Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/65746
ALPHABET SOUP IEP. The law does not provide for another individual, including district or school administrators, to overrule decisions made by the IEP team." The Folsom Cordova Unified Special education terms mentioned in this article. School District made changes to stu- dents' IEPs without going through the IEP process, and students were trans- ferred to different schools without much prior notification to parents. The district made changes and special education teachers were titled "case managers" for 28 students with spe- cial needs. Plus they now have daily story continues on page 14 No options IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL in 2009 and teacher Philip Ramos couldn't find the special day class (SDC). The self-contained special education classroom no longer existed because Pomona Unified School District had put all special education students into general education classes at nine school sites. The switch was made over the summer without input from teachers or parents. A week before school, administrators called parents and told them that if they wanted their child in SDC, they would have to switch schools. General education teachers were not informed beforehand that students with disabilities would be fully included. "I reminded administrators there must be an IEP meeting with teachers, administrators, parents and staff to change placement from SDC to general education, and it was against state Education Code to not go through the IEP process," says Ramos, Associated Pomona Teachers. "Administrators told me that they could, in fact, do this." Philip Ramos discusses possible violations of the Education Code. May 2012 / www.cta.org 13 Pomona IDEA: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, federal legislation written in 1975 guaranteeing students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education and the right to be educated with their non- disabled peers. IEP: Individualized Education Program, a written plan that states goals, objectives and services for a student receiving special education. The IEP team consists of parents, teachers, administrators, and school personnel who provide services to the student. LEA: Local Education Agency, or school district participating in a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), which coordinates with school districts and the County Office of Education to provide a continuum of programs and services for disabled individuals from birth through 22 years of age. RSP: Resource Specialist Program, a program that provides instruction, materials and support services to students with identified disabilities who are assigned to a general classroom for more than 50 percent of their school day. SDC: Special Day Class, a self- contained special education class that provides services to students with intensive needs that cannot be met by the general education program or RSP, and occupies more than 50 percent of the student's day. SST: Student Study Team is a group that evaluates a child's perfor- mance, makes recommendations for success and develops a formal plan. The team includes the class- room teacher, parents, and edu- cational specialists. Members may also make a recommendation for a special education evaluation.