SPINThe Newsletter for Parents NEWSof Children with Special Needs School Year 2013-14 Special Edition SPIN is co-sponsored by the Now Playing: Department of Education and the Disability & CSSS Communication Access Board. Services include hen Hawaii’s public school and skills, their instruction must a phone line for information, Wstudents pick up their include the following supports and referral and support, a pencils, laptops and tablets in early accommodations: quarterly newsletter, an August, their learning will be tied H related services and supports annual conference and to new education standards, the to meet the unique needs of community workshops. Common Core State Standards the student and enable access SPIN is guided by an or CCSS. These standards were to the general education Advisory Committee originally developed in 2010 and curriculum; have been adopted by 45 states, as made up of parents, teachers H an IEP which includes well as Guam, American Samoa and and people with disabilities. annual goals aligned the Northern Mariana with grade-level Islands. 919 Ala Moana Blvd., # 101 standards; and CCSS grew out of Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 a partnership between H teachers who State Superintendents are prepared and PHONE of Education and qualified to deliver 586-8126 Governors across the high-quality, country who were evidence-based, Neighbor Islands dial the concerned that too many students individualized instruction exchange below, then 6-8126 were not prepared for college or and support services. Kauai - 274-3141 21st Century careers when they In the next two pages, we’ll Hawai’i - 974-4000 graduated from high school. provide more information and Maui - 984-2400 Unlike many other educational resources to help you, as parents, Molokai - 1-800-468-4644 reform efforts, CCSS were be more prepared to assist with Lanai - 1-800-468-4644 developed with ALL types of your child’s learning. learners in mind, including students FAX with disabilities. Special educators What’s Inside 586-8129 were part of the teams that developed and tested the standards. Benefits of CCSS 2 Standards-Based IEPs 2 The CCSS Initiative also issued WEB Measuring Progress 2 www.spinhawaii.org a guide to states called “Application Helping Your Child 3 to Students with Disabilities.” In CCSS Resources 3 E-MAIL it they stressed that in order for Calendar of Events 4 [email protected] students with disabilities to meet CCSS and show their knowledge Standards (CCSS) Timeline Seven Steps to a 2012-13 Standards piloted in Standards-based IEP Grades K-2 and 11-12 1) Look at CCSS for the grade in which 2013-14 Standards used for all the student is enrolled (or would be students in Grades K-12 enrolled based on age). with Hawaii State Bridge Assessment 2) Look at data to see where the student is 2014-15 New Smarter Balanced performing in relation to the standards. Consortium Assessment 3) Identify the student’s present levels of academic & functional performance. 4) Develop measurable annual goals and Basic Facts about the CCSS objectives aligned with the standards. 4 They are for all students in Kindergarten through 5) Identify specially designed instruction, 12th grade. instructional & testing accommodations, 4 assistive technology devices & services They cover English Language Arts (reading, needed to progress toward the standards. writing, speaking and listening, language, media and technology) and Mathmatics. 6) Determine the most appropriate option 4 for statewide assessments (with or They allow students to build from year to year on without accommodations, regular their prior understanding. assessment or alternate assessment). 4 They define what students should understand and 7) Measure & report on the student’s be able to do at each grade level; they do not tell progress throughout the year and teachers how to teach. adjust supports as needed. -- Adapted from the National Association of State Benefits of CCSS Directors of Special Education’s “A Seven Step Process to Creating Standards-based IEPs” Many educators and parents are hopeful that these new standards will prepare our children for more successful life experiences, even though they have not been fully tested over time. Some of the key benefits Measuring Progress of CCSS are listed below: By the new 2014-15 school year, most students with disabilities will be tested along with their non-disabled Benefits of Common Core peers using a new Smarter Balance Assessment State Standards (CCSS) Consortium (SBAC) statewide assessment. An C - Critical thinking skills & problem solving Alternate Assessment based on the new standards will abilities improve be available for the small group of students whose cognitive disability prevents them from taking the C - Collectively shared tests and materials SBAC test. For this school year, a “bridge” assessment save money for schools has been developed, containing items from the old S - Set expectations in 45 states protect HSA that are relevant to the new standards. Both the students from losing ground when moving SBAC and the bridge assessments are taken on-line and offer a number of accessible features as well as S - Success in work and higher education due to knowledge/skills accommodations for students with individualized needs. 2 Common Core State Helping Your Child Succeed Standards (CCSS) Resources With the introduction of CCSS, students will be Hawaii Department of Education learning in new ways. In English Language Arts, some http://www.hawaiipublicschools. of the changes include: 1) reading more non-fiction org/TeachingAndLearning/ texts that provide facts and background knowledge StudentLearning/CommonCore (like newsletter articles), 2) reading more challenging StateStandards/ materials and referring back to what was read to answer questions, and 3) learning a more complex vocabulary. DOE offers an overview of the standards, as well For Mathematics, some major changes are: 1) learning as links to a CCSS toolkit for teachers and parent a more focused set of major math concepts and skills, resources on a website called Achieve the Core. 2) applying these concepts and skills to solve real Move over to the assessment page (http://www. world problems. hawaiipublicschools.org/TeachingAndLearning/ As we all know, our children do better in school Testing/StateAssessment) to learn more about how when we are involved in their education. Below are student progress will be measured. some suggestions on how you can make a positive difference in your child’s ability to reach and exceed National Dissemination Center the new standards. for Children with Disabilities http://nichcy.org/schools- administrators/commoncore Educate Yourself. Look through the common core standards to get a feel for what your child will be NICHCY’s resources include a learning as he moves through school. Check out some number of articles about how the standards apply to of the other websites in the next column to pick up students with disabilities, as well as resources for additional information. Consider attending workshops families. (like those at the SPIN Conference)! National Parent Teacher Be an Active IEP Team Member. Help link Association IEP goals to grade-level standards. Discuss possible http://www.pta.org/4446.htm accommodations and modifications to coursework. Does your child need access to assistive technology The National PTA has developed Parents’ Guides to in order to benefit from his or her education? Decide Student Success and a resource on Frequently Asked whether your child will need testing accommodations. Questions. The Guides are available for each grade and If so, be sure he or she has time to practice with them include tips for talking to teachers. prior to testing. Smarter Balanced Talk with Your Child’s Teachers. Set up a Consortium method for communication, so that you can receive http://www.smarterbalanced. important notices and share information. Ask for ideas org/practice-test/ on what you can do at home. If your child fails to make adequate progress on IEP goals, find out what The group that is developing the statewide assessment additional strategies and resources can be provided. tool for SY 2014-15 has posted a practice test on-line for anyone to use. Monitor Homework. The National PTA recommends Common Core State that parents try and sit down with their child at least Standards Initiative once a week for 15-30 minutes while he or she works http://www.corestandards.org on homework. This keeps you informed about what your child is working on and gives you a way to know This site has detailed information when your child needs help with specific topics. about each standard, as well as additional resources. 3 CHECK THESE DATES... 10/6 Children and Youth Day 2013 State Capitol Grounds 8/10 1st Annual Assistive Technology Fair Contact Senator Chun-Oakland Sponsored by Maui HCIL at 586-6130. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Queen Kaahumanu Center, Maui 10/6 The Buddy Walk To get more info, call Nani at 242-4966, Hosted by Down Syndrome Ohana 870-7546 v/text or email to Kakaako Waterfront Park [email protected]. For information, call Maureen at 594-9662 or Ann at 383-2431. CARE Hawaii presents: Co-Occurring Diagnoses 10/11- 2013 Hawaii Early Childhood 8/23 2201 Waimano Home Road, Oahu 12 Conference “Investing in Our Future” Sensory Integration Sponsored by the Hawaii Association for 9/6 2201 Waimano Home Road, Oahu the Education of Young Children Call Bianaca at 791-6733 or email to Hawaii Convention Center [email protected]. Call 942-4708 or email to haeyc@hawaiiaeyc. org. 6th Annual Traveling Mini-Conference 2013 Presented by the Learning Disabilities 10/26 Association of Hawaii Hosted by DOE Windward District 8/7 Molokai - TBA King Intermediate School Cafeteria 8/20 Lanai - Lanai High & Elementary Call Hilopa’a at 791-3467 or register 9/14 Kauai - King Kaumualii El.