District moves to co-teaching in grades 2–5, keeps consultant model in K–1

The Averill Park Central School District proposed next-year changes to elementary special-education delivery, moving several classrooms from a consultant-teacher model to an integrated co-teaching model in grades 2–5 while keeping the consultant approach in kindergarten and first grade.

District officials said the change is intended to lower student–teacher ratios and expand access to instruction for students with disabilities by placing a special-education teacher and a general-education teacher together in the same classroom. Sarah, the district’s director of special education, described the proposed shift as a “mindset change” focused on shared responsibility. “Everything’s in education are never done by 1 person. They’re done by a team of people,” Sarah told the board during the March 10 meeting.

Why it matters: district leaders said co-teaching provides more opportunities for differentiated instruction, more individualized attention and increased student engagement. The administration also argued that…