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Los Altos district reports rise in challenging student behaviors, outlines tiered supports
Summary
District special education staff told the board they have seen an increase in challenging behaviors since the pandemic, particularly among TK–1 students, and described tiered supports including Safety Care training, KidSTART and Playzone, behaviorists and psychologists, and plans to shift toward a coaching model for staff.
Sequim Bennett, a district special-education staff member, told the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees that staff have seen an increase in challenging student behaviors since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among transitional kindergarten and first-grade students.
The board heard that staff believe a mix of causes — longer early-intervention wait lists, higher prevalence of adverse childhood experiences, and “toxic stress” — are driving some of the changes in classroom behavior. "We have seen an increase of challenging behaviors in schools, especially in our younger grades, TK through first grade," Sequim Bennett said during the update.
Why it matters: District leaders said rising behavior needs create pressure on classroom instruction and on specialized services. The presentation framed the response through a multi-tiered system of supports. At the board meeting, staff outlined what supports exist at each tier and where the district wants to expand…
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