Reevaluation

[Christi Blunt]

I have a quick question. If I wanted to see the actual BASC questions and answers, is the following true?

 

The only thing I would like to point out is that if you are provided a copy of the questions, then it could make this tool invalid to use for future evaluations. My concern with this is him being in kindergarten, this is a tool that could be used multiple times in his academic career.  

 

This is in Kansas.

 

Thank you for your help!

[Carolyn Rowlett]

This doesn't make sense at all.  First, the BASC includes a questionaire for parents, so you would obviously see that one.  Second, the results of the BASC are put in an evaluation report (with the questions and answers).  Third, BASC itself recommends using it multiple times to assess whether interventions are working.  It says nothing about seeing the questions making the tool invalid.

This would make sense for academic assessment tools, which specifically state you cannot use the same one more than once per year, but not for a behavior assessment and not indefinitely.

I am also in Kansas, but this applies generally.

[Linda Tahir]

How many accommodations are reasonable for in IEP? An IEP was just written for a student with 25 accommodations. Is a collaborative classroom the best fit for this student, and how can a teacher stay in compliance /document that number of accommodations?

[Carolyn Rowlett]

You really can't put a "cap" on the number of accommodations needed because it totally depends on the child's needs - you could have a child with multiple disabilities who needs multiple accommodations.  You base the number on what is needed - not on whether or not it is difficult to implement.  However, you make a very good point about a teacher's ability to implement multiple accommodations (25 is quite a large number).  Without knowing all the facts it's difficult to say whether a collaborative classroom is best.  I would start by pointing out the impossibility of a teacher to stay on top of  all these accommodations and ask for push in minutes from a special education teacher or an aide for the classroom - both of which can assist with the accommodations.  If that doesn't work, then a more restrictive environment might be an appropriate discussion.

[JSD24]

For Christi:  Once an evaluation is written, the actual paperwork used to write it is generally shredded.  I'd be very surprised if the questionnaire that was filled out by school personnel existed at a point in time when the parents requested this unless this was asked before the school filled it out.  I'd also say that this is part of a child's educational records and parents are entitled to see it.  I'd definitely verify that parents were given the parent version to fill out.  Keep in mind that kids will often mask at school which will result in things like the BASC having different results with home & school.  Not sure how seeing what the teacher filled out could invalidate using this tool in the future.  I'd ask to see the instructions that go with the BASC where this is said.

For Linda:  Are the accommodations the type of accommodations that need to be implemented all at once or are they situational?  Situational (where these are done in reading, those are done in PE and this group is for field trips) are going to be easier to keep on top of.  If a student needs this many accommodations, does it mean they need a 1:1 so that the IEP can be followed?  It is reasonable that the school accommodate all students according to IDEA and Section 504 where 25+ accommodations for one student is needed.  Keep in mind they should be based on the student's needs and not the ability of a teacher to follow what's written.  This is one reason why placement is always the last thing to decide on when it comes to IEPs.

[Christi Blunt]

Thank you! Exactly what I thought.