Special Special Education Education

February 26, 2013February 26, 2013

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What is Special Education?

o IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Mandates 4 duties of every school

district

Special EducationSpecial Education

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Child Find - IdentifyChild Find - IdentifyoAdvertisingoScreeningoInformation from parents, pre-schools, other schools upon enrollment

IDEA – 4 DutiesIDEA – 4 Duties

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IDEA – 4 DutiesIDEA – 4 Duties

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Evaluation Evaluation A multi-disciplinary team,

including a school psychologist, will work to determine:o Does the child have a disability?o Is the child in need of specially

designed instruction?

Pennsylvania is one of very few states where giftedness Pennsylvania is one of very few states where giftedness is provided for under Special Education.is provided for under Special Education.

IDEA – 4 DutiesIDEA – 4 Duties

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The IEPThe IEPThe IEP (Individualized Education Program) team, including parents, will develop a program that meets the students’ needs.

IDEA – 4 DutiesIDEA – 4 Duties

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PlacementPlacementWhere will the program be delivered?

o Look to the regular education setting first and foremost. Methacton seeks to minimize out of district placements

because it is best for the family and mitigates cost.

o FAPE – Free and appropriate public education. ONLY students eligible for special education services are

entitled to FAPE.

o LRE – Least Restrictive Environment Methacton’s audit revealed that we have work to do in this

area.

Since 1975, special education programming is provided Since 1975, special education programming is provided at roughly twice the cost of regular education.at roughly twice the cost of regular education.

Special Education in Special Education in MSDMSD

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Our StudentsOur StudentsMethacton’s special education students range from

those whose needs are few to those whose needs are so great, that they cannot be provided for in our schools with our staff.o Speech and language therapyo Physical therapyo Contracted serviceso Medical services

25% 25% of Methacton’s students have an IEP. This of Methacton’s students have an IEP. This represents an 88% increase over past 6 years.represents an 88% increase over past 6 years.

Special Education StaffSpecial Education Staff

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Elementary SchoolsElementary SchoolsBuildinBuildingg

Professional Professional StaffStaff

Support StaffSupport Staff StudentsStudents

Arrowhead

3.5 6 25

Audubon 3.5 4, 2 agency aides 31

Eagleville 3.5 6.5 37

Woodland 5 7, 3 agency aides 34

Worcester

2.5 4.5, 2 agency aides 26

Skyview 13.5 19 155

TOTALTOTAL 31.531.5 5454 308308

Teachers and assistants provide support for students Teachers and assistants provide support for students with needs identified in the areas of autistic support, with needs identified in the areas of autistic support, emotional support, learning support, and life skills emotional support, learning support, and life skills support.support.

Special Education StaffSpecial Education Staff

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Secondary SchoolsSecondary Schools

BuildingBuilding Professional Professional StaffStaff

Support StaffSupport Staff StudentsStudents

Arcola 11.5 13, 2 agency aides 155

Methacton H.S.

16 11, 1 agency aides 263

TOTALTOTAL 27.527.5 2727 418418

Teachers and assistants provide support for students Teachers and assistants provide support for students with needs identified in the areas of autistic support, with needs identified in the areas of autistic support, emotional support, learning support, and life skills emotional support, learning support, and life skills support.support.

Special Education MandatesSpecial Education Mandates

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CaseloadCaseloadItinerantItinerant SupplementaSupplementa

llFull-TimeFull-Time

Learning Support 50 20 12

Life Skills Support 20 20 12 (Grades K-6)15 (Grades 7-12)

Emotional Support 50 20 12

Deaf/Hearing Impaired 50 15 8

Blind/Visually Impaired 50 15 12

Speech and Language 65 8

Physical Support 50 15 12

Autistic Support 12 8 8

Multiple Disabilities Support

12 8 8

Special Education MandatesSpecial Education Mandates

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Classroom SpaceClassroom Spaceo The room must be a space that was

designed for use as a classroom.o The classroom must be close to the

ebb and flow of school activities.o The noise level in the classroom must be

reasonable to allow the children to learn.

o The classroom must be accessible to children with disabilities and contain at least 28 sq. feet of space for each child.

CostsCosts

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15.05%15.05% 14.11%14.11%14.53%14.53% 13.90%13.90%

CostsCosts

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1

School Year

In 2013-2014, we anticipate NO out of district placements, reducing In 2013-2014, we anticipate NO out of district placements, reducing our costs in this area to $0.our costs in this area to $0.

Questions?Questions?

Thank you!Thank you!

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