Mo. DESE now approves LAUNCH as a virtual school partner for many Missouri school districts this fall. At a link on the DESE website, you can find LAUNCH’s short, short list of “modifications” to its virtual school classes. Take a look here: https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/covid19_reopen-america-schools.pdf
That’s all, folks! The same trite handful of “extra time” for everyone. There is nothing individual, nothing designed to meet unique needs, nothing planned to promote further education, employment, or independent living in those modifications. LAUNCH fails its basic IDEA test for FAPE.
If you want your school district to comply with IDEA requirements, and none of those have been removed by DESE or the US Dep’t of Education, then it’s time to be proactive. Don’t wait until the first day of school to see what the school might do for your child. You will be at the back of the line if you wait, because EVERY student needs a new assessment for present levels of performance, to make up for the spring testing that never happened for anyone in 2020.
For more information, check out the American Bar Association’s guidance for parents of special needs students (elsewhere on this website and at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/committees/childrens-rights/articles/2020/are-special-education-services-required-in-the-time-of-covid19/ ). You can also get detailed resources from the special needs parent’s friend, Wrightslaw.com https://www.wrightslaw.com/ .
We stand ready to personally assist you, too. Give us a call or e-mail! (870) 918-3431 & robin@kuykendalladvocates.com