Susquehanna Township SD reports rising special-education needs, outlines staffing and placement plans

At the April 22 Susquehanna Township School District board meeting, Carrie Martin, the district’s director of special education and student services, and Assistant Director Bethany Peters presented data showing a steady increase in students needing special-education supports and outlined steps the district is taking to serve them in-district where possible.

Martin said the district has seen notable growth in three categories: autism (about 22 percent of students receiving special education services), specific learning disability (about 37 percent), and other health impairment (about 16 percent). She told the board those trends have driven a need for more classroom slots, additional paraprofessionals and related services, and occasional outplacement when district resources cannot meet a student’s needs.

The presentation described the district’s continuum of services, efforts to place supports K–12 consistently across buildings, and a push to increase inclusion. "We want to see our kids out in the general education population as much…