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Salem to expand early screenings, paraprofessional‑to‑teacher pipelines and citywide preschool interventions
Summary
Special education leaders described summer work on pipelines (paraprofessional to teacher, parent-to-teacher apprenticeship), expanded language‑based disability programs and plans for three citywide 3–5 screenings funded by CPPI to identify and intervene early.
Special education leaders told the committee they expanded staffing pipelines and supports over the summer and plan increased screening and early-intervention work in the coming year.
The district said it employed five Salem High students as paraprofessionals in summer programs to foster interest in education careers and launched a parent-to-teacher apprenticeship through the RTAP program with three paraprofessionals placed to work with mentors toward licensure. The district also began teacher-leader opportunities and is expanding language‑based disability programs at Saltonstall, Collins and the high school to respond to a growing need.
Administrators said last year they piloted a few school‑based readiness screenings for 3‑ to 5‑year‑olds and this year will conduct three citywide screenings, supported by the CPPI grant. The screenings assess play, social-emotional learning, speech and language, fine and gross motor skills; students identified for additional support may be placed in short intervention groups of four to six weeks, and those who do not show progress after interventions will be referred for formal special-education evaluation.
Student-supports staff also said they will expand pulse checks on social-emotional learning and belonging with monthly check-ins, build restorative‑practice work, and form a truancy panel with community partners to intervene before court filings for child requiring assistance (CRA), with an anticipated operational start around January.
