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Special Olympics honors Franklin SSD as a districtwide Unified Champion Schools partner
Summary
Special Olympics representatives presented Franklin Special School District with a districtwide Unified Champion Schools designation and discussed research showing improved social inclusion and related academic outcomes.
Special Olympics representatives presented the Franklin Special School District with a districtwide Unified Champion Schools (UCS) designation and discussed the program's goals and research on its effects on school climate.
"We are so excited that Franklin special district is 1 of 3 districts in the state of Tennessee that is a district wide unified champion school district," Beth Tigard, vice president of Unified Champion Schools for Special Olympics Tennessee, told the board as she described the program's three components: unified sports, inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement. Tigard said national evaluations show UCS improves social inclusion, reduces bullying and can have positive correlations with graduation rates for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
Tigard presented a plaque recognizing the district's designation and encouraged continued districtwide implementation so students experience inclusive school climates from early grades onward. Doctor Snowden accepted the plaque and thanked district administrators and faculty for prioritizing inclusion.
The Special Olympics representative said the district-level implementation aims to create continuity of inclusive practices across pre-K through high school; no formal board vote was required for the presentation.
