SPECIAL EDUCATION AT VAUGHN

Vaughn Next Century Learning Center offers an inclusive special-education program to prepare all of our students with unique needs for life after graduation, including college and career readiness. Students identified with a disability are provided with maximum opportunities to learn and are included in all general-education programs and activities, to the maximum extent possible.

Students receive differentiated instruction in the general-education classrooms through collaboration with special-education staff in order to access grade-level standards. Each Vaughn site has two or more resource specialist teachers (RSTs) and a team of paraeducators who co-plan, co-teach and co-assess with content specific teachers. General education staff are made aware of the individualized needs, accommodations and/or modifications of our students with special needs in order to provide needed supports throughout the school day. In addition, students that require more intensive academic supports are included in Resource Specialist Program (RSP) learning labs to focus on foundational skills.

Vaughn also provides Designated Instructional Services (DIS) or Related Services as identified and indicated on students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which can include services such as adapted physical education (APE), behavior intervention development (BID) and implementation (BII), DIS counseling (PUC), language and speech services (LAS), and occupational therapy (OT). DIS services are typically provided outside of the general education classroom through a pull-out model.

Ivette Garcia

Student Support Services Director

Vaughn Central, Vaughn-wide

cell: 213-434-7311

Important Actions with Timelines

Request for a Special Education Evaluation - the school has 15 days to respond
Assessment Plan - the assessors have 60 days to complete assessments
IEP Meeting due date - an IEP meeting is required within 12 months
IEP Meeting Notification - a parent is notified at least 10 days before an IEP meeting
Triennial Assessment Plan - assessors have 60 days to complete assessments
Amendment IEP Meeting - a meeting is scheduled within 30 days following a written request

In order for Vaughn Special Education staff to follow these timelines, parent/guardian collaboration is essential. As soon as a parent/guardian receives a message or a document, the parent/guardian must respond promptly. All responses from parents/guardians should be in writing because all documents are to be filed in the students' cumulative records.

IEP Meeting Due Date

IEP Meeting Notification

Triennial Assessment Plan

Every three years, a student in special education is assessed in one or more areas to determine if any revisions need to be made to the student’s current special education program, supports, or services. An assessment plan is sent to obtain a parent/guardian’s consent to conduct the proposed assessment(s).

The school team needs at least 60 days before the next IEP due date to complete the assessments, write the reports, and hold an IEP meeting to present the results. It is important for parents/guardians to review and return the assessment plan in a timely manner. These assessments may not be conducted without parent/guardian consent. If the assessments are not conducted, the next IEP meeting will not include assessment information.

Parent Agreement to Components of the Proposed IEP

At the completion of an IEP meeting, the parent/guardian will have an opportunity to review the IEP document and then provide a response on IEP Section Q: Parent Participation and Consent (page 10). The parent has three choices and must select one:

Agree to all components of the IEP.
Agree to all components of the IEP but with some exceptions on specific areas. The parent must indicate those areas and be specific as to what are those exceptions.
Disagree with all components of the IEP.

Below the parent consent section, the parent has an opportunity to include concerns or comments.

If a parent/guardian indicates specific exceptions or disagreement with the IEP, Vaughn will invite the parent/guardian to another IEP meeting to discuss the exceptions or disagreement. Vaughn’s goal is to collaborate with parents/guardians to reach consensus on how to best support the student.

Amendment IEP Meetings

All students in special education have an IEP meeting annually, but some may require a meeting more than once a year. The IEP team may hold an amendment IEP meeting within a year as many times as necessary for any of the following reasons:

At the annual IEP meeting it is determined that the student may benefit from additional support therefore an assessment is conducted and the results must be discussed in an IEP meeting.
When it is noted that a student is not making sufficient progress toward IEP goals , an IEP meeting is arranged to address the concerns and provide needed support.
A clerical or technical error is noted in the IEP document that must be corrected by holding an IEP meeting.
The parent/guardian indicated on the IEP Participation/Consent page that there is a disagreement with a specific area or all components of the IEP therefore the IEP team must reconvene to discuss and reach consensus.

A parent/guardian may request an amendment IEP meeting in writing. Vaughn will respond by setting up a meeting within 30 days of receiving the written notice.

Testing

SBAC, ELPAC, and CAST Accommodations

Testing accommodations for SmarterBalanced (SBAC), the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) and the California Science Test (CAST) are discussed and assigned during IEP meetings.

SBAC — grades 3-8 and 11
CAST — grades 5, 8 and high school (grades 10, 11 or 12)
ELPAC — grades K-12

ACT, PSAT, SAT and AP Accommodations

High scores on standardized exams such as ACT, SAT and AP can help boost a student's chances when applying to four-year colleges and universities. The organizations ACT and the College Board (PSAT, SAT, AP) each provide accommodations to students with disabilities, but they must be arranged several months in advance of the testing date.

ACT — www.actstudent.org (navigate to: Registration/Accommodations and Supports)

College Board —accommodations.collegeboard.org

Please note: Vaughn will aid students and parents with the application process, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the family to submit the request for accommodations prior to testing.