's "Teacher of the Year" award recipients! Click here to read more about this outstanding achievement:Link
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Hong Kong Delegates Visit SFUSD
May 12-15
Delegates Ivy Wong and Jocelyn Chan, from the Hong Kong Bureau of Education visited SFUSD during the week of May 12. They observed engaged students, effective classrooms and positive interventions at Cobb, Francis Scott Key, A. P. Giannini, Flynn and Sunset Elementary schools. They also attended the AccessSFUSD: The Arc's graduation celebration. Ivy and Jocelyn were impressed by the level of inclusive practices in San Francisco's Public Schools.Their goal is to take what they learned here to develop effective programs when they return to Hong Kong.
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AccessSFUSD: The Arc Graduation
May 13, 2014
 Congratulations to the seven transition students who proudly graduated from AccessSFUSD:The Arc this year. The seven graduates will be going to adult programs at The Arc San Francisco and Worklink to continue their community participation and supported employment. Some students will be attending Creativity Explored, an art studio for young adults with disabilities. The graduation ceremony included a video shout out, a touching slide show, heartfelt speeches by past and current students, as well as surprise live performances. Family, friends, and community members joined in to celebrate this truly oyous event!
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AT & Alvarado Elementary
Gaining Access through Assistive Technology
 Karen Baca, Assistive Technology Specialist for SFUSD worked with a dedicated team of teachers at Alvarado Elementary school to ensure students have the tools they need to access their education. Big shout out to: Karen Baca, Lisa Gross, Sue Holland, Michelle Kim and the Alvarado community for their dedication to kids! |
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ACSA & The SpEd Academy
Professional Development for Administrators
On Saturday, April 26 the ACSA Special Education Academy graduates celebrated a year of advanced professional development. Graduates participated in monthly meetings where distinguished California administrators, educators, and legal experts presented on various topics related to Special Education. Sponsored by the Association of California School Administrators, including SFUSD Asst Superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, participants received a solid foundation in the application of management fundamentals in Special Education.
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Autism Tree
Sunset Elementary
During the month of April an Autism Acceptance Tree was created by 408 children at Sunset Elementary School to celebrate Autism Awareness Month. This Acceptance Tree symbolically communicates all children are fully embraced as part of the entire school community. Deborah Peralta, mother of two students with Autism at Sunset, had the idea for the Autism Tree project. What a special project and beautiful piece of artwork for the entire Sunset School Community!
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SpEd Tech Needs Survey
Identifying Tech Needs
A huge shout out to the 264 SFUSD SpEd Teachers and Related Service provider who completed the SpEd Tech Needs Survey this month! This summer we will be analyzing the results of the survey to guide planning and development for our department. Congratulations to Lauren Holden, SpEd teacher at Marina Middle School who won an iPad for educational use in her classroom!
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Congratulations, We Will Miss You!
Minoo Shah, Director of SpEd Moving On
 Congratulations to Minoo Shah, Director of Special Education Services, on her new position with Portola Valley School District as the Director of Student Services. Dr. Shah joined our department as a Psychologist 17 years ago. Since that time she has been a tremendous asset to the department and Leadership Team.
Best of luck Dr. Shah on your next adventure!
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We're Moving
Special Education Services is Moving to Santiago!
Central Office Special Education is moving this week to our new Santiago site. If you need to find us we are located in the Sunset neighborhood at 345 Santiago Street. Thanks to everyone for your amazing support and flexibility during this transition!
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Congratulations on another successful year of learning.
If there is something you would like to submit for the next newsletter (August) please email Sarah Ashton (ashtons@sfusd.edu).
Have a wonderful, relaxing and rejuvenating summer. See you in August!
Sincerely,
Dr. Elizabeth Blanco
Special Education Services, SFUSD
"You learn something every day, if you pay attention."
- Unknown
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Community
Advisory
Committee
(CAC)
The CAC advocates for effective Special Education programs and services.
Meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of every month. Please come!
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"Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand"
Chinese Proverb
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