ONCE UPON A GENE - EPISODE 022

School Closures and FAPE

After the schools closed, I saw an uproar on social media, reading a lot of incorrect information, worry and confusion. This episode is geared to helping form realistic ideas about why distance learning isn't for all students and find acceptance of this topic. This is a huge hit to everyone, but joining me to help us all take a deep breath on the matter is Jen Cole.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Tell us about your position at Pave. 

I'm the Director of Parent Training and Information at PAVE. Every state has a parent training and information center, funded through a grant from the US Department of Education and we're here to provide technical assistance to families and community members when they have questions or concerns about education for a child, birth through 26. What makes us uniquely positioned to help families is that most of us at PAVE are parents of disabilities. I have a 9 year old with a developmental disability, so I got thrown into this years ago shortly after he was born and I endeavored to learn as much as I could and that's how I crossed paths with and later began working for Pave. 

Explain what FAPE is.

FAPE stands for Free and Public Appropriate Education. FAPE applies to any eligible student for special education and also includes students with 504 plans. A 504 plan is typically a plan of accommodations and doesn't usually contain specially designed instruction for a student. 

Can you explain the district's thought process behind it considering special education and 504's?

Do you know of any ideas or plans that school districts are working on to establish an equitable distance learning program? 

What are some resources that you know of that parents can turn to in order to get other services for their children?

On the matter of services for the kids that have an IEP, are they entitled to these no matter what?

Is the ESY something that's typically provided for any student who needs extra credit or failed a class or is it currently just for kids with IEP's? 

Do you have any ideas about how you're going to help your son with his developmental challenges that he gets help with in school?

What are your final thoughts on this subject?

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