Special
Education Services
Plano Independent School District
First
Row (left to right): Rosario Brusniak, Carmen Toal, Bonnie Kahn, and
Linda Stokes
Second Row: Rose Weitzman, Amy Mortensen, Liza Terrazas, Laura Schepers
and Maggie Cardona
PURPOSE AND DUTIES OF THE MULTICULTURAL ASSESSMENT TEAM (MCAT)
PURPOSE OF MCAT
The
Multicultural Assessment Team (MCAT) is available to assist campuses
in determining the impact of second language acquisition, cultural,
and sociological issues on academic achievement.
Second language acquisition issues are often confused with learning
disabilities; therefore, several factors should be seriously considered
before a referral to special education is made. English Language Learners
(ELL) who qualify for special education services are closely monitored
by the Office of Civil Rights. Because these students have been over
represented in special education, it is vital that they are appropriately
identified. Addressing multicultural issues meets part of this requirement
and should be included in a student’s Full Individual Evaluation.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Be available
to school personnel through telephone consultation or email to answer
questions related to issues regarding
ELL students (a member of MCAT has been assigned to each school-please
refer to assignment sheet)
Provide interpreter sources to campuses (e-mail or call: Amy Brown,
Shiloh Center, ext. 28706)
Upon request, provide on-site staffing for teachers/Campus Assessment
Teams regarding issues related to ELL students
Conduct Bilingual Evaluations for Spanish-speaking students
Help develop and provide in-service training regarding evaluation
issues and cultural/linguistic differences for evaluation staff,
speech-language pathologists, and principals
Continue professional development in the area of multicultural issues
by attending the Bilingual Leadership Workshops sponsored by Region
X and other training
MCAT team leader has additional responsibilities
Multicultural
Considerations Packet (MCAT)
The Campus Assessment Team considers multicultural factors (by using
the Multicultural Considerations Packet) during review of the student’s
academic/ behavioral performance. It is the responsibility of the campus
to evaluate each student’s educational, cultural, and language
background to determine if second language issues are impacting his/her
academic progress. The assigned MCAT member may be consulted if any
questions arise.
-
Assessment
Spanish Evaluation: If a Spanish-speaking student is referred for a special education evaluation, a bilingual evaluation specialist will complete the evaluation. A bilingual SLP will be included when SI eligibility is suspected.
Other Language Evaluation: If there is a language other than English, the evaluation is typically conducted by the diagnostician assigned to that campus, along with an interpreter/translator, and the campus SLP, when SI eligibility is suspected. MCAT is available to assist with interpretation of test results and recommendations for report writing.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Red Flags for Learning Disability in
English Language Learners
Red Flags for Speech and Language
Problems in English Language Learners
Meet the Team…..
| Bonnie
Kahn MCAT Team Leader Bilingual LSSP 469-752-8794 |
Liza
Terrazas-Gilliam Bilingual LSSP 469-752-8792 |
| Rosario
Brusniak Bilingual Speech Pathology/Team Leader 469-752-2687 |
Maggie
Cardona Bilingual Educational Diagnostician 469-752-8795 |
| Carmen
Toal Educational Diagnostician Interpreters 469-752-8796 |
Rose
Weitzman Bilingual Educational Diagnostician 469-752-8818 |
| Linda
Stokes Educational Diagnostician LD team 469-752-8806 |
Amy
Mortensen Speech Pathologist AU team 469-752-1265 |
| Laura
Schepers Educational Diagnostician 469-752-8797 |
*LSSP stands for Licensed Specialist in School Psychology |
Plano Independent
School District
Department of Special Education Services
2700 W. 15th Street
Plano, Texas 75075-7543
469-752-8240
Lisa Long, Director of Special Education Services
Comments or suggestions