Agenda / Content Covered

1. Essential Special Education Legal Updates You Need to Know
   9:00 - 9:45, Written by Erin H. Walz. Presented by Victoria Ikerd-Schreiter in Flagstaff and Erin H. Walz in Phoenix.
2. Bullying and Harassment: Ensuring Special Needs Students Receive Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
   9:45 - 10:30, Written and Presented by Hope N. Kirsch in Flagstaff and Phoenix.
   1. Understanding FAPE in Different Forms: IDEA and Section 504
   2. Recognizing Harassment and Interference with Special Education Services
   3. Special Needs Students as Perpetrators: How to Handle it
   4. Documenting Responses to Bullying and Harassment
3. Developing Legally Compliant IEPs That Benefit Students: With Examples
   10:45 - 11:30, Written and Presented by Hope N. Kirsch in Flagstaff and Phoenix.
   1. Evaluation Best Practices
   2. Mitigating the Chance for Legal Liabilities in the Meeting
   3. Ensuring Legally Defensible Documentation for Every Decision
   4. IEP Progress Monitoring
   5. Changing the IEP: Essential Guidelines
   6. IEP Do's and Don'ts - With Examples
4. 504 Plan Eligibility and Accommodation Best Practices
   11:30 - 12:15, Written and Presented by Lori Kirsch-Goodwin in Flagstaff and Phoenix.
   1. 504 Plans vs. IEPs
   2. Eligibility Procedure Best Practices
      1. Should IDEA Procedures be Used?
      2. The ADAAA and 504 Plan Eligibility
      3. The Use of Parent-Submitted Information
   3. Determining Educationally - and Legally - Appropriate Accommodations
   4. Legal Best Practices for Students Who Do Not Need Classroom Accommodations
5. Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDRs): Did the Disability Cause the Behavior?
   1:15 - 2:15, Written and Presented by Lori Kirsch-Goodwin in Flagstaff and Phoenix.
   1. Necessary Procedures Under the IDEA
   2. Discipline Documentation: What to Include
   3. Determining if Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) and Discipline Documentation Align
   4. What to Do if MDR Results are Disputed
6. Avoiding Disability Discrimination Complaints: Lessons From Recent Court Cases and Enforcement Actions
   2:30 - 3:30, Written by Heather R. Pierson. Presented by Victoria Ikerd-Schreiter in Flagstaff and Heather R. Pierson in Phoenix.
   1. Ensuring Equal Access to All Programs: Sports, Gifted and Talented, Etc.
   2. Technology and Accessibility, Including Websites
   3. Ensuring Modifications and Changes in Placement are Necessary
   4. Discriminatory Suspension and Discipline Practices
   5. Inappropriate Use of Restraint and Seclusion
   6. Recognizing Racial Disparity in Special Education Programs
7. English Language Learners (ELLs) and Special Education: Ensuring Legal Best Practices
   3:30 - 4:30, Written by Heather R. Pierson. Presented by Victoria Ikerd-Schreiter in Flagstaff and Heather R. Pierson in Phoenix.
   1. Knowing When Referral is Appropriate
   2. How ELLs Should be Evaluated
   3. IEPs for ELLs
      1. IEP Meeting Essentials for ELLs
      2. Ensuring Language Instruction Meshes with IEP Objectives
   4. Legally Compliant School Policies for English Language and Special Education Co-Services

Accreditation Details:

VICTORIA IKERD-SCHREITER is the owner of Law Offices of Victoria Ikerd-Schreiter, Counselor at Law. Ms. Ikerd-Schreiter focuses her practice in representing individuals with disabilities and the education and training of parents of their rights. She provides lectures, seminars, and trainings fluently in both English and Spanish for parents throughout San Diego County both through support groups and through the non-profit Real League of Justice. Through Real League of Justice, Ms. Ikerd-Schreiter continues to advocate on a policy level, as well to maintain the funding and services that serve the bigger picture of adults and children with special needs. She has also spoken and continues to speak at many conferences and events as a keynote and break out session speaker in both English and Spanish on the topics of disability, services, legal strategies, policy and advocacy. Ms. Ikerd-Schreiter received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from San Diego State University and her J.D. degree from California Western School of Law. (Flagstaff location)

HOPE N. KIRSCH, M.A. (Ed.), Esq., is a licensed special education teacher and 25-year attorney and judge pro tem. She practices special education law with her sister, Lori Kirsch-Goodwin, at Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC, representing K-12 and higher education students throughout Arizona in school-related matters, including advocacy, due process, 504s, OCR, discipline and bullying. Ms. Kirsch was a special education teacher and coordinator in the New York City public schools for 18 years where she worked with the most challenging populations and supervised and trained teachers in teaching strategies, curriculum development, writing IEPs and behavior management. She has a bachelor’s degree in special education from Boston University, a master’s degree in special education from NYU, 30+ post-graduate credits in educational supervision and administration, and her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. Ms. Kirsch is admitted to the state and federal district courts in New York, New Jersey, Arizona and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a frequent speaker nationally and locally on education law, and has trained mental health professionals, education advocates, attorneys, and parents in educational advocacy. (Flagstaff and Phoenix locations)

LORI KIRSCH-GOODWIN is a founding member and partner with the special education law firm, Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC, which has been recognized in the Phoenix Business Journal as the top specialty law firm in special education. She is a 28-year trial attorney who devotes her practice to special education. Ms. Kirsch-Goodwin is the mother of a young adult on the autism spectrum who also has cerebral palsy. She began her practice in special education law as she began navigating her son's issues through the school system. Ms. Kirsch-Goodwin earned her B.A. degree from Syracuse University and her J.D. degree from the University of Bridgeport School of Law. Presently, she is a member of the Disability Resource & Services Advisory Committee for Scottsdale Community College. Ms. Kirsch- Goodwin recently prevailed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding a location issue case. (Flagstaff and Phoenix locations)

HEATHER R. PIERSON is an attorney with Udall Shumway PLC. She is a member of the school law section, representing school districts and charter schools throughout the state. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Pierson taught behavior disordered students. During her teaching career, she was involved in the development and implementation of individualized education plans (IEP) and behavior plans; and attended several trainings on special education, and regular education interventions and strategies. While in law school, Ms. Pierson provided in-home ABA services for autistic children under the age of three; and participated in the Whittier Law School Special Education Clinic, which provided special education advocacy services for children with developmental disabilities. Additionally, Ms. Pierson earned her master's degree in special education in 2004. Ms. Pierson primarily focuses her school law practice on special education and disability related matters. She routinely defends school districts and other public educational institutions in matters related to special education due process hearings, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) complaints, Section 504 due process hearings, mediation, and special education state complaints. Ms. Pierson provides daily advice and assistance in matters related to special education, Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, student discipline, personnel issues, and student records. She has also given in-service workshops to district personnel on a wide range of special education and disability related topics, and speaks at state-wide conferences. (Phoenix location)

ERIN H. WALZ is a partner with Udall Shumway PLC, where she practices in the representation of school districts and charter schools in all matter of legal issues, including litigation, special education and student rights. She also represents businesses in litigation matters at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Walz began practicing law in 1996. She is licensed to practice in Arizona, Illinois, and Michigan state courts; and numerous federal trial and appellate courts. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Illinois State Bar Association and the State Bar of Arizona (vice chair, Fee Arbitration Committee). Ms. Walz earned her B.A. degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her J.D. degree from Michigan State University College of Law. (Phoenix location)