School Safety Speaker Series - Dr. Melissa Reeves
Best Practices for a Defensible Process and Special Education Considerations
Date(s) & Time(s)
March 15, 2024 ~ 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Workshop Description
Dr. Melissa Reeves, Ph.D., NCSP, LPC, a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed special education teacher, licensed professional counselor, and former district coordinator of social/emotional/behavioral services will discuss how to make your school/district?s BTAM process more legally defensible. Current research, recommendations, and lessons learned from previous threat assessment cases will be discussed. An emphasis will be placed on the critical importance of establishing multi-disciplinary threat assessment teams and how to address the systemic barriers that complicate information sharing, documentation, and follow-up planning and supports. The importance of addressing bias, equity, and disproportionality within the BTAM process will also be explained in addition to special consideration necessary to ensure your threat assessment process does not violate special education protocols and procedures. How IDEA, 504, and ADA Title II ?Direct Threat Standard? intersect with threat assessment and the considerations needed to ensure districts are complying with federal law will be presented. Best practice guidance regarding parent permission vs notification, information sharing, discipline, and change in programming and/or placement decisions will be discussed. In addition, knowledge gained in serving as an expert witness in court cases involving threat assessment, targeted violence and suicidal ideation will be highlighted.
Workshop participants will:
- Learn critical components needed to have a legally defensible BTAM process;
- Learn strategies that increase equity while decreasing bias and disproportionality;
- Learn the clear distinction, yet complementary aspects, between threat assessment and suicide risk assessment;
- Discuss special considerations to be considered when conducting threat assessments with students with disabilities or suspected of having a disability;
- Understand the clear distinction, yet complementary aspects, between threat assessment and special education policies and procedures;
- Learn how IDEA, 504 and ADA Title II Direct Threat Standard intersect with threat assessment and the considerations needed to ensure districts are complying with federal law;
- Be provided best practice guidance regarding parent permission vs notification, information sharing, discipline, and change in programming and/or placement decisions; and
- Be provided recommendations for improving the fidelity of implementation of the BTAM process.
There is no fee to attend this presentation, however, seating is very limited and registration is required.
School Safety Specialists will receive training hours for attending this presentation.
Location
Burlington Township High School Performing Arts Center
610 Fountain Avenue
Burlington, NJ 08016
Registration
Registration Closed
Contact Information
Karen Carella
Office of School Preparedness & Emergency Planning
200 Riverview Plaza
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-376-3574
>> school.security@doe.nj.gov