Staff Training

To make sure there is safe learning environment that supports academic achievement for your special needs child, you should request training of all personnel that comes in contact with your child BEFORE the start of each school year. Have this added to your child’s IEP and make sure it is done way before school starts (you may have to call your child’s caseworker, etc. to get the ball rolling). Many schools say they are not required to provide this, but they are.


IDEA (2004) Sec. 665
INTERIM ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS, AND SYSTEMIC SCHOOL INTERVENTIONS.

(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary may award grants, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements, to support safe learning environments that support academic achievement for all students by--

(1) improving the quality of interim alternative educational settings; and

(2) providing increased behavioral supports and research- based, systemic interventions in schools.

(b) Authorized Activities.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary may support activities to—

(1) establish, expand, or increase the scope of behavioral supports and systemic interventions by providing for effective, research-based practices, including--

(B) training for administrators, teachers, related services personnel, behavioral specialists, and other school staff in positive behavioral interventions and supports, behavioral intervention planning, and classroom and student management techniques;

(C) joint training for administrators, parents, teachers, related services personnel, behavioral specialists, and other school staff on effective strategies for positive behavioral interventions and behavior management strategies that focus on the prevention of behavior problems;


*Consider giving each person that comes to the training sessions a file explaining your child’s special needs. Include relevant facts with interventions and strategies on how to best teach your child and other pertinent information that will help them understand your child’s unique needs.