LaPointe and Associates, P.C. has presented informative and comprehensive inservices on a broad range of topics.  The following titles are provided for your information.  These professional development materials can be tailored to meet your individual district's needs.

BEHAVIOR/DISCIPLINE

• "Special education Discipline Checklist"
  A checklist for student removal criterion in various situations
   
• "Discipline and the Special Education Student"
  A comprehensive overview for disciplining the special education student
   
• "Physical and verbal assault and Students with Disabilities"
  Discipline in areas of physical/verbal assault on students and staff; Legal requirements
   
• "Discipline of Special Education Students in Michigan"
  The discipline process and its interface with Special Education; General discipline procedures; School codes of conduct; Legislation requiring mandatory discipline for certain offenses; Statewide school safety legislation; the discipline process
   
• "Discipline of Special Education Students: What are we learning from Other district's mistakes?"
  Change in placements; Manifestation Determination Review errors; IAPs; and review of case law
   
• "Discipline and School Safety:  State and Federal Changes; the 11th day; and 504"
  Reportable incidents; Definitions; FERPA considerations; Parent access to school records; School Discipline legislation; Verbal and physical assaults on other students ; Snap suspensions; Reinstatement of an expelled student
   

• "Discipline Under §504"
  Eligibility; Similarities and contrasts to IDEA-97.
   

• "The Whys & Hows of FBAP, FBA, PBS & BIP - a.k.a. Dealing with Behavior under IDEA-97"
  Will help districts develop a defensible positive behavior program, including example forms
   
• "Manifestation Determination Review Meetings"
  Statute and regulations; The mechanics ("Who" "When" "What"); How to use collected information; Case law update
   
• "FBA: Lessons from OSEP and Case Law"
  IDEA requirements; Positive Behavior Supports; Discipline Trilogy (FBAP, FBA, BIP)
   
• "IDEA Regulations Regarding Drug and Weapon Defenses"
  Discipline; School/Law Enforcement/Court interface; State and Federal legislation

IDEA-97

• "Finding Inspiration in IDEA: Targeting for success for all students (and living to tell about it)"
  Focus of IDEA-97; Progress in the general curriculum; Responsibilities of General and Special Education Staff
   
• "The Regular Educator's Role in Special Education under IDEA-97"
  Mandated role of the general education teacher in the special education process: Evaluation and Identification procedures; IEP team participation; IEP implementation; Progress Reports
   
• "IDEA-97:  Issues Regarding the Education of Hearing Impaired Students"
  Definitions and general changes in the regulations; Identification and Evaluation issues; IEP team participants; IEP content and development
   
• "IDEA-97: Expanded Roles for Parents & Regular Education Teachers"
  Accountability; Parental Participation; Changes in the Evaluation Process; Discipline
   
• "Implementation of IDEA-97"
  High Stakes testing and assessment; Compliance; the MEAP; Charter schools and private schools; Due process

SECTION 504

• "Living with Section 504: What is it?  Why Should I Care About it?
  General overview of §504; Implementing regulations; LRE; Procedural safeguards; Academic and non-academic settings; Relation to ADD/ADHD.
   

• "Understanding Section 504 in Michigan: A practical contrast with IDEA and ADA"
  Overview and scope of §504 and student issues pertaining to it.
     
     

IEPT MEETINGS

• "The IEP Process under IDEA-97"
  Roles and responsibilities; Evaluation and Identification; Writing goals and Objectives; Behavior Intervention Plans
   
• "An IEPT* for the IEPT (*Implementation/Education Practice Tips & Implementing Effective Problem-Solving Techniques with Parents)"
  History; Training and roles of IEPT participants; Meeting skills; Data collection and reporting
   
• "Writing IEP Goals"
  Writing defensible and measurable goals; Miscellaneous worksheets available to aid in the process
   
• "How to Run an IEPT Meeting"
  Preparation; Running the meeting; Adjourning

ASSESSMENTS

• "Assessing Assessments"
  General considerations; Identification and evaluation issues; the MET process

ELIGIBILITY SPECIFIC TOPICS

• "Legal Aspects of AI Eligibility for Educational Placement and Related Services"
  Eligibility issues; Intervention components; Home school collaboration; FAPE and the child with autism
   
• "Taking our cues from case law: legal issues in deaf education"
  Educational methodology; Staff qualifications; Residential placement; Transition; Graduation
   
• "Legal issues and adhd"
  Case law; Guidance under IDEA and §504; Examples of evaluation violations; FAPE accommodations; Related services; Behavioral interventions; Ramifications of IDEA/504 violations
   
• "Legal issues regarding the education of hearing impaired students"
  Parent counseling and training as a related service; Assistive technology; Extended School Year; Consideration of Special Factors; Interpreters/aides; Compensatory education
   
• "The Legal and Service System: Developmental, Physical, and Cognitive Disabilities"
  §504; "handicapped person" vs. "Qualified Handicapped person"; Discrimination prohibited; Employment accessibility; Evaluation and placement; Enforcement and Remedies
   
• "Preparing (Legally) Appropriate IEPs for Students with Autism"
  Characteristics of AI and various methodologies; Court decisions; Preparing the appropriate IEPC
   
• "Lovaas - What is It?"
  Description of program; Court cases; What to do if you get a request; Areas of potential dispute

CURRICULUM

• "General Curriculum: Wrinkles on the Interface"
  Grades; Graduation and Extracurricular activities
   
• "Aligning the Law: Curriculum and the Law"
  IEP and general curriculum linkages
   
• "Evaluation, IEP, and General Curriculum Linkages"
  Accountability; General curriculum and IEP linkages; Evaluation and Assessment; Annual goals and short term objectives; Monitoring and Reporting progress

Hot Topics/Overviews

• "No Child Left Behind: Primer and Survival Handbook for General and Special Educators"
  Introduction; Proficiency Goals; Adequate Yearly Progress and Consequences; Supplemental Educational Service; Staff Qualifications; Collective Bargaining Implications; Private School Students; Homeless Children; Unsafe Schools; Forms
   

• "The New Special Education Rules"
  Overview; Major changes from prior Michigan rules.
   

• "Hot topics in school law"
  Parent Counseling and Training; "OHI"; Child Find; Assistive Technology; Identification and Evaluation Issues;    IEP team participants; Content and Development; Discipline (the big picture)
   

• "Case Law Update: State and Federal Decisions"
  Current issues in special education law and how they affect you
   

• "The eight New Deadly Sins" (8 Special education areas which create conflicts between school districts and parents)
  An overview of 8 major areas where hearings can be caused or avoided
   

• "New Administrator Inservice"
  Progressive discipline; Legal update
   

• "Navigating Special Education: Waypoints for Success"
  Review of recent cases; Practical tips/special situations; Discipline; Graduation; OSEP and OCR guidance; General Curriculum linkages
   

• "Special Education law update: What every administrator needs to know
  Rules and Responsibilities in the IEP; Child Find; Behavior Intervention requirements under IDEA-97 and FERPA; Confidentiality
   

• No Child left behind
   

• IDEA Reauthorization
   

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDING:

• "DNR Orders - What Should a District Do?"
  Definitions and legal considerations
   
• "The 'F' Word: Forms: IEEs, Procedural Safeguards, Expedited Hearings, etc."
  FORMS GALORE!!! Independent Evaluation Forms and letters; Initiating a due process hearing; Example forms and letters; Procedural Safeguards for parents; Evaluation procedures
   
• "FERPA: An update on disclosure issues under the act"
  Definition; Disclosure under FERPA; FERPA in application; Legal review; Release in employee discipline/grievance areas.
  
   

THE FIRM HAS ALSO PRESENTED ON:

• SCHOOLS OF CHOICE
• AUXILIARY SERVICES
• CHARTER SCHOOLS
• TRANSPORTATION
• PRIVATE SCHOOLS/HOME SCHOOLS
• PART C
• MEDICALLY FRAGILE
• AND MANY OTHER DISABILITY RELATED TOPICs