The post 8 Strategies to Grade With Equity appeared first on Possip | Engagement Platform | School Feedback Survey.
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Tuesday, 23 January 2024
A Family’s Brief Guide to IEP vs 504 Plans
As family members you want to do everything you can to support your child, but it can feel overwhelming to start. Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 plans are a great resource for students who may need different levels of support.
Elizabeth Janca, an experienced school administrator, licensed professional counselor, and Possip Reporter explains the basic differences between an IEP plan and 504 plan.
The U.S. Department of Education states that “each public school child who receives special education and related services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP).” But, if your student does not receive special education or related services, they may benefit from a 504 plan. The U.S. Department of Education states that “the Section 504 regulations require a school district to provide a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.” NOTE: Possip does not offer medical or legal advice, families should consult their primary care physician or school personnel for guidance.
What is an IEP compared to a 504 plan?
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Special Education (IEP) |
504 |
|
|
Basic Description |
An outline for the special education experience a student will have at school |
A blueprint to support and remove barriers for a student’s disability |
|
What It Does |
Provides specific instruction (ex: push-in vs pull-out) and related services (ex speech therapy) to meet a child’s unique needs. |
Provides services and changes to the learning environment (ex: small group testing, frequent check-ins) to enable students to learn alongside their peers. |
|
What Law Applies |
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): federal special education law for students with disabilities. Gives access to the Least Restrive Learning Environment. |
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: federal civil rights law to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. Gives access to Free Appropriate Public Education. |
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How a Student Qualifies |
A student must meet the criteria for one of the federally determined 13 disabilities and the disability must impact the student’s activities of daily living. |
A student may have ANY disability and the disability must impact the student’s activities of daily living. |
|
Who creates an IEP |
A general education teacher, a special education teacher, a guardian, school administrators, a service provider such as a school psychologist, and students when appropriate |
A guardian, a teacher, and a school administrator are required; incude input from multiple teachers and students when appropriate |
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Parts of a Plan |
|
|
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Examples of Common Interventions |
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|
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Frequency of Meetings |
Once a year – Annual Review Every 3 years – Re-Evaluation When needed – Dismissal |
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Age Limit |
Available through 12th grade, not eligible for transition to college |
None, eligible to transition into college. Workplaces are required to provide accommodations through the American Disabilities Act |
Ask Your School For Help
There are many ways to support students academically, behaviorally, and emotionally so it’s important to collaborate with your school to determine what works best for your student. Above all, if you have questions about an IEP or 504, reach out to your school to determine who to contact and how to best reach them.
We encourage families to continue to share feedback through Possip surveys and reach out to their department coordinators for additional support. Accordingly, when you provide feedback through your Possip surveys regarding IEP or 504, your comments are flagged as high importance and shared with your school leadership.
The post A Family’s Brief Guide to IEP vs 504 Plans appeared first on Possip | Engagement Platform | School Feedback Survey.
Monday, 22 January 2024
Thursday, 18 January 2024
Ideas to Optimize School Schedules
School schedules are often considered fixed – but they aren’t. Schools can get creative with the schedule and hiring.
Possip teammates round up intriguing ideas to consider to optimize school schedules for the benefit of both students and staff.
Staggered Start Times and Flexible Schedules
Schedule staggered start times for different grade levels or subjects. Recent research reveals that later start times can benefit middle schoolers, not just high schoolers. This approach can reduce overcrowding in common areas and allow for more personalized attention to students in smaller groups. Additionally, introducing flexible scheduling where teachers have control over certain periods of their day can lead to more effective time management. For instance, teachers could choose when to have their planning period or collaborative time with colleagues. This reduces the intensity of a rigid schedule and allows teachers to work during their most productive hours, improving work-life balance and reducing burnout.
The post Ideas to Optimize School Schedules appeared first on Possip | Engagement Platform | School Feedback Survey.
Wednesday, 10 January 2024
7 Communication Traps – Part 2: Over Communication
To quickly review, we typically see Communication Traps fall into two categories – traps in UNDERcommunicating, and traps in OVERcommunicating.
Possip Founder and CEO, Shani Dowell, reflects on some of the most common Communication Traps we hear in feedback from parents across the nation. This is part two of a two-part series.
UNDERcommunication: When schools or districts communicate less than they need to. This could include the following:
- No Communication
- Having Unspoken Rules
- Communicating on a “Need to Know” Basis – as Interpreted by Leadership
- Having an Insiders Club
To read about these traps in full, check out this article: 7 Communication Traps – Part 1: Under Communication.
Over communication is the well-intentioned cousin of under communication.
OVERcommunication comes when schools or districts value communication – but that ambition may need the additional step of thinking through strategy and systems for communicating. Examples of traps within overcommunication include:
- Chaotic or Unpredictable Communication
- App Mania
- Communicating New and Changing Information Constantly
- Sharing All Information to All People
The post 7 Communication Traps – Part 2: Over Communication appeared first on Possip | Engagement Platform | School Feedback Survey.
Monday, 8 January 2024
Tech Yes or No? Benefits and Challenges of Digital Learning
Today’s educational system has been transformed by technology. In my early years in school, I remember being enthralled with the Paint app on a giant Apple computer and playing with my LeapFrog. Flash forward to today, and students often spend much of their day learning on personal Chromebooks or engaging with a Smartboard. While we once relied on learning with technology completely in response to the global pandemic, educational leaders are now presented with more choices regarding technology. Are we saying, “Tech Yes!” or limiting its use?
Sarah Besand, a teacher at a digital literacy magnet school and Possip Reporter, reviews the pros and cons of teaching through tech.
With the evaluation of any tool, weighing the pros and cons will be extremely important. We can then examine specific school needs and make a calculated decision about how technology will be used. Here are some of the benefits and potential challenges of digital learning:
Benefits
Increased Engagement
As a third grade teacher at a digital literacy magnet school, my targeted use of technology within my classroom almost always leads to increased student engagement. There will always be circumstances where pen and paper may be necessary, but any time I can use a tool like Kahoot or Blooket to assess or review with my students, I notice they are engaged the entire lesson, and I can gather important assessment data from the tools as well.
Here’s what’s important to remember: this generation is the digital generation. Today’s students have spent their entire lives exposed to technology, and we can capitalize on their strengths by integrating digital platforms and tools into our daily instruction. Additionally, students can also teach us! Every day, I learn something new about technology from the new generation, and it makes an impact in me staying current.
Here’s what’s important to remember: this generation is the digital generation. Today’s students have spent their entire lives exposed to technology, and we can capitalize on their strengths by integrating digital platforms and tools into our daily instruction. Additionally, students can also teach us! Every day, I learn something new about technology from the new generation, and it makes an impact in me staying current.
The post Tech Yes or No? Benefits and Challenges of Digital Learning appeared first on Possip | Engagement Platform | School Feedback Survey.
Friday, 5 January 2024
Building Traditions: School-Wide Community Meetings
Some of the strongest memories students have of their school when they get older are the traditions their school had in place to create a warm and welcoming environment. Maybe it was the holiday concert or the sports awards ceremony. Or maybe it was a simple tradition of coming together to celebrate student success at a community meeting.
Cate Reed, seasoned administrator, current Senior Vice President of Teach For America, and Possip Reporter, explains how to foster a deep sense of belonging through regular school community meetings.
Having a strong community meeting at school creates an inclusive culture where everyone feels heard and valued, and people can be regularly recognized for their contributions. These meetings, if done in a celebratory and consistent manner, can provide lots of opportunities to recognize hard work, persistence, and kindness among students and staff.
Here are some tips to help you organize effective and engaging community meetings–and to have students looking forward to gathering with one another and with teachers and staff.
Have a Regular Schedule
Establish a regular schedule for community meetings, so parents, teachers, and other stakeholders can plan to attend. Consistency builds anticipation and encourages ongoing participation. Once a week for an hour is plenty! Publish the schedule early in the year, and consider having a topic for each meeting that students know is coming. The schedule for the time should be consistent so students know what to expect.
The post Building Traditions: School-Wide Community Meetings appeared first on Possip | Engagement Platform | School Feedback Survey.
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