NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2025
JANUARY 2025
Embedded Files
Lee's Jim's
Lee's Jim's
Corner
Corner
Welcome Back and Important Updates
Welcome Back and Important Updates
On behalf of the leadership team, I hope you had a great break and stayed safe and warm during the recent snow and ice. As we jump into the new semester, it's time to take action steps based on our State File Review and District Corrective Action Plan (DCAP).
Wait, wait, it's not so bad! Hear me out!
Wait, wait, it's not so bad! Hear me out!
Why Compliance is our Priority
Why Compliance is our Priority
This is a streamlined newsletter because a collective focus on our DCAP is a priority right now.
We know you work hard every day for your students, but federal compliance is about ensuring the paperwork in student files meets specific legal and procedural indicators. We had a number of gaps in our documentation during file review in fall. While case managers and teams have resolved most compliance issues, three key areas required us to develop a DCAP because the documentation couldn’t be fixed retroactively. Meeting DCAP requirements is critical to maintaining not just our overall effectiveness, but to keep our funding intact.
What Gaps Remain
There are three areas left to address:
Eligibility Decisions and Exclusionary Factors:
Teams need to clearly document that decisions about a student’s eligibility aren’t based on:
Lack of appropriate instruction in reading or math.
Limited English proficiency.
Non-Discriminatory Assessments:
Evaluations have to be chosen and used in ways that ensure they’re not discriminatory based on race or culture.
Progress Monitoring and Reporting:
Progress toward IEP goals must be tracked and reported as described in the IEP.
Historically, we would address these issues through a lengthy mandatory face-to-face inservice training this spring. But we're going to try it a different way with a virtual, asynchronous option.
What ALL Certified Staff Need to Do
What ALL Certified Staff Need to Do
by January 24
by January 24
In a nutshell, you'll complete three brief training modules. Each will take about 15 minutes to complete. These are available on the ECKCE website under Staff Resources > Compliance where you can launch all three. They can be directly accessed here -
Each concludes with very brief knowledge-level quiz. All certified staff must take each quiz and pass with 80% or better.
Please complete all three trainings and submit the quizzes by Friday January 24th.
As part of our strategic plan, we'll also ask for your feedback after any training provided by ECKCE, starting with these! A link to submit that is at the bottom of each of these modules. Completing that part isn't required, but is appreciated so we know if we're on the right path with this approach.
What Else Will the DCAP Require?
What Else Will the DCAP Require?
A new Compliance Checklist has been added to the IEP Paperwork Checklist. This will help make sure everything is documented correctly. Start using it now! We’ll go over it in more detail at upcoming Building Special Education Meetings.
Also as part of our DCAP, this spring ECKCE Admin Staff will randomly review files to make sure we’re meeting compliance requirements. Double-check your documentation so you’re prepared.
It's time to sign up!
It's time to sign up!
Notice the options are for either the initial course or a refresher course! Contact Dave Powers dpowers@eckce.com with questions.
CPI Initial Course 3/10/25
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084CAEA72DA7FB6-52477034-cpitraining
CPI Refresher 3/11/25
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084CAEA72DA7FB6-52476431-cpicrisis
CPI Initial Course 5/2/25
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084CAEA72DA7FB6-52477216-cpitraining
CPI Refresher 5/6/25
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084CAEA72DA7FB6-52476645-cpicrisis
Other Upcoming Trainings and Events
Other Upcoming Trainings and Events
Email jpersinger@eckce.com with details of other free, low-cost and/or local opportunities.
Many of these are free but usually require registration
Free Webinars and Curriculum on Teaching Conflict Management to K-12 Students
Free Webinars and Curriculum on Teaching Conflict Management to K-12 Students
January 22 (grades 3-6) 3:30-4:30pm
January 29 (grades 7-12) 3:30-4:30pm
Here is a one-page infographic on why it’s important to teach conflict management to all students. The Kansans Can Competency Framework K–12 Conflict Management Curriculum is available FREE for Kansas educators. Download lessons containing 76 instructional activities.
Signup for free one-hour webinars to orient you to conflict management strategies:
January 22: Intro to Teaching Conflict Management (Intermediate/Grades 3–6)
January 29: Intro to Teaching Conflict Management (Secondary/Grades 7–12)
In case you missed it…Free downloads for self-efficacy and assertiveness K-12 curricula are also available.
Questions? Contact Dr. Pattie Noonan at pnoonan@ku.edu
School Mental Health Advocacy Day 2025
School Mental Health Advocacy Day 2025
January 25 - begins at 8:30 am
Click for a flyer with details, and for registration click here.
From Compliance to Empowerment: Neurodiverse-Affirming Practices for Student Support Teams
From Compliance to Empowerment: Neurodiverse-Affirming Practices for Student Support Teams
January 29 2pm Eastern Time
In this free webinar from the founder of Everyday Speech, we’ll dive into the shift from compliance-based approaches to neurodiverse-affirming practices that empower students through self-awareness, authenticity, and positive behavior.
Designed for SLPs, SPED teachers, counselors, and social workers, this event will cover:
Why traditional practices can be harmful
How to pivot to practices that prioritize empowerment and choice
Practical tools to foster self-awareness without judgment
Key concepts like masking and the double empathy problem
Plus, we’ll share real-world examples and research-backed insights to help you build trust and connection with your students.
You'll walk away ready to lead the way in neurodiverse-affirming social skills education.
Click for more details and to register for this no cost webinar.
Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management: Best Practices for Schools
Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management: Best Practices for Schools
April 11 9-noon
Join KASP and Dr. Melissa Reeves for this virtual workshop. Click here for details and to register. $25 for KASP members, $50 for non-members, info about team pricing available at the link.
This workshop will focus on the process and procedures needed to establish a consistent school/district-wide approach to behavioral threat assessment and management. The roles and responsibilities of a multidisciplinary team following best practices established by the United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (USSS/NTAC) and United States Department of Education will be taught. Participants will learn how to screen cases, and the process for conducting a full BTAM assessment. Strategies for interventions, postventions, and working with difficult parents will be integrated. Case study examples and forms will also be shared to illustrate the process.
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