May 1, 2018 at 11:30 AM - Special Population Committee Meeting

Discussion:  Call to order at 11:30 AM.  

Staff:  David Ludwig, Deb Hericks, Scott Issacson, Wade Fruhling

Guests:  Steve Milliken

Discussion:  Steve Milliken was presented to update the Committee.  Legislatively, LB 1052 - Senator Brooks on requirement of instruction and teach er education on dyslexia.  Beginning 2018-19 school year, students need to recieve services for dyslexia.  Document will be created and distributed.  NDE will make sure that all schools recieve the documentation required.  July 2019, teacher education programs will recieve instruction on students with dyslexia.  School districts shall not need a medical diagnosis for the students.  The Districts need to identify the students and provide interventions.  NDE has a meeting with NASES Spring meeting in Columbus, the whole NDE department will be joining the meeting on Thursday and Friday.   NDE will be talking to directors on Friday about their internal changes moving towards more specific supports.  They are to be more collaborative and continue to monitor district needs across the state.  They will begin to talk about outcomes for student services.  MTSS Builders Group will meet tomorrow to met with the RTI, the two will be a writers group to create a self assessment guide and other documentation needed.  Continued discussion on the teacher, practioners, etc shortages across the state especially in rural areas.  There are needs within the metro area on shortages on some practioner areas.  Speech Techs is are eligble for reimbursement at this time.  As this changes they will keep us informed.  School Psych interns will be eligible for 19-19 school year, after that they will not be allowed.  Concerns that the Feds do not utilize the interns due to the shortages.  We do not have a good number of interns being used.  They have numbers of provsional teachers in special areas.  The universities are limited to the numbers they can certificate.  Wayne would offer if they could hire a qualified professor to teach (need to have a doctoral degree)  Could the ESUs partner with colleges to serve as both roles administrators and professor?  Assistive Technology proposal should come out sometime this week.  There will be some regional position included.  There will be trainings needed and also documentation required.  

Discussion:  Executive Director shared that MTSS is a workgroup within PDO, we need to make sure that all the coordination is in conjuction with NDE and they are apart of the work group.  

Discussion:  Committee Chair shared that on June 8, 2018 is the date for the Mental Behavioral Health Summit.  They are finalizing the agenda.  Sharon Hoover will be the keynote.  There will be sites at ESU 3 with DL to Kearney and Scottsbluff.  NE Loves Public Schools will be present to create a document from this Summitt. 

LB 998 (Sen Walz, Mental Health Bill) was vetoed by the Govenor.  Executive Director and NCSA Direcot met with Senator Walz last Friday to discuss outcome of veto.  Senator Walz is eager to support our need to do something about mental health in the state.  ESU 5 had hired one provider last year, next year they will hire 2 additional providers so cover their need.  How do we begin to work together to gather data, need to discuss collectively to move forward?  Need at least identify best practices on what a program could/can look like.  The Legislative Committee will meet soon to discuss next steps, there is a need to have a joint meeting to further discuss mental health.  Need to make sure the position is idnetified but also meeting the needs of the schools/districts.  The Legislative Committee and Special Population need to work together to discuss in order to move forward.   Have discussion about what we want/need prior to adding Senator Walz to discussion.  How do we ensure that the rural parts of the state have equal access to practioners?   NDE wishes to be a part of the discussion.  Sentaor Walz is adament that we address the needs of the students.  

Discussion:  Executive Director shared that they are waiting on the IllniCloud to get legal teams together to discuss a partnership with SRS.  

Discussion:  SRS Director gave an update that they met with Omaha Home for Boys was trained on AAP and will begin using the site shortly.  They did a breakout session at NDE Data Conference on Cross-Systems information sharing

Discussion:  New reports were developed for the six-month progress report for NDE. The guidelines for reporting were new this year and required new reports.  Work has been done (almost) for the materials and planning for the Project PARA Advisory Committee meeting on May 2. They continued work on converting written directions for "How to Use" the web site into screen capture videos. They also continued work on Admin pages to improve the process of evaluating and responding to requests for registration.

Discussion:  ESUCC presented on SRS to ADVISER system at Data Conference.  They wrapped up the NDE/ADVISER Workdays. They presented on SRS to ADVISER system at each ESU.  They have been focusing on testing and bug removal.  Developed un-finalize ability for District Managers.  Next Steps:  Pre-install key and secret for ADVISER for all districts and Develop functionality to allow District of Service to upload ADVISER data for students contracted.  Zend 3 Conversion is continuing.  They will be hiring two half time contractors to help get project back on track.  Looking at purchasing a new text box program.  (https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor)

Discussion:  Legislative Work
Behavioral Health Programming happening in each ESUs
Developmental Disabilities Services Coordinator - difficult to qualify kids until after age of 17.  There has been a leadership change, willingness to qualify students has changed, approve some students as young as 4.  
VocRehab is changing and not approving anyone for work in priority 1 funding/category.  
Development disabilities update

Discussion:  Meeting adjourned at 12:28PM.