Can anyone help me with an accurate way to define what and what is not collaboration? Currently we designate special ed. minutes for collaboration for certain students in the reg. ed classroom (ex: Science class of 50 minutes; we’d put in 25 special ed. min. for collaboration) This is decided at their spring IEP meeting. Anyway, by the fall often either the reg. ed. teacher makes enough accomodations or (doesn’t want anybody in the classroom -usually the case) or our special ed. schedule doesn’t allow us to physically work with the student for those minutes. (Request an aide/but it doesn’t happen due to numbers game) Anyway, the kids pass the class but the actual collaboration doesn’t actually take place except discussion at lunch; when a test is or how the student is doing. Come IEP time I sometimes haven’t actually seen the student and have to justify passing goals etc. I acually have 4 students this applies to right now. Is this collaboration or consultation? Also, if we are checked by the state and my name as special ed. tchr is on the IEP as caseworker, could I be personally be faced with due process? Thanks for any insight! I appreciate this bulletin board so much!
Re: Consultation vs. Collaboration
If the IEP states that a particular child is to have special education support (specially designed instruction) for 25 minutes during the general education Science class then that is what the child should have. The specially designed instruction can be delivered by special education staff member (teacher or parapro) or even by the general education teacher if that is spelled out in the IEP. If in the fall, the general education teacher who is a member of the childs IEP team thinks that the child can be successful in the general ed class with classroom accomodations and modifications and does not require specially designed instruction then the IEP team should meet and make the IEP refect that.
Re: Consultation vs. Collaboration
Sue J and ljs,
Thanks so much for the clarification. I will be super careful when we have our meetings this spring to make sure we all understand what those collaboration minutes mean. I’ll have to inform our coordinator and administrator (in a nice way of course) Do you think it would be better to call it consultation minutes instead; and decrease the number of minutes per week?
Re: Consultation vs. Collaboration
By law, you are to allocate time based on the need of the student (not based on the time you have according to your caseload). I would explain to your coordinator and administrator that currently you are not in compliance and if those students really need collaboration, your district needs to come up with the fund to do so. Those parents could fight your decision…adding extra personnel is less money in the long run than a lawsuit.
Re: Consultation vs. Collaboration
Thanks Guys,
I’ve contacted my coordinator/but she hasn’t returned my message as of yet. Going in to the Spring IEP meetings I feel much better informed. But I’ve been trying to find where in IDEA collaboration is defined. In looking over our paperwork, we have several cases where we’ve put in collaboraton minutes and the kids (most of whom are passing) are really just being supported by us. We haven’t stepped foot in the reg. classroom. We were to collabbed happy last year. I won’t sign this year unless we guarantee the minutes. Thanks again,
YOu can be faced w/ due process since you’re the caseworker — but your best defense is to document, document, document. A letter basically saying what you did here to admins up the chain of command — that you keep a copy of in your files — will make it clear should a due process situation arise (probably won’t) that you have expressed your concerns and done what you could. Just phrase it more formally — you’re asking for clarifications of definitions because you’re concerned that you are not fulfilling your legal obligation to honor the IEP. And more importantly, it just might shake *them* up. Be *very* nice… they still may ask you just as nicely not to ever send letters like that again.