South Plainfield School District SEPAC S pecial E ducation P arent A dvisory C ommittee

South Plainfield School DistrictSEPACSpecial Education Parent Advisory Committee Open Meeting Tuesday, January 8, 2013- 6:30pm Frank Esposito –Director of Special Services

Including Samuel • Trailer - http://www.includingsamuel.com/media/Video/Trailer.aspx • Clip 1 - http://www.includingsamuel.com/media/Video/Samuel.aspx • Clip 2 - http://www.includingsamuel.com/media/Video/Samuel-Additional-Video.aspx • Keith - http://www.includingsamuel.com/media/Video/Keith-Video.aspx • Nathaniel - http://www.includingsamuel.com/media/Video/Nathaniel-Video.aspx

Focus Questions • Do you think inclusion is working well in the South Plainfield school & community? • Share SUCCESSES first…. then • If not, what could make it work better? • Do you think that all schools and organizations should be required to include children with disabilities? • What can the SEPAC group do through long and short term planning to facilitate Inclusion in our schools?

What Makes Inclusion Work? Effective Instructional Strategies Teaming & Relationship Building Accommodations & Support Systems Vision And Attitude What Makes Inclusion Work? Family Involvement Professional Development Administrator Support Common Planning Time

Shared Belief Vision And Attitude • Society as a whole is enrichedby the inclusion of diverse people, including those with disabilities, as full participating members of the community.

Vision • An educational climate will exist where diversity and individuality are celebrated and respected in an inclusive environment. • All stakeholders will accept and meet the challenge of supporting the learning of all students across varied educational settings.

Mission Vision And Attitude The Special Education Department will: • Provide leadership, guidance, and support to all stakeholders to facilitate student learning in the Least Restrictive Environment. • “If you’re not Inclusive…you are Exclusive” • Ensure that ALL students will benefit from our diverse school community.

District Plan Vision And Attitude When it is in our student’s best interest, we will: • Educate In-District. • Educate in Neighborhood Schools. • Educate in Inclusive Classrooms. To support this initiative, we will: • Provide supports and services necessary to foster student independence. • Exercise fiscal responsibility and transparency, spending tax dollars to support students in the most direct manner feasible. • Provide continued Professional Development to support the growth of our teachers and administrators

Accommodations & Support Systems Programs of Instruction (in-district) • Supplementary Aides and Services • Provided by Teacher Aide • In General Education Setting • General Education Modification of Program • Configuration: Heterogeneous group of students in classroom • Supplementary Instruction • Subject specific Intervention • Provided IN ADDITION TO the primary instruction of the subject area. • Configuration: Small group of students identified as “at risk” in specific subject area. May be General Education, 504 or Special Education Students • In Class Resource Program • Special Education Teacher supporting students in the General Education setting • Best Practice = Team Teaching Approach • Configuration: Heterogeneous group of students in classroom • Out of Class Replacement • Small group setting where Parallel General Education Curriculum is delivered as primary instruction • Configuration: Small group setting of Special Education students only • Self Contained Classroom • Small group setting of Special Education Students only • May have opportunities to include students for areas of academic strength • Include students in non-academic areas as appropriate

Administrator Support Special Education Staff Meetings • Monthly Building Level Special Education Meetings • Participants • Director of Special Services • Building Principal (and VPs at Grant, MS & HS) • Child Study Team Members • Special Education teacher as appropriate • Related Service professionals as appropriate • Problem Solving & Shared Successes • Building/ Programmatic issues • Staffing of Specific Students (learning and behavioral) • Weekly Central Office Staff Meetings • Update Central Office staff of key issues with Special Education programs • Problem Solving approach

Common Planning Time Common Planning • South Plainfield Middle School – Teaming Model --All Inclusion teachers part of Core Team • Common Planning for all Inclusion Teams • PLCs (Professional Learning Communities) discuss students several times weekly • Elementary Schools • In-Process of re-designing Schedule • Common Planning time a possibility inclusion teams • PLCs time a possibility • Bloomfield High School • Scheduling currently prevents this to occur at this time, but HS and district administration are looking for creative solutions

Professional Development PD & Effective Strategies Effective Instructional Strategies • Planning Stages for Spring 2013 and 2013-2014 School Year • Universal Screening Tool • Diagnostic assessment tool providing norm referenced data for all students • progress monitoring component as well • Reading & Math Intervention Program • For supplemental instruction/remediation to any student in need • Professional Development Funding • % of IDEA Funds potentially allocated toward hiring outside consultants to provide key trainings • Behavior Analyst Consultant • % of IDEA funds potentially allocated toward for 2013-2014 • To provide ongoing staff training (both teachers and teacher aides) for reinforcement of effective behavioral strategies and modifications

Family Involvement Family Involvement Teaming & Relationship Building • South Plainfield SEPAC • Need to work together to develop plan for involvement & Team & Relationship Building for 2013-2014 school year

Going Forward • Formulate SEPAC Board to spearhead: • Creation of proposed meeting agendas and meeting minutes to Director of Special Services • Leading Open Meetings (like tonight) at least quarterly from October through May focusing on various topics • Development a Vision and Mission Statement • In collaboration with Open Meeting participants • Communication of recommendations to Superintendent and Board Liaison • Continued strong attendance at Open Meetings

Volunteers/Nominationsfor SEPAC Board • Parents • Keith Both • Dorothy Connolly • Cheryl & Pete Leonardis • Barbara Cochrane • Michael Gregory • Staff • Amanda Somers – CST

How Can I Get More Involved? • Contact Frank Esposito at fesposito@spboe.org or Sharon Padula at spadula@spboe.org • To volunteer to be a member of the SEPAC Board. • To be added to our global email list and receive reminder emails to future meeting dates, topics and locations. • Check the district online calendar. • Check the Special Services Webpage

South Plainfield School District SEPAC S pecial E ducation P arent A dvisory C ommittee

South Plainfield School District SEPAC S pecial E ducation P arent A dvisory C ommittee

Presentation Transcript

Providencia Elementary E nglish L earner A dvisory C ommittee M eeting

M otor C arrier S afety A dvisory C ommittee Subcommittee on EOBR Implementation

S P A C E

P arent

P o p e ’ s P l a c e

I nformation T echnology A dvisory C ommittee

M edical E ducation S pecial I nterest G roup

S P A C E

P . A . C . E . S .

SEPAC S pecial E ducation p arent A dvisory c ommittee

District Improvement A dvisory C ouncil

depicting S P A C E

E nglish L earner A dvisory C ommittee

C ommittee A ddressing R ace (in) E ducation

P hysical E ducation

S. P. E. C.

L anguage A ccessibility A dvisory C ommittee

E ducation C areer S tabilization

S CHOOL A DVISORY C OUNCIL TRAINING