Product Detail

1. Compare and contrast the differences between FERPA and Oklahoma’s Education records laws.
2. Identify which staff members should have access to a student’s IEP and BIP.
3. Recognize the primary sources of liability related to special education.
4. Outline the steps to take when dealing with a violent student.
5. Explain the difference in dealing with voluntary vs. involuntary violence.
6. Identify how class size affects instruction of students with disabilities.
7. Discuss the dangers of mixing social media and special education.
8. Recognize the potential ethical conflicts that exist in dealing with special education disagreements.

Overview of Recent Cases and Developments

Records - Laws Governing Access to Information

• FERPA and Special Education records
• Oklahoma Education related Privacy laws
• HIPPA and student medical information
• Which staff members should have access?
• Dealing with information about students who pose a threat to other students

• Compensatory Education issues
• Private placement at district expense
• Disability discrimination claims

• Legal standards for dealing with violent students
• Addressing restraint in the IEP and BIP
• Distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary violence

• When mainstreaming is not the Least
• Restrictive Environment
• Assigning a “highly qualified” special education teacher when facing staff shortages
• Effective vs. ineffective assignments of special education teachers
• Class size issues and the effect on staff instruction time

• Who should attend and why
• How to prepare for a potentially confrontational meeting
• Dealing with parent/staff disagreements over services
• The role of an attorney in an IEP meeting

• Facebook, twitter, and email’s impact on special education
• Legal pitfalls for special education staff using social media
• Dealing with parent and student social media actions

Heath Merchen is an attorney practicing in Oklahoma who represents members of Oklahoma Education Association in a wide variety of education related matters. After graduating with honors from Seattle University school of law, he started his legal career as a prosecuting attorney in Washington state and then went into private practice representing businesses, cities and school districts. Mr. Merchen later became the executive director of Human Resources and general counsel for the Auburn School District in Washington. In 2002, he moved to Oklahoma to be closer to family, working with the OEA and continuing his private practice. He litigates in state and federal courts as well as administrative proceedings and school board hearings, providing representation and advice to a wide range of clients. He also lectures at Oklahoma colleges regarding teacher liability issues and provides training to schools throughout Oklahoma.

Mr. Merchen has litigated special education matters, attended IEP meetings, handled OCR investigations, and provided ongoing legal advice and assistance to both school districts and teachers regarding special education issues. He focuses on helping parents and schools work together for the best interests of the student while maintaining legal compliance and avoiding unnecessary conflict and legal entanglements. His training focuses on using real world scenarios, open discussions, and he encourages questions throughout the presentation.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Heath Merchen maintains a private practice. He has an employment relationship with the Oklahoma Education Association. Mr. Merchen receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Heath Merchen has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

For U.S. and Canadian customers, a CE test is available for $9.99 USD per participant. International CE rates may vary; please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.

Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations.

Certificates of Successful Completion may be emailed, faxed or mailed to participants completing the post-test/evaluation and paying the CE fee.

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

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Counselors
This intermediate self-study activity consists of 5.5 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

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Educators/Teachers
This course consists of 5.5 self-study clock hours. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

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Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants
This self-study course consists of 5.5 clock hours of instruction that is applicable for physical therapists. CE requirements for physical therapists vary by state/jurisdiction. Please retain the certificate of completion that you receive and use as proof of completion when required.

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Psychologists
This self-study activity consists of 5.5 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline and the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity. Contact us for more information on your state board or organization specific filing requirements.

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Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists
This course contains 5.5 hours of self-study continuing education. It was not offered for ASHA CEUs. Please retain your certificate of completion. If audited for ASHA Certification Maintenance, you can submit this certificate of completion at that time. For state licensure, teacher certification renewal, or other credential renewal, contact those agencies for information about your reporting responsibilities and requirements.

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Social Workers
PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for this self-study course. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2017 - January 27, 2020. Social Workers completing this course receive 5.5 Clinical Practice continuing education credits. Course Level: Intermediate. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to social workers who complete the program evaluation.

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Other Professions
This self-study activity qualifies for 5.5 clock hours of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

Disclaimer: **Information obtained in this course should be used within your scope of practice.
**It is your ethical responsibility to report accurate hours to your licensing board.
**All self-study participants must complete and pass (80% or better) a post-test and evaluation prior to receiving a certificate of completion. If you require a copy of the test/evaluation for CE purposes, please print at the time you take the test. Or you may call our customer service department and a copy of your test/evaluation will be emailed to you. Please allow 30-45 days.

Educators, Special Educators, Administrators, Principals, Educational Professionals, Social Workers, School Counselors, School Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants