Dear OSS Families,
We are starting this new school year in a way none of us could have anticipated just six months ago. Through all of the challenges and logistical changes, we are emerging stronger together. We believe that this year will be shaped by unprecedented growth, creativity and innovations in teaching and learning. Our commitment to you is that whatever environment we find ourselves in (remote or in person), we will continue to be your partners in educating and supporting your children so that they thrive regardless of circumstance.
As a first step into the new school year, your child’s case manager will be reaching out to you to schedule time to meet virtually so you can:
- Share your child’s experience with remote learning in the spring and summer.
- Provide input on the draft remote learning plan.
- Fully understand if and how special education services will be provided differently as a result of the remote learning environment.
More details on what to expect over the coming weeks is included below:
Family Conferences
Sept. 2-9: Your child's case manager will email you to set up a time to meet virtually.
Sept. 10-15: Parents/caregivers will meet virtually (Google Meet or Zoom) with their child's case manager. Interpreters and translations of written documents will be made available if needed.
Sept. 16-18: First day of remote learning for all students. This will be a half day with a specialized schedule developed by the school.
(Please note: Family meetings may still be scheduled during this time.)
Sept. 18: Parents/caregivers will receive a final draft of their child's remote learning plan.
Sept. 21: Full day of remote learning and specialized services begins.
After the family conferences, you will receive written notification. Parent consent is not required for the implementation of the remote learning plans. The written notification will include:
-
General statement about what the parent/caregiver shared at the meeting.
- What you shared during the virtual meeting about what you wanted to see in the student’s remote learning plan that was included or not. If not, the case manager will provide the reasons why.
- Any differences in how special education services will be delivered will include how, where and when specialized services are being provided, and will be dated to reflect when services that are being provided differently will begin.
Out of District
If you have a child enrolled in an out-of district day or residential school, your child's case manager will also reach out to you (using the same timeline above) to discuss the following:
- Your child’s experience with remote learning in the spring.
- Anticipating the student’s needs for the fall.
- Information as to how the day/residential school will deliver services if different from your child’s IEP.
- Determining a weekly check-in time to see how your child is doing.
Key Information to Note
Students Eligible for In Person: Your child's remote learning teaching team may not be your child's in person teaching team. This is due to staff who are unable to work in-person due to extenuating circumstances. For example, your child receives services from a special educator and speech-language pathologist from September 21 through October 9. On October 13, if your child was found eligible for in-person, he/she may receive services from a
different special educator and speech-language pathologist.
If you have not heard from your child's case manager by 9/10, please
email Desiree Campbell. Thank you.
In Partnership,
Alexis Morgan