Michigan Alliance for Families has gathered these parent, community, and student resources. Parents should review their district’s plan and any associated documents.
- Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs From the federal Office of Special Education Programs to provide information and resources to enhance the promotion of mental health and the social and emotional well-being among children and students. (10/19/2021)
- RETURN TO SCHOOL ROADMAP: Development and Implementation of IEPs From the federal Office of Special Education Programs, highlights certain IDEA requirements related to the development and implementation of IEPs in the Least Restrictive Environment. (9/30/21)
- RETURN TO SCHOOL ROADMAP: Child Find Under Part B of IDEA From the federal Office of Special Education Programs, confirms students right to FAPE during the pandemic and responds to questions about Child Find during the pandemic. (8/24/21)
- Recommendations for Safer School Operations during COVID-19 MDHHS (8/2021)
- CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools (7/2021)
- Q&A on Civil Rights an School Reopening in the COVID-19 Environment The purpose of this Q&A is to help support all students’ rights in educational environments during the pandemic. (5/2021)
- Long COVID under Section 504 and the IDEA: A Resource to Support Children, Students, Educators, Schools, Service Providers, and Families Guidance from OCR and OSERS concerning long COVID as a disability and clarifies that long COVID can be a disability that gives rise to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) eligibility and may also be a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. (7/2021)
- FAPE and COVID-19- What Families Need to Know This video explains what FAPE and LRE mean and what that may look like during the current COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll dive into new terminology, like foregone learning, contingency learning plan and recovery services, and review the guidance available from Michigan Department of Education. (10/2020)
Resources related to the pandemic:
- Return to School Resources Resources to assist with finding your district’s plan, making decisions for your child with an IEP/IFSP, planning for success, and problem solving.
- Resources for Distance Learning with an IEP Strategies to support your child with disabilities during distance learning
- Contingency Learning Plan IEP teams can create a contingency learning plan to explain the special education and related services the district will provide during time away from school.
- Special Education Services During COVID-19 Special education services during the pandemic will look different, and your child may have additional needs to consider.
- Documentation/ Keeping Track for Parents Keep track of events and conversations to be better prepared for conversations about extended school year, recovery services, and compensatory education. Includes suggestions of how and what to log.
- IEP Meetings During COVID-19 Tips for participating in virtual IEP meetings.
- Special Education Evaluation During COVID-19 Virtual evaluations, timelines, and extensions.
- Early On® Services During COVID-19 Information and resources related to early childhood services
- Transitioning to Adulthood During COVID-19 IEP teams have a unique opportunity to create meaningful distance learning activities at home for transition-age students.
- Foregone Learning and Recovery Services Additional services districts may provide to students with IEPs to address the loss of learning resulting from the school shutdown in March 2020.
- Helping Your Child Understand COVID-19 Find social stories and other supports for anxiety and mental health.
- COVID Glossary A quick look at new words and phrases being used.
- Guidance and Resources from the State and Federal Government Executive Orders, MDE Guidance, and other State and Federal information
- Additional Families Needs Internet Access, Food Support, 211.
