Teaching special education students in Montgomery Public Schools has been a weakness for the system when it comes to meeting federal accountability standards, but this year officials said things are different and new measures are in place to help students get the resources they need.
Changes to special education were discussed during Tuesday's Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, where officials got an update on what's new to hold staff accountable, get students the services they need and address the root of discipline issues.
"I think we're putting accountability in place," Superintendent Barbara Thompson said.
Of Montgomery County's more than 31,000 public school students, 3,082 have disabilities and are classified as special education. One example of how officials are making sure those students get what they need is something called a resource notebook.
Teachers have a notebook with a page for each student that receives special education services, and in it, they are required to document instruction and services given to the student. Educators also are tasked with filling out an observation form to monitor compliance and delivery of services to students in the classroom.
Yolanda Gracie, MPS director of special education, said the documentation shows that students' IEPs, or Individualized Education Plans, are being carried out.
"This is documentation showing they are doing what they are supposed to do," she said.
In addition, Gracie said teachers also are getting more opportunities for professional development and resources. Special education teachers are learning how to collaborate, desaggregate testing data, find alternatives to suspensions and expulsions, and for the first time, new special education teachers attended a new teacher academy.
Special education teachers also have been outfitted with electronic whiteboards, laptops, document cameras and other items.
The other piece to the puzzle is discipline. Gracie said that while educators are looking for alternatives to punishments that land students out of school, they also will work to determine why students are behaving the way they are.
News By:
montgomeryadvertiser.com
Changes to special education were discussed during Tuesday's Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, where officials got an update on what's new to hold staff accountable, get students the services they need and address the root of discipline issues.
"I think we're putting accountability in place," Superintendent Barbara Thompson said.
Of Montgomery County's more than 31,000 public school students, 3,082 have disabilities and are classified as special education. One example of how officials are making sure those students get what they need is something called a resource notebook.
Teachers have a notebook with a page for each student that receives special education services, and in it, they are required to document instruction and services given to the student. Educators also are tasked with filling out an observation form to monitor compliance and delivery of services to students in the classroom.
Yolanda Gracie, MPS director of special education, said the documentation shows that students' IEPs, or Individualized Education Plans, are being carried out.
"This is documentation showing they are doing what they are supposed to do," she said.
In addition, Gracie said teachers also are getting more opportunities for professional development and resources. Special education teachers are learning how to collaborate, desaggregate testing data, find alternatives to suspensions and expulsions, and for the first time, new special education teachers attended a new teacher academy.
Special education teachers also have been outfitted with electronic whiteboards, laptops, document cameras and other items.
The other piece to the puzzle is discipline. Gracie said that while educators are looking for alternatives to punishments that land students out of school, they also will work to determine why students are behaving the way they are.
News By:
montgomeryadvertiser.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment