2025 ACSA Every Child Counts Symposium

Title: Increasing Inclusion Opportunities for Students with Significant Challenges: Tips and Tricks to Building Bridges within General Education Classrooms and Inspiring Your Community._x000D_
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We are administrators from the Academic Collaboration for Exceptional Learners (AcCEL) program within Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE). AcCEL is a unique educational program dedicated to students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities that focuses on academics, language development, vocational training, social-emotional skills, and overall life skills. This breakout session will showcase the inclusion opportunities students with moderate-severe disabilities have within general education on satellite campuses and in their own community. Uplifting successes and initial barriers special education teachers and we, as innovators, have experienced during this process of diversifying learning will be shared. Attendees will leave with tips and tricks to increase inclusion opportunities within their own communities._x000D_

In this session you will learn how the San Mateo County Office of Education created a "Launch Institute" designed for educators to engage with peers and youth leaders to effectively deepen relationships and align systems that support identity, belonging, and agency. Join us and some of our youth leaders as we share our process for building an experience where youth, county, district, and school leaders make authentic connections and explore the impacts of their system through the lens of their own self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. The experience encourages participants to LEAP into their own journeys, LEARN strategies that improve climate and culture at all levels, and LEAD their teams into new learning and practical application.

Are you seeking a comprehensive resource that will support you in guiding your IEP teams through the key components of an IEP to achieve educational benefit? Look no further—the High Quality IEPs Project, offers just what you need: the High Quality IEP Toolkit for Educators.The Toolkit is aligned with the newly released California Individualized Education Program (IEP) template report and its guiding principles of developing IEPs that are collaborative and team-oriented, student-centered, and outcomes driven. This session will provide an in-depth walkthrough of free tools that administrators and LEA leaders can utilize within their districts on the IEP process, focusing on critical components such as assessment, present levels, measurable goals, and supports and services aligned to California’s newly created state IEP template.

Our session will provide information on the Pathways to Partnership project within the statewide System of Support. Pathways to Partnership is a Special Education Resource Lead (SERL) focused on dispute prevention and resolution. This session will provide information on the resources P2P can provide to LEAs, families, and advocates, including professional development, consultation, communities of practice, toolkits, and a facilitated IEP trainer of trainer model. Lastly, innovative practices and technical assistance projects in partnership with the California Department of Education, Special Education Division - Director’s Office will also be shared. _x000D_
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This session will introduce and explore the continuum of student participation throughout the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. We will highlight the importance of integrating student voice into each key component of educational benefit: assessment, present levels, measurable goals, and supports and services. Join us to discover how to make the IEP process more inclusive and empowering for students, fostering a collaborative environment where every student’s voice is heard and valued.

Administrators often provide feedback to assessment team members on their reports, whether or not it's part of the formal evaluation process. What should you look for when reading these reports, and how do you provide constructive feedback when they don't meet district standards? In this workshop, participants will review the legal requirements outlined in IDEA and the CA Education Code regarding report requirements. More importantly, you will learn how to determine if a report is “good” and how to increase your confidence in providing effective feedback. By the end of this workshop, you will be better equipped to evaluate assessment reports and provide valuable feedback to enhance their quality.

With $4 billion in state grant funding allocated to the design and implementation of community schools across CA, it is crucial for site-based leaders to grasp the essentials for community school (CS) transformation. This workshop will delve into what makes CS leadership work and the foundations of trusting relationships, shared vision, actionable data, and inclusive decision making.

Recognizing that trust is the cornerstone of effective collaboration, this workshop is designed to address how site-based leaders can build and nurture these critical partnerships. Participants will receive an in-depth overview of the community school strategy and the interdependent roles of the CSC and principal. They will explore the essential skills and capacities needed by both CSCs and principals to drive successful community school development, and specific leadership responsibilities held by each. The workshop will provide targeted strategies for building and strengthening relationships between CSCs and principals, and offer practical methods for effective role communication and expectation setting.

The session will include dedicated time for role-alike discussions, strategic planning, and hands-on practice. Participants will have opportunities to develop actionable plans, and refine their approaches to implementing and leading community school initiatives in their respective settings. If possible, we encourage leadership teams and/or systems leaders to attend together.

Participants will learn strategies and techniques to effectively manage and resolve conflicts that arise within educational settings, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. The training/speaking engagement will emphasize practical skills, empathy, communication, and legal and ethical considerations specific to the education sector. Mediation offers a neutral, structured process where families and educational leaders can address conflicts and concerns collaboratively. This process helps build trust by ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected. Strong relationships between schools and families are crucial for student success. When families feel valued and included in their child's education, they are more likely to support school initiatives and work cooperatively with educators.