Education
September 2015
This Newsletter is published by the
Planning, Data, and Performance Management Department,
Division of Special Education, Los Angeles Unified School District.
Los Angeles Unified School District.
Inside This Issue
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Welcome Back to the 2015-16 School Year!
Upcoming Events
Spread the Word to End the Word
Moderate-Severe Programs
Welligent - NEW Service Tracking Attendance/ Cancellation
Statuses (Codes)
New Common Core Goal Stems
Taking a Closer Look at Related Services
Leichman C.T.C. Happenings
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Video
The Summer Institute 2015 Highlights
“LAUSD's Division of Special Education Teaches RealWorld Skills to All” News Article
Official Status of Disabled Student Athletes Says, “We Are
All the Same” News Article
New and Revised Special Education Publications
Staff Professional Development and Workshop
Opportunities
Miscellaneous – E-library, Newsletter Archive, Sharing
Ideas, Strategic Plan
Division of Special Education
ALIGNED STRATEGIC PLAN
Welcome Back to the 2015-16 School Year!
The Division of Special Education Newsletter will be
published four times this school year: September,
December, March, and mid-May.
Information and updates from the various programs
and departments within the Division of Special
Education will be highlighted along with reminders
about upcoming events, recently published policy
documents, and upcoming professional development
opportunities.
The newsletters are accessible on the Division of
Special Education website homepage under “news and
announcements” and also in the e-library “newsletters”
section.
We look forward to hearing your comments and
suggestions for making this newsletter even more
beneficial. Please send your thoughts and ideas to
Tammy Hoffman Kirch, Specialist, Division of Special
Education at [email protected].
Thank you and happy reading!
KEY GOALS
Improve Student
Outcomes
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Manage
Performance
High Quality Instruction and Services for Students
High Quality Operational Support
System of Monitoring and Accountability
Effective Employees Focused on Improving Student Outcomes
Resource Optimization
What have you been doing to enhance delivery,
documentation, and monitoring of services to students with
disabilities? Share your comments with Tammy Kirch,
Specialist, Division of Special Education, at [email protected]
and they may appear in a future publication of the newsletter!
Upcoming Events
th
The 37 Annual Very Special Arts Festival will be held
on Friday, October 23, 2015, from 9:30 A.M. to 1:00
P.M. at the Music Center in Los Angeles. Teachers are
encouraged to support students in integrated
performances and artwork that embodies this year’s
theme: “Making Connections.”
For more information refer to MEM 6534.0: Very
Special Arts Festival 2015 and www.musiccenter.org.
“Inclusion In Our Time” comprehensive inclusion workshop –
Saturday, September 19, 2015. Click here for more
information.
1|P age
In March, we pledged to Spread the Word to End the Word™ and build awareness for society to stop and think about
its’ use of the R-word. Use of that R-word, “retard” or “retarded,” is hurtful and painful and whether intended or not, is a
form of bullying. Most people don’t think of this word as hate speech, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and friends. Eliminating the use of this word is a
step toward respect. At various events throughout the District, numerous staff members signed a banner showing their
commitment. For additional information, please visit http://www.r-word.org/.
Moderate-Severe Programs
The Division of Special Education’s team that supports students on the alternate curriculum is ready for a new year of
rigor, technology, and student growth. Trainings on the topics of Evidence-Based Practices for students with
disabilities, Unique Learning System, Oxford Picture Dictionary, Supporting Students in Integrated Settings, and more
are available during the 2015-2016 school year.
A preliminary number of alternate curriculum programs throughout the district will be part of an initial technology rollout that increases student access to curriculum and helps them to develop increased independence and social skills.
A set of monthly webinars and regular newsletters will keep teachers and staff up to date on the topics that matter
most to them—student achievement.
The Moderate-Severe Program Team:
Ryan Morse, Alternate Curriculum Specialist
Amy Nguyen, Autism Specialist
Maria Ricario, Integration Specialist
James Koontz, Integration Specialist
2|P age
New Common Core Goal Stems
NEW Service Tracking
Attendance/Cancellation Statuses (Codes)
On June 22, 2015, the status drop-down on the Session
Notes screen was modified and updated to reflect Division
of Special Education approved attendance/cancellation
statuses.
The Daily/Weekly Services Data Entry screen also has
similar changes as the number of Division of Special
Education approved codes has been revised.
Click this link for the list of Division of Special Education
approved cancellation statuses (codes) for all services
offered on FAPE Part 2. As well, the Welligent
announcement page may be accessed as a reference
regarding this topic.
New Common Core Goal Stems
WHAT IS NEW?
Throughout the first three years of implementation of the
Common Core State Standards in LAUSD, specialists from
the Division of Special Education held focus groups with
teachers in each area of the District to learn more about
what additional features they would like to see added to the
Welligent goal bank. Many new features will be added to
Welligent in response to teacher feedback.
1. The new goal stems/objective stems are
aligned to the California Common Core State
Standards in English Language Arts and
Mathematics.
 The goal stems break the standards into
component parts rather than simply
restating an entire Common Core
Standard.
 A standard may have one or many
associated goal stems.
 The CCSS standards selected for
inclusion in the Goal Bank are those
considered to be the critical skills and/or
concepts necessary for students to
demonstrate proficiency.
Continued from previous section:

They are designed for any decision
making team at a school site:
o Individualized Education
Program (IEP) teams
o Student Support and Progress
Team (SSPT)
o Section 504 Plan teams
o Grade--‐level or departmental
teams
2. The goal stems are customizable with
Conditions and Measures.
 Conditions can be added to each goal
stem to help customize the goal for the
student’s unique need.
 The type of assessment measure can
also be added to each goal stem to
ensure that the method for progress
monitoring the goal is customized to
both the content and the student’s
unique need.
o A list of possible conditions and
measurements is provided, or
the team can write a customized
condition or measure.
Coming Soon!
New English Language Development (ELD)
Goal/Objective Bank aligned to the California ELD
Standards.
 The new ELD Goal Bank will be
released to coincide with California’s
new annual ELD assessment.
 The California English Language
Development Test (CELDT) is
scheduled to be replaced with the
English Language Proficiency
Assessments for California (ELPAC)
beginning with a field test in 2016--‐
2017.
Click http://achieve.lausd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=8095
(single sign on required) for more information about
Elementary Skills (K-5) Common Core Goal Stems,
Secondary (6-12) Common Core Goal Stems, How to
Use the Goal Bank, and Adding Conditions and
Measures.
Continued in next section
3|P age
Taking a Closer Look at Related Services…
Leichman C.T.C. Happenings
Leichman had an extremely challenging but successful
year last year. Here are some of the highlights:
Related Services supports the unique needs of students
with disabilities as identified in their Individualized Education
Program (IEP). The foundation of this approach stems from
the collaboration between general education teachers,
special education teachers and service providers. We
provide both prevention and pre-referral services for
students from birth to age 22 who are suspected of having
an area of need and once identified, services are provided
to those students who meet eligibility criteria.
Our providers support a student’s educational program
through the use of therapeutic and curricular activities to
improve a student’s ability to function within the school
environment. This may include the use of environmental
adaptations or assistive equipment. Or, it may include the
adaptation of tasks in order to enhance student
performance. The Related Services Department includes:
Adapted Physical Education, Audiology, Deaf and Hard of
Hearing, Instructional and Assistive Technology, Language
and Speech, Occupational Therapy, Orientation and
Mobility, Orthopedic Impairment, Physical Therapy,
Recreation Therapy, and Visual Impairment services.
We have over eleven-hundred highly qualified providers
throughout the District serving in every school. They hold a
current license and/or credential from the state of California
in their field of expertise, and have extensive training
regarding current educational and pediatric practices. In
addition, continuing education is provided yearly to broaden
their professional knowledge and enhance their ability to
implement the latest research, technology, and best
practices.
For more information about Related Services from
prevention to service delivery click here to access the
Related Services Desktop Reference. The desktop
reference contains additional resources including brochures,
position papers, reference guides and trainings - all at your
fingertips! Or, you may visit the Division of Special
Education website under the Instruction tab. If you have any
further questions, contact the Related Services Department
at (213) 241-6200.
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Red Nose Day fundraising event. The original
fundraising goal at registration was $100; a total of
$1614 was raised!
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Relay for Life. This event took place in June in
collaboration with various community organizations
and the American Cancer Society. $1523 was
raised.
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The Special Olympics torch run began at Leichman
CTC and finished at the police station a few blocks
away. This photo shows: a Leichman special
education assistant, former Leichman students,
police officers, and some Olympic athletes.
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Community outreach. Rebeca Armenta, a special
education assistant, was elected to the Reseda
Neighborhood Council. This is the bridge between
community and school that Leichman has been
seeking.
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Mr. Jose Pillado, Leichman Special Education
Teacher specializing in autism, was selected as one
of the 2014-2015 Teacher Rookie of the Year by the
LAUSD and California Credit Union. He was the
only special education teacher selected. Leichman
is proud!!
Positive Behavior Intervention
and Support (PBIS) Video
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is a
set of research-based strategies used to increase
positive behavior and decrease problem behavior by
teaching new skills and making changes in a person’s
environment. This video shows how PBIS is applied at
the individual, classroom and school-wide levels to
increase academic performance, improve safety, and
establish a positive school culture.
4|P age
The Summer Institute 2015, “Weaving a
rd
th
Tapestry of Success,” was held August 3 and 4 at the
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Center. Close to 300
elementary special education teachers participated in two
highly engaging days learning about research-based
strategies and instructional practices in literacy, positive
behavior support, and English language development.
Keynote speaker and world renowned expert in the field of
neuroscience, Dr. Maryanne Wolf, kicked off the Institute with
an exciting presentation about how the reading brain works in
both typical and struggling readers. Her passion for
addressing both the instructional and social emotional needs
of students with reading challenges was evident to all. One
participant said, “Maryanne Wolf was simply amazing! So
energizing and knowledgeable! Thank you for bringing her to
talk to us!”
The Summer Institute participants attended five sessions over
two days covering such topics as: Positive Behavior Support,
Literacy for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Word
Study, Literacy Assessment, and Academic Conversations for
English Learners. “The facilitators were knowledgeable and
presented useful, research-based practices. Materials
provided are helpful and effective in my instructional
practices. I can start planning instruction for the upcoming
school year,” commented one teacher. Teachers received
instructional materials to support their learning. Another
teacher said, “The resources provided (books, session
handouts, and the schedule/behavior support resources
provided) are truly amazing! Thank you so much for holding
this!”
We send a heartfelt “Thank You” to all the teachers who were
able to attend the Summer Institute. With your amazing
dedication and hard work, our students will truly benefit.
“LAUSD's Division of Special
Education Teaches Real-World Skills to All”
LAUSD's Division of Special Education teaches physical and social skills.
(Courtesy SED)
Click this link for a special education article that appeared
in the Los Angeles Times.
Source: LA Times (6/1/15)
Official Status of Disabled Student
Athletes Says, “We Are All the Same”
A few hours on a Saturday afternoon at a Special Olympics
event over 30 years ago changed the course of Teri
Hayden’s life, and now it looks as if those few hours have
changed the lives of hundreds of disabled student athletes
at LA Unified. After several years of pitches and proposals
from Hayden - an adaptive physical education teacher and
coordinator with the district - the organization that
oversees scholastic athletics for LA Unified made the
district the first in California to have an official division for
students with disabilities. Click here to read the full story.
Source: Posted on May 1, 2015 1:28 pm by Craig Clough
LA SCHOOL REPORT
Keynote speaker Maryanne Wolf, PhD.
explains how the brain learns to read,
what is going on in brain development
when students struggle to read, and how this knowledge can help
teachers best address struggling readers.
5|P age
New and Revised
Special Education Publications
July– August 2015
New and Revised
Special Education Publications
June – August 2015
Continued
BULLETIN PUBLICATIONS
REFERENCE GUIDE PUBLICATIONS
Document
Number
Title
Publish Date
BUL-5616.2
Additional Time and
Overtime Policy –
Classified Staff
Working with Students
with Disabilities
July 6, 2015
BUL-6527.0
Special Education
Paraprofessional
Attendance Policy
Speech Language
Impairment Eligibility
Certification (SLI
Certification); and
Language and Speech
Eligibility Certification
(LAS Certification)
July 6, 2015
BUL 4191.1
Document
Number
REF-6337.2
REF-6349.1
August 25, 2015
REF 5994.1
MEMORANDUM PUBLICATIONS
MEM-6525.0
MEM-6526.0
MEM-6511.0
MEM 6503.2
MEM
6534.0
MEM6559.0
Alternate Curriculum
Training Opportunities
“Structuring the
Learning Environment
for Individual
Success”: Two-Day InPerson Workshop for
Teachers and Others
Working with Students
with Autism Spectrum
Disorders and Related
Disabilities
2015-16 Allocation for
Support of Special
Education Programs
(Programs 12817 and
12544)
The Special Education
Leadership Academy
(SPELA) 2015-2016
Very Special Arts
Festival 2015
July 6, 2015
Behavior Related
Professional
Development for the
2015-2016 School
Year
August 25, 2015
July 17, 2015
REF 5972.1
July 6, 2015
August 26, 2015
July 27, 2015
REF4568.1
Title
Administrators
Role in Ensuring
Compliance with
Special Education
and Section 504
Legal Mandates
Submitting
Requests for
Written
Translation of
Individualized
Education
Program (IEP)
and Related
Documents
Scheduling
Appropriate
English Language
Development
(ELD) Instruction
for Secondary
English Learners
with Disabilities
Matriculation
Procedural
Guidelines for
Students with
Disabilities
Residing Within
the Catchment
Area of a
Conversion
Independent
Charter School or
Public School of
Choice Charter
School
Service
Completion
Criteria for
Speech
Language
Impairment (SLI)
Eligibility and
Language and
Speech (LAS)
Services
Publish Date
July 6, 2015
June 23, 2015
July 13, 2015
July 27, 2015
August 25, 2015
6|P age
Staff Professional Development and
Workshop Opportunities
MEM 6525.0:
Refer to Attachment A of the MEM for dates and location
information
Unique Learning System/Supplemental Curriculum
Unique Learning System: Implementing with Fidelity
Oxford Picture Dictionary: Content Area for Kids
and Oxford Picture Dictionary
Community Based Instruction
MOVE International
Alternate Curriculum Webinar

In the likely event that
you need to reference information posted in the
newsletter, you are always able to retrieve the current
and archived newsletters on the Division of Special
Education website in the News and Announcements
header of the main page or Newsletters header of the
E-Library section.
Have a wonderful 2015-2016 school year!!
MEM 6526.0:
“Structuring the Learning Environment for Individual
Success”: Two-Day In-Person Workshop for
Teachers and Others Working with Students with
Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Disabilities
9/29/15 & 9/30/15
10/14/15 & 10/15/15
REF 6378.0
Ongoing
Online Behavior Implementation (BII) Tracking
Course Available in the Learning Zone
7|P age