Managing Special Education During School Closures

Amid school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts are not yet thinking about how best to manage special education services to mitigate the need for compensatory, legally required make-up services next fall. Most of those that are already thinking about this are waiting to take action, unintentionally creating challenges that could extend the detrimental impacts of COVID-19 well into the summer and fall.

The good news is that there are actions districts can take today that will significantly reduce the burden from missed special education services on districts and staff in the future. This article shares nine key steps to reduce the impact of missed services.

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These nine steps can help your district meet the needs of students, ensure compliance with legal requirements, and strengthen relationships with parents, thereby reducing the possibility of future legal challenges and improving the long-term quality of education for students with disabilities.

This article shares:

Why minimizing non-compliance during school closures is crucial, and why waiting to take action may have significant consequences
Nine steps your district should take⁠—starting now—to mitigate the need for compensatory services to be made up next fall
A timeline to guide your process that shares how to get started this spring, what to do over the summer to set your district up for success, and how to manage and refine implementation in the fall

Mark Wiernusz

Managing Director, DMGroup

Having worked with over a hundred school districts of all sizes and types across the country, Mark Wiernusz brings a depth of knowledge and expertise to his work helping school district leaders tackle their biggest challenges and deliver lasting results for students, staff, and the community. As Managing Director at DMGroup, Mark leads consulting projects across several practice areas including strategic planning, strategic budgeting, human capital, and special education. In these projects, he works closely with district leadership teams to implement best practices and drive continuous improvement.

Managing Special Education During School Closures

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