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Charles County board hears plan to restructure special education classrooms and supports
Summary
At its May 13 meeting, the Charles County Board of Education heard a detailed presentation proposing classroom shifts, new professional development and committees to reduce special education class sizes and address suspension disproportionality.
Nicole Kramer, vice chairperson of the Charles County Board of Education, said the meeting opened with a presentation on supporting students with disabilities by Kevin Lowndes, chief of teaching and learning, and Larry Johnson, director of special education.
Lowndes and Johnson presented a study and analysis of the school system’s special education programs and outlined proposals to shift and add program classrooms to achieve smaller class sizes and improve classroom management and student outcomes. The overhaul also would include additional professional development for educators and new endorsements students could earn upon program completion to demonstrate relevant skills.
The presentation identified two committee proposals: one on case manager workload and another on suspension disproportionality. Board members received the update; no formal board action on program reconfiguration was reported at the meeting.
The board’s vice chair noted rising costs across the system and said the proposed changes aim to improve day-to-day supports for students with disabilities while addressing systemic workload and disciplinary disparities.
