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Volume 16

August 2023

ADR Insights is a monthly newsletter, brought to you by South County SELPA's (Special Education Local Plan Area) ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) team, full of special education information. This month we're talking about attendance and how important it is to work with families to ensure students are at school. Keep reading to learn more and hear about upcoming events and SELPA highlights.

Students and staff are getting back into their school routine, and we are aware that student absenteeism is a huge issue at many schools. Did you know that a student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10 or more school days in a school year? Did you also know that students with disabilities are more likely to be chronically absent? As school staff, you play a critical role in encouraging students to be at school regularly. Student attendance is a critical aspect of the educational process and plays a pivotal role in academic success, personal development, and overall school performance. Here are some ways to work with your families to ensure students are at school ready to learn.

Build relationships: Communicate in a non-accusatory manner with parents and students to build a supportive relationship and emphasize the importance of regular attendance.

Greet students with a smile: Regardless of the number of tardies or absences, welcome every student and let them know how glad you are that there have come to school.

Communicate: Connect with families to know the challenges they might be facing and provide resources, if needed.

Make school a positive experience: Share all of the wonderful things happening in your classroom and at school with families.

Review school calendar: Provide the school calendar to families throughout the year in order for parents to plan accordingly.

Convene an IEP: Review the IEP to determine if it includes explicit strategies to address educational needs, as well as attendance goals and objectives.

Click for additional tips.

Place a copy of the IEP At a Glance in your substitute folder. Substitute teachers are responsible for implementing the IEP. Also, if there is any assistive technology a student must have access to during the day, make sure the substitute knows where to locate it in the classroom.

Remember to replace the IEP At a Glance throughout the year after any IEP meeting.

August 28 — Sensory Story Time at National City Library

An inclusive story time for children on the second and fourth Monday of the month at 11 a.m. See a full list of National City Library events here.

Aug. 15 to Sept. 12 — Parent IEP Academy

Do you know parents who would benefit from increasing their understanding of the IEP process? Do they want to feel confident and have the necessary tools to fully participate in their child’s IEP? Registration for the Parent IEP Academy is open now and will meet Tuesdays on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Although the first session was last Tuesday, it is not too late to join!

Spanish Registration / English Registration

August Online Trainings

TASK helps families navigate special education, disability services, and assistive technology. They provide families with emotional support, information, and direction. TASK is the Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) for San Diego County. They offer multiple workshops and support groups to help navigate the challenges families face. Workshops are available in English or Spanish and are offered free of charge.

Click to register and learn about the events.

Sept. 5 — Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting: Internet Safety and Security

Attendees will learn how to keep their child safe while online. Join the CAC at the South County Regional Education Center (800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950) from 10 to 11 a.m.

Sept. 13 — ADR Lunch Chat

Parents can bring their questions to our team and join us virtually from noon to 12:30 p.m. using the Zoom meeting ID: 851 2590 6937

If you have any questions or comments on the ADR Insights newsletter, please contact our team at scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at South County SELPA.