1. Vera A. Gallagher & Mark Secaur Oceanside Union Free School District
Improving the Graduation Rate for Students with Disabilities Receiving Regents Diplomas
Vera A. Gallagher & Mark Secaur
Oceanside Union Free School District

2. Presenter Information
Vera A. Gallagher- Supervisor of Special Education
Mark Secaur- Principal

3. Oceanside High School South Shore Nassau County 2000 students
Predominately middle class
Demographic Information
87% Caucasian
9% Hispanic
9% Students with Disabilities
Special Education Philosophy

4. The Age of Accountability
NCLB
APPR
Value Added
Etc.

5. Why is a Regents Diploma important?
What about the student?
Why is a Regents Diploma important?
Life lessons
Hard work
Perseverance
Facing challenges
Greater chance of success at post-secondary level
Self-esteem
Employability

6. Percent of Graduates with Disabilities Who Earn a Regents Diploma
Data, Data, Data
Percent of Graduates with Disabilities
Who Earn a Regents Diploma

7. Quantitative vs. Qualitative= +
What is the equation?

8. Lay the Groundwork Identify the students Believe!
Enlist the help of the “village”
Counselors
Teachers
Parents
Administration

9. The Strategy Develop plan for each student
Create schedules/determine staffing needs
Hire certified teachers as subs
Provide short-term, intense 1:1 or small group instruction
Oversee interventions directly
Provide optimum testing environment

10. Intervention Options Parent Meeting Parent Call Student meeting
Attendance Counselor
Discussion with teacher
Child Study Team
Skills Classes
Intensive tutoring in Resource Centers
Able, Intelligent Minds (AIM) mentoring program
Liberty Partnership
Preparation For Regents classes
Component retesting
Summer School
Night School
Extra Help
Group Counseling
Social Worker/Psychologist involvement
Associate Principal involvement
504 plan
Castleton Alternative HS
Oceanside Learning Center

11. Students in Jeopardy Student Counselor Concern Interventions Follow up
Smith, John
Mesquita
Grades (Brit. Lit., Economics, Marine Science)
Attendance
Emotional issues
1,3,4,6,9,18, 19 referred to outside counseling (met w/ Psychologist, Social Worker
Closely following her attendance and progress
Confirmed counseling
Met with Associate Principal on 3/21
Will meet with Principal 5/20
Jones, Susan
Grades (US Government, Economics
1,2,4,6,9,16,18
Meeting w/ student frequently and checking in w/ teachers
Parent Meeting scheduled for 5/18

12. Essential Factors Shared Vision Sincerity of Purpose
Positive Relationships
Consistent Communication
Follow up

13. Next Steps…. Determine Optimal Times for Interventions
Focus on Student Mastery
Identify the Most Successful Staff & Strategies