Education: What Do I Need to Know About School During COVID-19?

Education: What Are Schools Doing for Students with Disabilities During COVID-19?

When will schools reopen?

Schools are closed through May 1. They might not reopen this school year.

Will my student be able to graduate this year?

Students can graduate if they were on track to graduate before the schools closed. Schools will be deciding on a case by case basis if your student was on track to graduate. You should talk to your child’s teacher or principal about your school’s process for deciding who will graduate.

My student didn’t pass the third grade reading test. Will they have to stay behind?

Schools are not doing any more reading testing this year. Students will not be held back based on their scores when the schools closed.  The child’s principal and teacher will make the recommendation whether the child has enough reading skills to move on to the fourth grade.  You should talk to your child’s teacher or principal about your school’s process for making this decision.

Are internet or computer-based schools closed?

No. Online schools are still open.

Does a school have to provide educational services during the temporary school closure?

Schools have to give students a certain amount of education hours per year. To find out what your student should get in a normal school year, click here. However, due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year schools are allowed to provide online instruction or packets available on their websites instead of meeting these hours.

What educational services are the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) providing during the school closure?

CMSD is providing packets for each grade level. The packets can be picked up at the meal distribution sites or downloaded from http://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/LearningOpportunities.

You can print the materials for free at any Staples location. There is a limit of 50 pages of free printing per day.  Hopefully more information will be available soon about how CMSD students with disabilities will receive instruction during the school closure.

Are schools still serving meals?

All schools may continue to serve meals to school age children even while closed because of COVID 19.  The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is providing lunch and a breakfast for all children under 18 at 22 schools. For more information, visit: https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/cms/lib/OH01915844/Centricity/Domain/6268/CMSD_Coronavirus_MealPickup_v1_.4.3.pdf

Where can I go for more information about the school closure and resources for my child?

The Ohio Department of Education is updating Frequently Asked Questions here: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus/Frequently-Asked-Questions-Governor-DeWine%E2%80%99s-Scho

The Cleveland Metropolitan School district is posting updates here: https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/LearningOpportunities

Your school or school district may be posting updates on their website or have information available when you call the district’s phone number.

My student has a disability. What can I do to make sure my student is getting the right services while school is closed?

Contact the school district’s special education director, your child’s teacher, or building principal to ask for work at your child’s ability level and tips on how to help them with the work.

Write down the dates to track your requests for services, and the responses to such requests. Keep track of how you got the communication. Was it by telephone? Email? Letter? Did the school talk to you in a language you can understand?

Keep track how many minutes of services your child is receiving to help determine whether any services need to be made up when schools reopen.

My student has a 504 Plan or IEP. If a school provides educational services, what do they have to do to meet needs for students with disabilities?

If the school is providing education to students, it must include students with disabilities. The school has to do its best to give the same services to students with disabilities.

What if a school can’t meet the needs of my student with a 504 Plan or IEP?

When schools reopen, the child’s IEP team should meet to consider what services the child missed out on and how they can be made up to the child. Parents should keep track of what their students are missing.

Can I request an IEP meeting during the school closure?

Yes.  Many schools are holding IEP meetings on the phone or through video conferences.  Some schools have not yet set up ways to hold meetings by phone or video.  However, parents or guardians still have the right to request a meeting.

Can I request an evaluation for special education services during the school closure?

Yes. The school has 30 days to respond to your request. They can either tell you in writing why they don’t think there is a disability, or they can get your permission to evaluate. Many evaluations require in person testing, so the evaluation may be delayed until in person testing is safe.

Where can I find more information about special education services during COVID-19?

The Ohio Department of Education has released a document to help school districts provide special education services to students with disabilities. The document addresses specific requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and speaks to the most frequently asked questions that have emerged during the state’s ordered school-building closure. The document can be found here.

For more information about the service for students with disabilities see the FAQs on the Disability Rights Ohio webpage: https://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/covid-education