Bridging: Moving from Grade to Grade and Campus to Campus
Change is difficult for all of us. The difficulties of adjusting to new classrooms, teachers and campuses are frequently especially difficult for children with special needs or learning differences. To help insure the smooth transition of those receiving special education services in HPISD, the HPISD Special Education Parent Advisory Committee has worked with the HPISD professional staff to establish a process. That process is summarized in the attached Bridging Support Process Guidelines.
What is the purpose of these guidelines?
- To make sure that planning for each school year's changes begins in the spring of the previous school year.
- To make sure that parents, educators and administrators all participate in the process.
- To make sure that all those who need an opportunity to visit a new classroom or campus before school begins in the fall are afforded an opportunity to do so.
- To make sure that the beginning of each school year is a success!
Click here to view or print the Bridging Support Process Guidelines.
What are the responsibilities of the parties in this process? Each HPISD Special Education campus coordinator will work with the principal and teachers on her respective campus and on the campus of the school which the child will attend the following year (if a campus change is occurring) to accommodate and accomplish the Bridging Support Guidelines. Parents are encouraged to follow up with any Bridging concerns and questions in ARD meetings. Please keep checking this site for upcoming activities for each campus.
If they believe it will be beneficial, parents are also encouraged to complete a short description of their child and his/her special needs, ways that the child learns most effectively, and any other special concerns (medication needs, allergies, toileting issues) and provide that description to the special education coordinator so that it can be included in materials shared with new teachers, therapists, nurses and other professionals who will work with the child in the upcoming school year. A template of this parent-created form is attached.
Click here to view or print the template of the Quick Reference Guide.
If you are not notified of opportunities to visit a new campus or classroom before the school year begins, or if you have any other questions or concerns, always contact your campus's special education coordinator or principal. Members of the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee are also always available to assist in any way possible. Their names and contact information is available on the website.