Dorchester 02 details special‑education changes, cites disproportionate suspensions among African American students

Michelle Jacques, interim executive director of special services for Dorchester School District Two, told the board on Sept. 22 the department has rolled out new observation tools, staffing‑request tracking and staff training intended to improve services for students with disabilities and reduce disproportionate long suspensions.

Jacques described a district quadrant system that places special‑education programs closer to students’ home schools, and said staff created a paraprofessional handbook and a set of “Look For” observation items administrators can use to assess tier‑one instruction and behavior supports. “We established a an observation tool that school administrators and support staff can use as they go into our special education programs,” Jacques said.

The update focused heavily on disciplinary outcomes tracked by the state. Jacques explained that in special education a student’s suspensions beyond 10 days are counted in a monitored indicator and that the district has been classified as “significantly disproportionate.” She said the district now calls on outside partners, including the Behavioral Alliance of South Carolina (BASC), to help strengthen tier‑one supports and reduce long suspensions for students identified as African American.

“The problem is still the same, but we have now had to get support from other kinds of agencies,” Jacques said. She added BASC is working with district teams and that several schools are serving as partners in that work: Fort Dorchester High School, River Oaks Middle School and Eagle Nest Elementary.

Jacques also described an educational‑assistance request system the district is developing to document when teams request additional adult supervision for medical or behavioral reasons, with the stated aim of ensuring supports are tried before long‑term staffing changes are approved. “We want to ensure that we are tracking that request and we are documenting reasons why the request is being made,” she said.

Board members praised staff efforts and asked for continued data collection and follow up. Board member Lee said the district appears to be “at a great point” with district leadership aligning around the issue. Board member Farnsworth highlighted that having model schools and consistent MTSS practices districtwide should prevent students from reaching the 10‑day threshold.

The presentation also noted professional development delivered to paraprofessionals and a summer conference for families and teachers, and said the district will use feedback from initial implementation of the “Look For” tool to refine it for classroom observation software.

The board did not take formal action on the update; Jacques said the special services team will continue work and return with follow‑up reports.