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By Sheri Willrodt

Executive Director of Special Services

As part of our continuous improvement process, Austin Public Schools has engaged with outside consultants to conduct program reviews for each major department in the district.  As part of the Special Education program review, several key recommendations emerged to support each of the district’s strategic priorities.

The main recommendation under Strategic Priority 1:  Support and resources to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment is a Special Services Leadership Reorganization and clarification of role definitions.  This new structure provides more equitable support for buildings and grade levels across the district.  Additionally, the model provides an increased focus on instructional coaching, with an emphasis on literacy.  Success of this new model will be measured through a staff engagement/satisfaction survey.

Strategic Priority 2:  Packer Profile for All Learners focuses on inclusionary opportunities for students with disabilities as they prepare for the adult world. Setting I/II students receiving special education services will participate in Ninth Grade Packer Profile Seminar with their typically developing peers​.  Setting III students will follow the same curricular outline as the general education class, with modifications as appropriate​.  Additionally, the district will support continued implementation of our Work Experience Handicapped Program, including our Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) work experience lab and placement at community job sites for students in grades 9-12​.  We will also support continued implementation of our Austin Transition Program (ATP) at Riverland Community College, the On Track Work Experience Lab, Community Exploration and Community Job Sites for 18-22 students​, as well as continued individual transition planning by IEP teams.

Inclusionary practices highlight our recommendations under Strategic Priority 3:  District-wide multi-tiered systems of supports for all learners. Our elementary sites are focusing on push-in programming during small group rotations (where appropriate).  Our Intermediate/Middle level teams are focusing on co-teaching​ where appropriate to ensure students have access to content area experts. Our high school will continue with their current co-teaching practices, with the intent of expanding next year with students rolling up from middle level.  Additional planning and professional development is underway to support this initiative. We are also doing some learning work around math interventions, as well as an accommodations and modifications resource to support students in accessing general education curriculum.

Our recommendations under Strategic Priority 4:  Excellence in resource management are focused on Third Party Billing Strategies.  This includes the expansion of PCA billing for monitoring of behaviors for our most vulnerable students.  Additionally, new legislation is allowing us to adjust our mental health billing practices for greater efficiency.

By following these recommendations, our Special Education Department will continue to fine tune our practices for greatest efficiency.