August 2023

Steve Ormbrek

Aug 14, 2024

107

The next few weeks you will see changes to SIRAS which are intended to transition to the new CALPADS requirements. Some of the updates must be released prior to full development. When the development is completed, we will provide detailed directions of those changes. The development process may take some time to complete. They are working to ensure a smooth transition to meet the new CALPADS requirements. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this transition.

Siras Systems Newsletter - August 2023

IMPORTANT Information for all users in SIRAS

TOMS accommodation extracts from Siras: The TOMS API is now developed in SIRAS under Tools/Site admin. District testing coordinators may begin testing this process and developing their process. Be on the lookout for Brian’s Zoominars where he will go over this in more detail for SPED data administrators and testing coordinators.
Review (30 day) meetings: If you will be holding a Review (30 day) meeting, the user will need to indicate if the meeting is a New Plan or if the district adopting the IEP BEFORE the meeting is created. See help doc.
Form changes: A new form, Supplementary Supports / ESY Services / Transportation, is now in SIRAS. This form contains data that we have traditionally described on the LRE and SIS forms. Supplementary supports are additional support/consultation/training that are not described in other parts of the IEP and typically not directly linked to IEP goals. As a result of an expanded transportation area on the new form, the Student Info and Services form is revised. The Least Restrictive Environment form is revised and no longer include consultations, additional supports and ESY. The Transportation Worksheet has been uploaded to Tools/Document Library/Non-meeting forms to assist the IEP team in determining the need for special transportation. These changes are summarized on form changes ppt and training video are linked here.
The grade change rollover occurred over the summer. If a meeting with a date prior to July 16 is open, the rollover is on hold until that meeting is finalized. Contact the SIRAS data administrator after finalizing and they will advance next year’s data/update the grade/school.
Review meetings finalized last year without parent consent. Go to Reporting > Meeting Reports > Predefined Reports tab > click Parent Contacted, No Response. Adjust the meeting dates on the query to (7/1/2022-6/30/2023). Students whose last meeting finalized without consent, will still be working on the previous year’s goals.

SIRAS Passwords: Although you will be prompted to change your password every 365 days, get ahead of the new school year and change your password now! Go to Tools > My Account and click on Edit Account Details. Enter your new password, confirm and then click Update User Account. If you have forgotten your password over the summer, the Email Password Reset button appears if/when you try to login with the wrong password. Click on the button to have a password reset link emailed to you.

Share IEPs/Info for Gen Ed forms easily from SIRAS. IEP/Non-IEP forms are Savable and Printable in Batch. In the Tools menu/Document Library, click the ‘Fill in for student’ checkbox to enable the ability to save non-IEP forms. Print IEP and Non-IEP forms in batch by going to the Tools menu/Labels and Batch Forms/Batch Forms for your entire found set (your caseload or school).
Review your current student list in SIRAS. Use the ‘Manage Caseload’ button under the Student Info menu to request students to be added or removed from your caseload.
Use the Student Data Overview links on your home page to monitor your caseload. Review your students who have Overdue or Upcoming meetings (annuals due within the next 30 days and triennials due within the next 75 days.
SIRAS Office Hours with SELPA for Training of Trainers (ToTs)/Advanced Users/District Administrators and 504/SST Modules have been scheduled for the 2023-2024 school year, beginning August 15. Check the SIRAS 4 Ventura Padlet for the flyer and zoom link.

IMPORTANT Information for SPED Data Administrators in SIRAS

User account transfers can now be requested. Sped Data Administrators will see a new tab on the Home Page called User Transfers where you can ‘Reassign’ user accounts. Clicking ‘Reassign’ for that user will allow the transfer to the requested district. See help document for more information about this feature.
Add Block Access and reassign/remove student associations for staff who are not returning this year. Make sure to remove their email address, phone number and district/school assignments.
Enter Progress Report dates and School Holidays under Tools/SELPA-District-School Admin for the 2023-2024 school year.
Search for students without a Case Manager and assign one.
Inactive status has been broken into elements of eligibility vs participation. We can now track and report when students in your district who are eligible, but not participating. This affects the way we report data such that plan types 300/700/800/900 are no longer reportable. The reference to them will remain in SIRAS for consistency for the coming year. Attend SIRAS Zoominars for more details.
SIRAS Trainings: Training flyers are on the SIRAS4Ventura Padlet. Registration is now open.
Continue to follow up on IEP meetings finalized last year that did not have parent consent. Print a list from Reporting/Meeting Reports/Predefined/Parent Contacted, No Response. Narrow the meeting date criteria, e.g., 7/1/2022-current date, to limit meetings in the list from last year only. Remember that meetings finalized this way last year, do not have the new year’s goals approved yet. If parent consent is received because of your follow up, upload the signed document and update the parent consent. Do NOT reactivate the meeting to complete these tasks. Review your associated archive(s) and current data to make sure they were properly updated to reflect the new parent response.
The SELPA’s Fall 1 training meeting is scheduled for September 5th, in-person at VCOE. All SIRAS, CALPADS and Admin staff are welcome to attend. Registration is now open on the SELPA website.
The SIRAS Data Network meetings (Office hours with SELPA for Data Specialists) have been scheduled for 2023-2024. Check the SIRAS 4 Ventura Padlet for the flyer and zoom link.
The schedule of SIRAS Support Webinars is posted on the SIRAS4CALPADS Padlet.

SST Tracker and the 504 Modules

>>> 504 Module - SIS Integration now available. Click here for more technical information
      Contact [email protected] for a quote and to arrange

The modules employ Transfer buttons on the MIS Summary page which move the student record from one module to another (for example, SST to 504 or SST to Special Education). If your district is interested in using either the SST Tracker or the 504 Plan Developer email Siras Systems for assistance to get started.

Optional Costs:
   - Customized 504 Forms
   - SIS Integration of demographic and contact data
   - Training & Workshops

SIRAS CCSS Goal Alignment to Assessment & Worksheet Project

Siras Systems is looking for volunteers to assist in the development of short assessment worksheets connected to the goal stems when developed in the GoalWizard.

Our hope is that we can combine our resources and efforts to develop material for CCSS goal stems. SIRAS Systems will help coordinate and facilitate the development of the assessments, configure and import the files into SIRAS when complete. This project will take about a year to fully materialize.

This cooperative effort benefits the outcomes of the students we serve. Users in the SIRAS family can easily and efficiently develop baselines, evaluate the student’s progress toward their goals, determine whether the goal is met and present this evidence at the annual review meetings.

Your participation and contribution to this project as a SELPA would be greatly appreciated by many. All participants that assist would be added to our Acknowledgement page for professional recognition. If you are interested in assisting with this project, email Steve Ormbrek at [email protected]