Madison schools report progress and persistent gaps in three‑year special education plan

Superintendent Mike Gothard and MMSD special education leaders presented a year‑two update of the district's three‑year special education plan at the Instruction Work Group meeting, summarizing progress and gaps and asking the board to expect supplemental reports in coming weeks.

District leaders said the district serves about 4,100 students with individualized education programs (IEPs) and that 83 percent of those students spend 80 percent or more of their school day in general education settings, above the state average of 76 percent. The presentation credited expanded multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS), stronger school‑level routines and coaching for program support teachers for much of the improvement.

The update matters because inclusion, early supports and accurate evaluations drive academic and post‑school outcomes for students with disabilities. Dr. Nancy Molfenten, MMSD associate superintendent of special education, said the district is using new anti‑racist pre‑evaluation processes and monthly professional learning communities to reduce inappropriate referrals and address disproportionate identification of Black students.

"We do serve approximately 4,100 scholars with an IEP in the Madison Metropolitan School District," Molfenten said. She told the board MMSD has launched family feedback surveys, an anti‑racist…