WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 5: March 11 – March 17
Representatives from Center for Children with Special Needs conducted observations, artifact reviews and interviews on Monday, March 13, at Hartford Public High School’s RISE program. Observations, artifact reviews and interviews were conducted in the MD and Learning Center programs at Moylan. Observations were completed at Rawson along with teacher interviews and an observation of the integrated Pre-K at Naylor was completed. A meeting was held with the Executive Director of Special Education to plan the schedule for future visits.
The Choice Office sent Kayla Pallas to Title IX Mandated Reporter training in order to get clarity regarding some of the parent scenarios that may be presented and discussed. Because they see families at different locations and times, Choice has instituted a protocol to deal with the OCA findings and requirements. All staff have been trained and have the Careline number on their phones. A protocol is being implemented that includes calling the Careline, completing critical incident report and checklist for action.
Presentation on harassment laws and discrimination laws, Title IX, Title II, Section 504 and disability law. The presentation was held on March 17, with administrators, Title IX coordinators at the school level and other staff interested in becoming Title IX investigators in attendance.
Review of DCF referrals for special education students and restraint & seclusion reports for special education students was conducted as part of the weekly agenda for the Special Education Directors meeting on March 17 with 34 staff members in attendance.
CPI training on physical restraint for crisis teams and other staff was scheduled for March 24.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 6: March 18 – March 24
Students aged 18-21 information shared by OTM during PL with administrators on March 24. Also shared disciplinary rules applicable to all staff regarding training and failing to report. Provided more training for principals on mandated reporters case studies/checklist protocol. Title IX Process/Resources professional learning and case studies with principals.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 7: March 25 – March 31
Title IX language updated and posted on website on March 30 at the request of OTM.
Safe Schools (new training platform) submitted paperwork to OTM on March 31 to execute contract.
Building OTM LR website for all safeguard/required training. Design is ready and will be launching later this year.
Risk/Incident Management software vendor review completed by OTM on March 31. Contract to be created.
Held Special BOE Policy Committee meeting on March 30 to review the report, action plan, and shared overview of the community forums and proposed structure for organizing the work. Reviewed, revised, and accepted the recommended BOE Policy Committee Working Plan in response to the report and action plan – the acceptance of the plan now prompts all work articulated in the plan.
HPS Policy Committee Liaison met with Celia Robbins on March 31 regarding Policy Accountability Review which will be completed and presented to the BOE Policy Committee in May.
BOE Policy Committee Chair sent update to Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodrigues on March 31 regarding the work of the committee and requested an update on all activities of the Central Harassment Prevention Team for the past 12 months to be presented to the BOE Policy Committee during the May meeting, and quarterly thereafter, in accordance with the BOE adopted OCA Action Plan. An update regarding mandated reporter training compliance was also requested for the May meeting.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 8: April 1 – April 7
Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez appeared before the Connecticut State Board of Education on April 5 along with other HPS staff, board members and Child Advocate Sarah Eagan, to report on the Action Plan and its ongoing implementation.
Community forum in collaboration with the OCA held at JMA. A previous community forum with the OCA had been held at Milner on March 23.
Central Office screens Paper Tiger, a film about a high school that uses a trauma-informed approach to education to successfully reach young people who are dealing with childhood traumas and multiple stressors in their lives on April 7.
Special Education Directors conducted their weekly review of restraint/seclusion reports and DCF reports of special education students on April 7.
Restraint/seclusion review rubric revised.
A representative of the Center for Children with Special Needs conducted an observation of the RISE and MD programs at Bulkeley, interviewed the president of the paraeducators’ union and interviewed an assistant superintendent whose portfolio contains schools with specialized programs on April 7.
The district has been in communication and is in the process of scheduling meetings with UConn and with Klingberg Family Centers regarding trauma-informed care trainings in our schools.
Restraint/seclusion training was completed by 14 individuals on 3/24. This training was facilitated by Mary Cristofaro and Mario Florez and included School Social Workers, teachers, special education teachers, BT’s, CIS’, and two of the four intervention specialists. The CPI model was used and it was a full day training for two days.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 9: April 8 – April 14
Spring break, schools closed.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 10: April 15 – April 21
The Special Education Department reviewed restraints/seclusion reports and DCF reports of abuse and neglect.
The Center for Children with Special Needs conducted parent interviews at Hartford High’s STEP Transitional Program and their Multiple Disabilities Program.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 11: April 22 – April 28
Hartford Public Schools’ Action Plan: Ensuring Student Safety campaign rolls out online and in schools as of April 25.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 12: April 29 – May 5
Nothing reported upon Action Plan request.
WEEKLY UPDATE ON HPS ACTION PLAN CONCERNING OCA REPORT
Week 13: May 6 – May 12
Additional training scheduled by the security office for May 17 on filling out the restraint and seclusion forms. Planning and lesson plans were developed this week.