TILS B-g

Readmission Conference
Activity: I was part of the committee who served on a Manifestation Determination team for
one of special education students. This conference was with the school psychologist, special
education director for the system and school, administration, case worker, parents, and teachers.
This conference was to discuss this students suspension and return to the school.
Description: This committee met a few times to discuss the best and safest option for the
student. The student had been receiving services at the alternative school for approximately one
semester, and the parents believed that he was ready to return to the main campus. The decision
was made to allow the student to return; however, both the student and parents understood that
misbehavior of any kind in the future would automatically cause him to be returned to the
alternative campus for his safety and for the schools safety.
a. What went well?
The meeting went well with all parties understanding the expectations for the student
upon his return. The parents were involved in the discussion to the extent they could be.
The student seemed to understand and take responsibility for his actions and agreed to
comply with the behavior interventionist meetings that were to come.
b. What did not?
One major thing that did not go well was the communication aspect. I have always
witnessed this struggle in more than one meeting. The lingo and words used to explain
to the parents what is going on during these meetings is educational lingo that most
parents do not fully or completely understand. It is also intimidating when there is only
one parent sitting with six or more educators talking about his/her child. I have never, and
I mean never, seen a parent ask a clarifying question as to what he/she is signing whether

it is an initial meeting, reevaluation, addendum, etc. In this case, I do not believe the
parents fully understood what the school psychologist was saying, and I just sympathized
with them wishing the explanations would be more clear and sound because not everyone
has a degree in education.
c. Given the chance to do it again, how would you do it better?
Knowing now what took place, I wish the school special education coordinator would
have stepped in to explain clearly everything that was discussed. I would have liked to
see the issue not be brushed under the rug by asking the generic, Do you have any
questions? This explanation should simply be a part of the process, especially when we
know who these parents are and realize that they may not fully understand what is being
discussed.