HERE AND NOW: RESPONDING TO PARENTS’ METHODOLOGY REQUESTS
When parents request that the IEP team include a specific methodology as a part of their child’s educational program, the team must know how to respond appropriately. Should the IEP team consider the request? What are the factors that should be considered? Is a methodology decision solely within the district’s discretion? Should a specific methodology be included in the student’s IEP? This session tackles these questions and more through a discussion of legal requirements and recent decisions from the courts and Office for Administrative Hearings (“OAH”). Plus, we will offer key take-aways and practical suggestions on how to address methodology issues in the context of ensuring parental participation in the IEP process and development of an appropriate IEP.
SPOTLIGHT ON PRACTICE: ADDRESSING SEVERE BEHAVIOR ISSUES BY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
At some point, virtually every special educator will be faced with the dilemma of how to respond when a student exhibits significant severe behaviors that may pose a threat to the student and/or others. This session examines the relevant statutes and recent guidance in this complex area of law, following up with insight into the latest court cases and decisions from OAH. We will cover topics that include threat assessments, determining when behavior implicates the IDEA’s discipline provisions, when to use 45-day IAES removals, when to involve courts and law enforcement officials, confidentiality concerns, the use of physical restraint and seclusion, and more.
LEGAL UPDATE
This highly popular session provides an overview of the most important recent cases from OAH and the courts—and why they matter to special educators. We also highlight new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on several relevant topics. And, of course, we will provide any late-breaking legal developments related to proposed and enacted legislation and regulations.
TARGETED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
To wrap up the day, F3 special education attorneys field your inquiries on a variety of topics in an expanded Q&A session.