Special Education Staffing & Teacher to Student Ratios

February 24, 2014

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/regulations/state/regs_speced_disability_va.pdf

Each local school division shall

• ensure that all children with disabilities aged two to 21, inclusive, residing in that school division have a right to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment

“Free appropriate public education” or “FAPE” means

Special education and related services 1. Are provided at public expense, under public

supervision and direction, and without charge; 2. Meet the standards of the Virginia Board of

Education; 3. Include an appropriate preschool, elementary

school, middle school or secondary school education in Virginia; and

4. Are provided in conformity with an individualized education program (IEP).

“Least restrictive environment” (LRE) means

• that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities are educated with children who are not disabled, and that special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

Supplementary aids and services are

• items or actions intended to level the playing field for students with disabilities, not give them an advantage

• Related services, direct and indirect instruction, accommodations, modifications, or supports stated in the IEP

Related Services are

• transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education and includes speech-language pathology and audiology services; interpreting services; psychological services; physical and occupational therapy…

• provided by trained professionals

Direct and Indirect instruction

• Direct - skills-oriented, small-group, face-to-face instruction using carefully articulated lessons in which cognitive skills are broken down into small units, sequenced deliberately, and taught explicitly

• Indirect - the learner acquires knowledge by transforming, or constructing, material into meaningful response. It is inquiry-based, the result is discovery, student-centered, and teacher facilitated (i.e. - discovery learning, cooperative learning)

Accommodations

• Provisions that allow a student to access the information being taught or to demonstrate what they have learned.

• Examples: read aloud, visual schedules, re-teaching/pre-teaching, communication device, stroller, time timer, sensory breaks, dictation to scribe, cloze notes/slot notes, text readers, graphic organizers, toileting needs…

Modifications

• Substantial changes in what a student is expected to learn and/or demonstrate

• Examples: omitting assignments, restricting the length of assignments, using curriculum at a lower grade level, modifying weights or grades, adapting worksheets, simplified vocabulary…

Who is responsible?

• The IEP is a legal document. Once it is in the IEP, it must happen. If not, the parent has the right to a due process hearing.

• Related services must be provided by licensed, professionals.

• Special education teachers, with the assistance of paraprofessionals, are responsible for making sure direct and indirect instruction, accommodations, and modifications all take place

We use this, cross-categorical method. It allows for more flexibility in our calculations.

Percentage of Students with Disabilities (National Average is 13.1%)

16% 16.8%

Special Education in Pulaski County Public Schools

Total special education teachers = 52 (last year 53)

Total special education paraprofessionals = 79 (last year 87)

Pulaski County High School

• 18 Special Education Teachers – Including 1 Department Chair – Including 1 Transition Specialist

• 269 Students with IEP’s • 1:15 Teacher to Student Ratio • 14 Paraprofessionals • 1:19 Para to Student Ratio

– 8 para’s are Targeted (1 student/all day) – 1 Testing Center, 1 Community Based Instruction – 4 Pod support

Dublin Middle School

• 6 Special Education Teachers

• 86 Students with IEP’s

• 1:14 Teacher to Student Ratio

• 11 Paraprofessionals

• 1:8 Para to Student ratio

– 7 para’s are targeted (1 student/all day)

– 4 classroom para’s

Pulaski Middle School

• 7 Special Education Teachers

• 84 Students with IEP’s

• 1:12 Teacher to Student Ratio

• 9 Paraprofessionals

• 1:9 Para to Student Ratio

– 5 para’s are Targeted (1 student/all day)

– 4 classroom para’s

Snowville Elementary School

• 1 Special Education Teacher

• 9 Students with IEP’s

• 1:9 Teacher to Student Ratio

• 2 Paraprofessionals

• 1:5 Para to Student Ratio

– 1 para is Targeted (1 student/all day)

– 1 classroom para

Riverlawn Elementary School

• 4 Special Education Teachers

• 50 Students with IEP’s

• 1:13 Teacher to Student Ratio

• 7 Paraprofessionals

• 1:7 Para to Student Ratio

– 2 para’s are targeted (1 student/all day)

– 5 classroom para’s

Dublin Elementary School

• 5 Special Education Teachers

• 43 Students with IEP’s

• 1:9 Teacher to Student Ratio

• 16 Paraprofessionals

• 1:3 Para to Student Ratio

– 10 para’s are targeted (1 student/all day)

– 6 classroom para’s

Pulaski Elementary School

• 5 Special Education Teachers

• 62 Students with IEP’s

• 1:12 Teacher to Student Ratio

• 11 Paraprofessionals

• 1:6 Para to Student Ratio

– 5 para’s are targeted (1 student/all day)

– 6 classroom para’s

Critzer Elementary School

• 5 Special Education Teachers

• 60 Students with IEP’s

• 1:12 Teacher to Student Ratio

• 10 Paraprofessionals

• 1:6 Para to Student Ratio

– 4 para’s are targeted (1 student/all day)

– 6 classroom para’s

Students with IEP’s Served outside of the Division

• Currently, there are 16 students with IEP’s attending private day school at Minnick Education Center in Wytheville

• Currently, there are 12 students with IEP’s being served at residential schools throughout Virginia.

Disproportionality – OHI is down 15; SLD is down 28