2020-2021 COVID-19 LEARNING

Top

Key Terms:

Spring 2020 - HPISD Covid-19 Supplement:
- In place for 2020-2021 until parents have an ARD / 504 meeting to create new Virtual Contingency Supplement
- Recent TEA ruling following a complaint from an HPISD family ruled that HPISD’s COVID-19 Supplements from the spring were not valid amendments to student IEP plans and were not compliant with state guidance for serving students during COVID (learn more here)
Fall 2020- HPISD Virtual Contingency Supplement:
- Each student needs a Virtual Contingency Supplement (new in Fall 2020) so parents have clear agreement with the school about how a student will be served while attending school virtually (whether by choice or because of school closure)
- Especially important as COVID and the upcoming flu season continue to impact parent and student choices about school attendance

Key Points:

Federal and state guidance prohibits schools from waiving services and accommodations for students due to COVID-19
An Individualized Learning Plan (IEP) / Section 504 Plan should not be altered without an ARD / 504 meeting (which can be done virtually) - very minor changes can be made through an amendment process that involves parent participation and agreement, but an ARD / 504 meeting is preferred
HPISD "COVID Supplement" documents were developed by HPISD staff for many students during spring's virtual learning that would seem to free the district from obligations outlined in IEP / 504 Plans
HPISD "COVID Supplements" were usually created without parent input and often reduce services to 10-25% of what plans dictate
Some accommodations have been categorized as not applicable in virtual learning, but parents may not have been notified which accommodations were suspended
According to HPISD, a student's "COVID Supplement" from last spring will be the same plan used until an ARD or 504 meeting is held in the 2020-2021 school year
ARD / 504 meetings can be held virtually, but if your student needs to attend the meeting while at school (older students), you may request to join him / her at the school to attend the virtual meeting together from a conference room, etc.

Next Steps:

Parents should email their campus to request their student's "COVID Supplement" ASAP if they do not have it
Parents who disagree with the "COVID Supplement" should inform the school in writing and include that the supplement was created without parent input (if that is the case)
Parents should request an ARD / 504 meeting immediately to review student's plan and update it for any online learning this year
Texas special education rules require schools to respond in writing to a parent’s request for a meeting within 5 days. (Best practices for 504 teams are to follow special education timelines.) Guidance at (§89.1050(e)(1)(2)) (link)
For virtual learning, parents should ask schools which accommodations will be implemented and which are not applicable in virtual learning
Visit the Dyslexia in HPISD page for contact information
Review HPISD's Special Programs Fall Re-Opening Plan released August 2, 2020
View informative videos and links below from The Texas Education Agency (TEA)