Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP)

The U.S. and Florida Departments of Education have given guidance to schools and have enabled flexibility for students who receive IEP services understanding that there may be exceptional circumstances that could affect how a particular service is provided. During national emergencies, schools may not be able to provide all services in the same manner they are typically delivered.  Schools have the discretion to make educational decisions based on local health needs and concerns.   

During school closure, FSDB is mindful of the need of its students to ensure that each of them can access the school’s educational program, study, and learn in a distance learning environment.  FSDB will continue to provide specially designed instruction and related services identified on the student’s IEP through distance learning to the greatest extent possible. This may include computer-based learning, and/or paper-based instructional materials and activities that are mailed to the student’s home. It may also include video or phone conferencing directly with the student’s teacher and service providers in order to deliver quality instruction, intervention, assessment of learning, and to answer questions.  FSDB administrators, teachers, and related service providers will determine how to meet the individual needs of each student. 

Each student IEP must be reviewed annually, however, they do not expire and remain active until the annual meeting can be held.  If the parents/legal guardians/adult student and the IEP Team agree to conduct the IEP meeting through alternate means, required evaluations, re-evaluations, IEP meetings, etc. may be held virtually, including videoconferencing or conferencing via telephone, to the extent feasible.  FSDB will work with parents/legal guardians/adult students to collaboratively and creatively meet IEP timeline requirements.   

Due to school closure, if changes are needed to be made to a student’s IEP after the annual IEP team meeting, the parent/legal guardian/adult student and FSDB may agree to not convene an IEP Team meeting for the purposes of making those changes, and instead develop a written document to amend or modify the student’s current IEP. 

Reevaluations may be conducted through a review of existing evaluation data, and this review may occur without a meeting and without obtaining parental consent unless it is determined that additional assessments are needed. If an evaluation of a student requires a face-to-face assessment or observation and cannot be completed virtually, the evaluation would need to be delayed until school reopens. Evaluations and reevaluations that do not require face-to-face assessments or observations may take place while FSDB is closed, so long as a student’s parent/legal guardian gives consent.  If there is any delay, a plan to move as quickly as possible will be documented and communicated with families.   

The student’s teacher, IEP monitor, assistant principal, related service provider, and IEP coordinator will monitor and document each student’s progress on all areas of the student’s IEP and determine what, if any, remediation may be needed when students resume classroom instruction at FSDB. Once classroom instruction recommences, FSDB will provide special education and related services to the student in accordance with the student’s IEP.   

Teachers and related service providers will share their work schedules with each student and his/her family. These schedules will include how to contact them and when they will be available. Teachers and related service providers will remain flexible to accommodate student and family needs.  Annual goals, short-term goals or benchmarks, related services, and accommodations will continue, although they may appear different.  Each teacher and related service provider will work diligently to ensure every student’s needs are met and educational services are maintained to the extent practicable.

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Special Considerations for Distance Learning Accessibility

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• Students who are deaf/hard of hearing

  • Video conferencing

  • ASL videos

  • Closed captioning

  • Co-presented meetings to allow for language facilitation and translation
     

• Students who are blind/visually impaired

  • Audio conferencing

  • Assistive technology

  • Braille materials

  • Auditory materials (recorded or live)

  • Co-presented meetings to allow for language facilitation and translation

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Related Service Providers​

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Related services will be provided through phone and video conference therapy opportunities and mailing or emailing work packets to each student and family, as documented in the student’s annual IEP to the extent practicable. Service providers will maintain documentation. Related service providers include:

• Audiology 

• Counseling services 

• Language therapy and other language services 

• Speech therapy and other speech services 

• Physical therapy 

• Orientation and mobility 

• Occupational therapy 

• English for speakers of other languages 

• Consultation with behavior specialist 

• Nursing services 

• Psychological services