Quincy School District outlines shift to more inclusive special-education supports

Quincy School District special-education staff outlined a plan to increase students' time in general education classes and add targeted in-class supports, saying schedule structure rather than student need had been pushing many secondary students into separate replacement classes.

The presentations at the board meeting centered on the district's resource rooms and life-skills programs and a proposed continuum that ranges from full inclusion with push-in supports to limited replacement classes for students with substantial foundational needs. "The resource room is an amazing place," said Christina Amadio, special-education teacher at Monument Elementary School, describing the room as "a safe place to land" where teachers scaffold instruction and address social-emotional needs.

District special-education coordinator Lisa Martinez said the district has already reclassified and placed students for next school year based on…