External review finds Belton ISD special‑education program collaborative but calls for stronger inclusion planning
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Summary
A third‑party program evaluation presented to trustees praised collaboration and family feedback in Belton ISD special education but recommended clearer service‑determination tools, stronger inclusion supports and expanded professional learning for paraprofessionals.
District staff presented findings from an external special‑education program evaluation and outlined immediate and longer‑term steps to strengthen inclusion and services.
Stetson (a national firm referenced in the presentation) conducted interviews, focus groups, surveys, document reviews, classroom observations and comparative analysis. The evaluators reported strengths including a collaborative culture, meeting state inclusion standards and positive parent perspectives; they also identified opportunities to strengthen intentional collaboration between special education and general education, consistency and quality of inclusion supports, and service determination and scheduling policies.
What the district will do: Staff described an aligned "service determination" tool to guide decisions about services and scheduling based on individual student needs, in‑person meetings between special education leaders and campus teams, and a proposed para academy in the fall to expand training for paraprofessionals. Campus teams are working with central staff to incorporate the tool into master scheduling and planning.
Board discussion: Trustees asked how the evaluation addresses therapy providers (speech, OT, PT) and multi‑disciplinary supports. Staff said those providers participate in ARD meetings and the intent is to coordinate services more creatively (e.g., inclusion‑based delivery, flexible grouping) so students access general‑education standards whenever appropriate. Trustees asked if the board needs to change policy; staff asked trustees to remain engaged and to continue championing implementation.
No board vote was required; staff said they will continue stakeholder review and put findings into archivable processes to reduce variability and improve year‑to‑year consistency.
