our workOur Work

LA COOP members are strongly committed to improving performance outcomes for students with disabilities enrolled in New Orleans’ schools.

The work of the LA COOP is carried out within the six organization divisions:

Advocacy Division- LA COOP representatives participate in legislative meetings and collaborate with LDE, RSD and Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) officials and community stakeholders to promote policies that are beneficial to both special educators and students with disabilities in New Orleans. School year 2012-2013 issues include: 1) charter and traditional public school accessibility to services the RSD is no longer providing, 2) special education concerns and challenges for RSD schools returning to OPSB jurisdiction, 3) special education policies and procedures of the RSD and LDE, 4) discipline mandates and school-based policies and practice, 5) mental health and psychiatric support for high needs students, and 6) special education funding from LDE to support LA COOP activities.

Technical Assistance Division- LA COOP consultants and membersprovide school-based program analysis through a collaborative peer review and self-assessment process that results in the identification of program strengths and challenges and informs recommendations for program enhancement in operations management, staffing patterns, instruction, behavior management, clinical service delivery, and compliance. The LA COOP provides access to an Ombudsman hotline that answers a range of special education related questions and to technical assistance on complex cases.

Professional Development Division- The LA COOP collaborates with RSD and LDE officials to deliver professional development in a number of relevant areas including, but not limited to, discipline, IEP development, compliance, best practices, 504 mandates, Medicaid components, and program development. The LA COOP offers leadership training for special education coordinators and training on special education issues for charter school board members and school leaders.

Academic Division- The LA COOP is committed to providing frontline support for improving teaching practice that results in improved academic and behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities. The LA COOP offers technical expertise on developing programs for all disability categories, building continuums of instruction options to meet a wide range of special education needs, and applying scientifically based tools and materials. The LA COOP has piloted intensive resource programs for students with severe mental health concerns and offers guidance in developing transition and career programs for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Clinical Services Division- The LA COOP recruits and brokers over 60 clinical service providers and has developed clinical standards of practice, standards for evaluation, related service delivery, goal writing, professional standards for IEP participation, and collaboration with special and general education teachers and parents.

Data and Finance Division- The LA COOP conducts extensive surveys to gauge member needs and inform proactive service delivery for members in improving practice, resulting in improved performance outcomes for students with disabilities. The LA COOP helps special educators develop special education specific performance tracking and management systems to ensure close monitoring of student outcomes.