Special Education and COVID-19

With the outbreak of Covid-19 and resulting school closures, both the USDE and Iowa DE provided guidance to districts on our obligations related to meeting special education requirements during the period of time that schools are closed. We have learned that some, but not all, special education requirements are suspended until we are back in school. Given the critical role of the general education teacher in supporting all students, including students with disabilities, you may be contacted while we are not in school to assist in meeting requirements that have not been suspended.

Statute requires that IEP meetings be annually reviewed. The fact that we are not in school does not change this statutory requirement. The US DE Office of Special Education Practices has indicated that they will be providing further guidance around timelines. It is possible and even anticipated that due to the current situation leeway will be granted in complying with the requirement to hold annual IEP meetings. Until we receive further guidance we will move forward with holding IEP meetings, when possible.

We have three IEP related options:

• Amend the IEP without a Meeting- In some situations a special education teacher may contact gen ed teachers to obtain information on a student’s current performance. The special education teacher may be able to use this information to amend the IEP without there needing to be an actual meeting. This process is most appropriate when the situation is relatively straightforward and minimal IEP changes are anticipated. 
• Hold an IEP Meeting- In these situations all required IEP team participants will be contacted and asked to remotely participate in an IEP meeting. Technology such as zoom or google handout will be used to enable participation. This option will only be viable if all participants (including parents) have internet access and are comfortable in using this type of technology.
• Wait and Hold the IEP Meeting Once We are Back in School- For a variety of reasons neither of the two options just mentioned will be appropriate. In these situations we will need to wait and have the IEP meeting once we are all back at school. These meetings will need to be scheduled and held as soon as school resumes. 

Below is additional guidance we have received related to school closures and special education.

• We are not required to implement IEPs and provide Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) during the period of time that school is not in session. This is true as we are not providing educational services to the general student population during this period of time. 
• Statute requires that initial evaluations be completed within 60 days and that reevaluations be conducted at least every three years. Until we receive further guidance we will move forward with holding eligibility determination meetings and reevaluation IEP meetings, when possible.
• If AEA staff are conducting an initial evaluation for a student and have been able to collect all needed evaluation information, they may move forward and schedule an eligibility meeting. In these situations all required IEP team participants, including general education teachers, will be contacted to remotely participate in an IEP meeting. 
• Many teachers and PLC teams are making resources available to their students. Do remember to make resources available for students at all achievement levels. For example, if you post a reading list it should include books for all levels of readers. Websites that students and parents access should be supplemented with sites accessible by those with disabilities, and also available in other languages. 
• At this time, AEA staff have been asked to put a hold on the Disability Suspected (DS) process during school closures. If new concerns/referrals arise, they will take referral information and then move forward when school resumes. 

Feel free to contact the AEA school psychologist, school social worker, special education consultant, or speech-language pathologist with questions or concerns regarding specific students. If you are unsure who to contact, the AEA Regional Director,Stacy Volmer, can assist you in connecting with the appropriate person. She can be reached by email at svolmer@heartlandaea.org or phone at 515-270-9030 x14494.

More extensive guidance on this topic has been provided to building principals, AEA staff, as well as district special education teachers. Additional information will be shared with you if it becomes available. Feel free to contact Charlie Taylor, SEP Special Education Director at charles.taylor@southeastpolk.org if you have questions.