The way all students are being educated has dramatically changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is especially true for students receiving special education services. Currently, parents of special education students are receiving a document that is amending and changing their child’s current IEP and some of the services their child is currently receiving. This document can be in the form of an IEP amendment, addendum, prior written notice (PWN), instructional continuity/emergency plan, etc depending on each individual school district. Carefully review any document that changes your child’s current IEP and services as a result of COVID-19. IEP amendments, addendums, prior written notices, and instructional continuity/emergency plans should address the issues of compensatory services & extended school year (ESY) services. These documents should also include verbiage within them that explains these changes to the IEP are only during distance/virtual learning & the current IEP will go back into affect when schools reopen for face to face instruction.
Also remember to document all aspects of your child’s progress including academic, behavior, and functional progress during the school closures so you have data to justify the need for compensatory & ESY services. If you need data collection sheets or any questions please send an email to personalizedlearningsolutions@gmail.com.
Your Child’s Educational Rights While Crisis Schooling: IEPs and 504 Plans in a Pandemic