Knowing the questions to ask can help lead to the correct support if a student with an IEP is not attending school. We will engage in an overview of related attendance and special education laws, how the IEP process can support student engagement and attendance, and supports that may be available within the school system/structure. We will provide sample questions to ask and resources you may use to partner with school staff to improve student attendance and engagement in school.

Presenters:

Eva Shaw is a consultant on the Special Education Team at the Wisconsin DPI. Her role focuses on services and supports related to autism, emotional behavioral disabilities, social and emotional learning for students with IEPs, and alternatives to exclusionary practices. She has worked in the field of special education for over 30 years, and has had the privilege to serve children, families, and schools in several states and in a wide variety of roles. She has served as a special education teacher, as a program support teacher and diagnostician, and in an administrative role as a special education supervisor.

Dr. Sara Totten is currently a School Administration Consultant for the Department of Public Instruction. She previously served as a Director of Special Education/Student Services for 12 years in various districts in Wisconsin. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership at Edgewood College and is currently working on her law degree at Loyola Chicago. Sara has co-authored articles appearing in the Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, International Journal of Special Education, and the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment. She has also blogged for RethinkEd. Sara is a past president of the Wisconsin Council for Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) and previously served as one of the state representatives for the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) national organization.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will learn an overview of related attendance and special education law.

Participants will learn how the IEP process can support student engagement and attendance. Participants will learn supports that may be available in the school setting.