Milan Area Schools reports steady special-education caseload, outlines staffing and funding mix

Lon Smith delivered an update Feb. 26 to the Milan Area Schools Board of Education on the district—urrent special-education population, staffing and funding. At the time he pulled the report, about 300 students had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), roughly 15 to 16 percent of the district—nrollment.

Smith told the board the total is within a typical range for districts and noted the percentage "ebbs and flows." He said the district employs 19 special-education teachers, six speech-language pathologists (one part time), six social workers (including a districtwide social worker who also provides supervision), two psychologists split between preschool–fourth grade and fifth–12th grade, three behavior specialists and part-time contracted occupational and physical therapists. Smith said service models range from full inclusion to self-contained classrooms depending on individual needs.

Smith summarized the district—arly-childhood special-education (ECSE) classroom for 3- to 5-year-olds (currently one half-day section, Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–noon), a new middle-school resource-room block for targeted ELA and math support, and the Milan Young Adult program for students who have completed four years of high school and receive a certificate of completion (students remain eligible for services through age…