2025 ACSA Every Child Counts Symposium

This presentation will begin with a brief overview of the law related to addressing student behaviors. After reviewing the law, legal counsel and a behavior analyst will discuss practical implementation of behavior interventions, supports, plans, and services. You don't want to miss this session.

Is Alleged Misconduct Really Caused By Disability?

The manifestation determination review (MDR) is the process by which a child’s IEP team determines whether alleged misconduct is a manifestation of the child's disability. It must be performed when a school district proposes disciplinary measures that will result in a change of placement for a child with a disability. What should be a simple process, however, can easily be derailed by ineffective preparation, lack of necessary data, and charged emotions. Even simple missteps can result in the denial of a free appropriate public education and the halting of otherwise appropriate disciplinary proceedings. Using recent relevant federal case law as a guide, this presentation will train educators how to break down the specifics of any disciplinary incident, prepare for, and thereafter facilitate legally-sound MDRs. Participants will leave with a step-by-step guide for how to analyze the child’s disability, what information the IEP team should consider, and how to use the facts and circumstances of any disciplinary incident to determine whether alleged misconduct is, in fact, disability related.

How effective are you at communicating? Does your communication partner understand what you are conveying? Does your communication partner feel heard? From informal meetings with parents or colleagues, to the IEP table, breakdowns in communication lead to arguments, wasted time, and sometimes litigation. During this presentation we will cover reflective listening techniques, and how to employ them in the school setting. You will leave with a fresh perspective on how to effectively communicate, diffuse difficult conversations, and preserve your relationship with colleagues and parents.