Ms. Brionna Whitman - Special Education Director
Lisa Foster- CSE Secretary
518-753-4458 x 2509
518 659-3942 (Fax)
Special Education services at Hoosic Valley are provided to students with disabilities who are in need of additional support to enable them to reach their full academic and personal potential in our school setting. These services are provided to students within district programs as well as to some students within BOCES or private school programs. The majority of our services are provided within the context of the regular education setting in our Elementary and Jr. Sr. High Schools so that students receive the full benefit of instruction by regular education teachers. The additional support, instruction and consultation comes from our talented group of special education teachers assistants and aides.
For more information about the services available to students with disabilities at Hoosic Valley you can the Special Education Department at 753-7454 x2509.
Special education staff—actually all educators—tend to use acronyms when they are speaking about education issues. This may be especially true at your Committee on Special Education meeting. Here are some acronyms that may be unfamiliar to you.
- IEP - Individual Education Plan.
- BIP — Behavior Intervention Plan. This is an individualized plan designed to encourage positive behaviors and reduce interfering behaviors.
- CPSE — Committee on Preschool Special Education. This is a multi-disciplinary team appointed by the Board of Education to determine eligibility and appropriate services for preschool students with disabilities.
- CSE — Committee on Special Education. This is a multidisciplinary team appointed by the Board of Education to determine eligibility and appropriate services for students with disabilities.
- FBA — Functional Behavioral Assessment. This is an assessment for a student who has behaviors that interfere with his/her learning or the learning of others. The assessment looks at the behavior and tries to determine the cause of the behavior.
Expectations for Annual Review Season
In the spring of each year, the Committee on Special Education (CSE) meets to discuss each student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The purpose of the meeting is to review the progress the student has made because of this year’s plan and to develop a plan for the coming year. Your participation in this meeting is important for your child. You will be meeting with your child’s special education teacher before the annual review meeting to discuss goals, objectives, services, and any concerns or questions you have. This will help resolve any questions you have and will help you and the team draft the IEP. The following tips can help you get the most from your child’s meeting.
- Be prepared. You will receive a copy of the draft IEP prior to the meeting. If you do not receive the draft IEP, call your child’s special education teacher or CSE Chairperson at 753-7454.
- Read the draft. Make notes of your questions and ideas right on the draft. Make a list of questions and consult with your child’s special education teacher prior to the CSE meeting. You want to ask during the meeting. If you have many questions or concerns about the draft IEP, call your child’s special education teacher or your CSE Chairperson for a discussion of your concerns before the meeting.
- Participate in the meeting. We try to schedule the meeting at a time that is convenient for all parties. If you are unable to come to the meeting, you can participate by phone. It is difficult for the committee to make decisions without your input.
- Communicate. In some instances, it may be necessary to discuss specific items prior to CSE meeting. A pre-conference may be helpful to discuss various options and ideas. The annual review meeting is to focus on your child’s plan for next year. All members need to stay positive and focused on next year.
- Know your rights and the special education regulations. The Special Education Office in the Elementary school has a copy of your due process rights.
- Encourage your child to attend. Students who are 15 years of age or older are invited to participate in their CSE meeting. Encourage your secondary aged child to come to the meeting and participate in his/her IEP. Your child’s participation may help him or her benefit from the IEP and will help your child develop self-advocacy skills.
- Be open to possible solutions. Parents and school staff may have different opinions on the best way to address a student’s educational needs. Differences can be resolved positively if all participants work cooperatively and collaboratively.
- Procedural SafeGuards Notice - information concerning procedural safeguards that are your legal rights under federal and State laws to be informed about and involved in the special education process and to make sure that your child receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Click here for a copy of the Proceduaral SafeGuards Notice - Click here for the Procedural Safeguards Notice for Section 504.
Occupational & Physical Therapy
The occupational and physical therapists at Hoosic Valley Schools have compiled a list of home activities. These activities are broken down into fine motor (dexterity, hand strengthening, grasping and visual-motor activities) and gross motor (jumping, balancing, running and ball games). These activities are meant to compliment any therapies that your child may be receiving in school and to further progress your child toward their therapy goals. For those children not receiving OT or PT, the list can be used for suggestions for activities in the home to refine your child’s fine and gross motor skills. If you have specific questions or concerns regarding your child’s therapies, please do not hesitate to contact OT or PT at Hoosic Valley Elementary School at 518-753-4458.
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Fine Motor Skills
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Gross Motor Skills |
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Additional activities are available from our therapist at Access Therapy.
Parent Network of the Capital Region
The mission of the Parent Network of the Capital Region (PNCR) is to provide parents with the knowledge, skills, resources and support to effectively advocate for their children and to facilitate productive relationships between parents and school districts for the benefit of students with disabilities. All of the PNCR's services are provided free of charge and are provided in a highly confidential and respectful manner.
PNCR Upcoming Events:
- Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities
- Behavior Challenges at School: Functional Behavior Assessments and Positive Behavioral Supports for Students with Disabilities
- School Discipline and Students with Disabilities: Understanding Your Rights
- Getting Off on the Right Foot.
Click here more information on the Parent Network and their upcoming events.
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany (CARD Albany) is a university - affiliated resource center that brings research and practice together in community settings. CARD Albany provides evidence-based training and support to families and professionals, and through ongoing research, contributes knowledge to the field of autism spectrum disorders.
Click here to access the CARD website and more information
Front Door - Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
Opening the door to a richer, fuller life—that’s the goal of OPWDD’s new Front Door—a person-centered approach for people with developmental disabilities that prioritizes individual choices, needs, and desires in making decisions.
Opening the Front Door to Possibilities
The Front Door strives to:
- Improve the way people learn about OPWDD and available service options
- Better connect individual needs to available services
- Give people as many opportunities as possible for self-direction
Click here to access the Front Door Information Booklet
Click here to access the OPWDD Front Door Website