HOT TOPICS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW

NORTHWEST VALLEY HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM/ASPERGER'S
PARENT SUPPORT GROUP

presents

"HOT TOPICS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW"

Featuring HOPE KIRSCH and LORI KIRSCH-GOODWIN

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

6:30 - 8:00 PM at

Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV)
7007 W. Happy Valley Road, Building 300, Peoria

www.ccvonline.com

(Note: No childcare is provided for this event.)

Lori Kirsch-Goodwin and Hope Kirsch are special education attorneys with Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch in Scottsdale.  They will provide an update on the latest in state and federal special education law, and answer your questions.

For over 15 years, Lori and Hope have represented students and their families throughout Arizona in all school related matters, from reviewing IEPs to attending IEP meetings, early dispute resolution of matters, due process hearings, appeals, 504s, bullying, restraint and seclusion and personal injury.  They are both admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts of NY, NJ and Arizona, and the 9^th Circuit.   

Lori has been a litigation/trial attorney for nearly 30 years and has had over 30 jury trials.  She entered the special education arena 15 years ago when one of her twin boys was evaluated for special education and related services, and has been advocating for and representing other families since.  Lori brings her litigation skills to the table as well as her sensitivity for the families she represents.  Lori recently obtained a huge victory in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals involving the appropriateness of a charter school’s selection of a private school for a student with ASD.     

Hope was a special education teacher for 18 years before embarking on a career in law.  Hope has written hundreds of IEPs, represented the NYC Department of Education at due process hearings, and supervised and trained other teachers in curriculum, methodology, writing IEPs and behavior management techniques.  She has a bachelors and masters in special education, and 30+ credits in educational supervision and administration.  She was instrumental in the passage of the restraint and seclusion legislation, helping with the drafting and testifying before both the Senate and the House. 

All special needs families are welcome!
Questions? Email: nwvalleyhfa@gmail.com

Bullying laws - Know your rights and what public schools (including charter schools) must do

The governing board of every public school district and charter school must have policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils on school grounds, on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school-sponsored events and activities and through the use of electronic technology or electronic communication on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists that include the following components:

(a) A procedure for pupils, parents and school district employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The school shall make available written forms designed to provide a full and detailed description of the incident and any other relevant information about the incident.

(b) A requirement that school district employees report in writing suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying to the appropriate school official and a description of appropriate disciplinary procedures for employees who fail to report suspected incidents that are known to the employee.

(c) A requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, school officials provide all pupils with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to a pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph.

(d) If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials provide a pupil who is an alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil.

(e) A formal process for the documentation of reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation. School districts shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this paragraph for at least six years. The school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that the reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.

(f) A formal process for the investigation by the appropriate school officials of suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying the alleged victim on completion and disposition of the investigation.

(g) Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted or been found to have committed incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(h) A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting false reports of incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(i) Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically harmed as the result of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.

(j) Definitions of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

Source:  ARS 15-341

www.azspecialeducationlawyers.com 

Parent support group: HOT TOPICS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW

NORTHWEST VALLEY HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM/ASPERGER'S
PARENT SUPPORT GROUP

presents

"HOT TOPICS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW"

Featuring HOPE KIRSCH and LORI KIRSCH-GOODWIN

 Wednesday, February 3, 2016

6:30 - 8:00 PM at

Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV)
7007 W. Happy Valley Road, Building 300, Peoria

http://ccv.church/specialneeds

Lori Kirsch-Goodwin and Hope Kirsch are special education attorneys with Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch in Scottsdale.  They will provide an update on the latest in state and federal special education law, and answer your questions.

For over 15 years, Lori and Hope have represented students and their families throughout Arizona in all school related matters, from reviewing IEPs to attending IEP meetings, early dispute resolution of matters, due process hearings, appeals, 504s, bullying, restraint and seclusion and personal injury.  They are both admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts of NY, NJ and Arizona, and the 9^th Circuit. 

Lori has been a litigation/trial attorney for nearly 30 years and has had over 30 jury trials.  She entered the special education arena 15 years ago when one of her twin boys was evaluated for special education and related services, and has been advocating for and representing other families since.  Lori brings her litigation skills to the table as well as her sensitivity for the families she represents.  Lori recently obtained a huge victory in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals involving the appropriateness of a charter school’s selection of a private school for a student with ASD.     

Hope was a special education teacher for 18 years before embarking on a career in law.  Hope has written hundreds of IEPs, represented the NYC Department of Education at due process hearings, and supervised and trained other teachers in curriculum, methodology, writing IEPs and behavior management techniques.  She has a bachelors and masters in special education, and 30+ credits in educational supervision and administration.  She was instrumental in the passage of the restraint and seclusion legislation, helping with the drafting and testifying before both the Senate and the House. 

All families with special needs are welcome to attend!