On March 31st, our ESE task force met virtually with Ms. DeLuca, SDOC’s ESE Director. Here are the key points discussed:

1. Data Transparency

Accurate data is crucial for student placements, but many reports contain incorrect information. Staff should document both incident and intervention data. For training on data documentation, connect with your RCS and admin.

2. Teacher/Community Transparency

There are two ESE committees:

  • ESE Committee: One representative from each school (usually an administrator) meets quarterly with the ESE Department leadership.
  • ESE School Board Advisory Committee: Open to the public, composed of administrators and selected parents. 

There is no clear process for teacher participation in either committee.

3. Information Transparency

Updates on ESE trainings and resources will be shared through a weekly newsletter (available on the SDOC website) and the Canvas course for easier access. 

Accessing the Canvas Courses

The Canvas course can be found on your Curriculum Hub Canvas course (Elementary Curriculum Hub picture below). When you scroll down and click the green “professional learning” button, you’ll see a list of weekly trainings on Teams, along with the MyPGS course number to sign up for. There are also printable documents and links to many other resources. A TEAMS course is also being redesigned to be accessible to all staff with these resources.

Screenshot demonstrating where to click for Elementary Curriculum Hub.

4. Placement Transparency

District personnel participate in IEP meetings when parents request their participation. Any pressure regarding placement or service removal should be reported to the admin and Ms. DeLuca.

5. Workers’ Comp Claims Transparency

Clarification regarding the reporting of workers’ comp claims is underway. Ms. DeLuca monitors incidents monthly to ensure accuracy.

6. Training Transparency

De-escalation training is available upon request by principals. Current CPI training is in limited supply, but Ms. DeLuca emphasizes that all staff should receive thorough training.

OCEA would like to thank our ESE Task Force members and Ms. DeLuca for their dedication to our ESE students and for their involvement in these important discussions.