2021-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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students in 2018-2019,and 259 students in 2017-2018) Report of the and a reduction from previous academic years (300 Special Education Department students required special education services in 2016 - 2017,and 336 students in the 2015-2016 school year). This stabilization is the result of improvements in how The goal of the Special Education Department is we identify students with disabilities and to identify eligible students and provide them with implementation of a multi-tiered system of support specialized instruction and accommodations to help which has resulted in improved outcomes for all them fulfill their potential towards college and/or career students. Students are included with their peers in the readiness. As part of this mission, the Special general education classroom to the greatest extent Education Departments in each of the buildings, possible where they can make effective progress. Our collaborates with Mashpee Public Schools'families to goal is to serve our students with disabilities (ages 6- support and educate students with disabilities in the 21) in an inclusive setting with appropriate least restrictive environment where students can make accommodations and support as needed to enable effective progress. effective progress. Full inclusion is when a student is The Director of Special Education supports and included for at least 80%of their day.Partial inclusion mentors teachers and therapists who work with students is when a student is included for 40-79%of their school with disabilities; helps ensure equitable access to the day. Eighty-six percent of our students were serviced curriculum while focusing on individualized student in these two settings (64.9% full inclusion, 21.1% needs; applies for grants and reimbursement funding partial inclusion). Approximately 5.9% are in through the state and federal government;and monitors substantially separate programs, and 7.8% are in out- compliance with state timelines and targeted goals of-district placements. through mandatory data collection reports. The Mashpee Public Schools provide special Director of Special Education also monitors the education services to students through a continuum of placements for out-of-district students. This includes services. These services range from consultation with chairing meetings, writing and monitoring teachers; speech and language therapy, occupational Individualized Education Plans(IEPs),and conducting therapy, physical therapy or counseling; inclusion site visits at the various day and residential schools services and specialized instruction in a small group or located throughout the state of Massachusetts. pull-out model. We also have substantially separate In order to be eligible for special education, programs where students are taught by a special students between the ages of 3 and 22 must have a education teacher more than 80% of their day. These documented disability which affects their ability to specialized programs support students with autism, make effective progress in the general education intensive needs,and sociallemotional/behavioral issues curriculum. Special education students must require through a flexible service delivery model. specialized instruction and/or related services to make During the summer of 2020,the Mashpee Public progress. These services are detailed in each student's Schools offered remote and in-person extended school Individual Education Plan which is reviewed annually. year (ESY) services to qualifying students. ESY is In addition, all students on IEPs must be re-evaluated designed to provide support to students in order to every three years to determine continued eligibility. prevent substantial regression of skills over the summer During the school year 2020 - 2021, break. Services are varied according to the students' approximately 138 students were evaluated. This needs with most students attending three days per week number includes initial evaluations as well as in either a four or five-week program. reevaluations in preschool through grade 12. This The Mashpee Special Education Parent Advisory number has increased from the previous year likely due Council (SEPAL) gives parents of special education to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mashpee Public students the opportunity to attend workshops and Schools provided special education services to an quarterly meetings with the Director of Special average of 241 students during the academic year 2020- Education. 2021,which comprises 15.3%of the student population (below the state average of 18.7%). This is slightly Dr. Jaime Curley, lower than the last two academic years (260 students Director of Special Education required special education services in 2019-2020, 266 142