Chelmsford Public Schools Report on Special Education Brad Brooks, Director of Student Services School Committee Meeting December 3, 2013

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY Chelmsford students educated in Chelmsford Response to changing population of students Assisting students with accessing general curriculum Awareness of Social/Emotional needs of students Specialized Instruction Creative problem solving to unique situations Develop New Programs CHS Student Transitional Educational Program (STEP) New England Center for Children (NECC) partner classroom Expansion of co-teaching opportunities Functional Academic Programs Please See Program Document in your Packets.

Sped Statistics Ages Total SPED Population: FY11852 (6/30/11); (15% of total population) FY12832 (2/22/12); (15% of total population) FY13831 (1/20/13); (14.9% of total population) FY14839 (12/1/13); (16% of total population) ***State Average: 17.3% IN DISTRICT FY11768 FY12744 FY FY14755 OUT OF DISTRICT FY1184Private: 36Collaborative: 48 FY1288Private: 34Collaborative: 54 FY1387Private: 39Collaborative: 48 FY1484Private: 40Collaborative: 44

CPS Special Education population breakdown ***Many students have more than one disability Students with:Number Specific Learning Disability224 Communication Impairment144 Health Impairment129 Developmental Delay/ Intellectual Impairment 147 Autism**119 Emotional Impairment69 Neurological11 Other (Sensory*, Physical, Multiple disabilities) 26

Special Education Updates: Kara Saranich, CHIP’s Pre School Coordinator (new to role) Marla De La Cruz, High School Team Chairperson (new to role) Two new Clinical Psychologists (Dr. Deidre Brogan, Dr. Vanessa Leary) CPS hosting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 th edition (DSM V) training with local districts on 12/4/13 Legal Law update training with Burlington Public Schools on 10/4/13 and 12/6/13 Partner Classroom at Parker for students on the autism spectrum Two day summer training on Co-Teaching attended by 25 teachers and administrators

What makes us effective? Strategies we use to maintain an excellent Special Education department Clinical Psychologists and well trained SPED Staff Cuts down on Independent Evaluations at District Expense ($2,500- $4000 each) Augmentative/Alternative Communication Evals ($1500 each) Well trained Chairpersons: - Mediation - Conflict resolution - Team Building Skilled teachers and therapists Carefully selected workshops/certifications Home/School Facilitators Annual reviewing students placed out of district for potential transition back in district

Strategies we use continued: Creative problem solving strategies avoiding the ‘one size fits all’ approach to programming for students with specific needs Parents as Partners – 98% parent participation In district supports 1:1 support when necessary (for students with intensive behavioral or medical needs) Behaviorists Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA’s) BCBA oversight of Applied Behavior Analysis trained (ABA) IPSP’s Vision specialists Sign Language Interpreters Mobility Specialists Hydraulic lifts Audiologists (making classrooms acoustically friendly) Use of our clinical psychologists

Unforeseen Costs/Staff considerations in Special Education Requests for Initial Evaluations Change in educational status New students ‘move in’ to district Team recommendations mid year Specialized transportation Student hospitalizations

Chelmsford Integrated Pre-School (CHIP’s)Program Presently: Ten ½ day classrooms and 1.5 full-day Intensive Special Needs (ISN) classrooms Intensive needs group growing. 2 full classrooms on January 2, students 56 general education students 78 students with disabilities Trends: Early Intervention, Head Start, parent and private daycare referrals Students on the autism spectrum Students with significant communication impairments

Moving into next year… Evaluate: Programs across the district for maximum effectiveness Staffing patterns in programs Programs for students with autism across the district Therapist caseload for SLP, OT, PT Middle school life skills program at McCarthy CHIP’s Preschool program

Moving into next year…cont Review of programs/levels of support for students identified ‘at risk’ Students who may: Present with intensive social/emotional impairment(s) Have experienced past trauma Be court involved/on probation Be DCF/DMH involved CPS Staff: School psychologists Evaluations/Assessment Individual and small group sessions Guidance Counselors Programs for these students CHS STEP/ Student Assistance Programs (SAP) at Middle and High School

Chelmsford Public Schools Special Education Department Kara Saranich, CHIP’s Pre School Coordinator Patty Doherty, Elementary Team Chairperson Lisa Diaz, Middle School Team Chairperson Marla De La Cruz, High School Team Chairperson Nina Byam, Out of District Coordinator

Circuit Breaker Circuit Breaker Formula: 70% of Difference over ‘foundation’ Circuit Breaker Reimbursements: FY10 Foundation: 38, % FY11 Foundation: 38, – 62% FY12 Foundation: 38, – 49% FY13 Foundation: 40, – 50% Statute Requires 70% Reimbursement

Grants Allocation Grant Contracted service providers Instructional materials Technology IPSP and professional support staff salaries Early Childhood Grant Consultants IPSP and professional support staff salaries Staff Development Grant Teacher training Training related supplies Substitutes for teacher training

Questions?