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Special education leaders describe early-intervention outreach and consulting partnerships
Summary
Special education staff told the board the department is meeting with early-intervention families to support transitions into district programs and is working with Patton consultants on autism and emotional-support programming, plus districtwide IDEA training.
Special education officials told the Chester Upland School District board on Jan. 16 that the department is intensifying outreach to early-intervention families and continuing collaborations with outside consultants to strengthen autism and emotional-support programs.
Dr. Lehi said the special-education team has begun meeting with families who receive early-intervention services to encourage transitions into Chester Upland programs and to help parents navigate the kindergarten-entry process. The outreach includes virtual and in-person meetings with families and the provider agencies.
The district is also partnering with the Patton Autism Initiative, which provides consultants and professional development for classroom staff and paraprofessionals. Staff returned from an intensive three-day Patton training described as a "boot camp," and district staff reported that consultants are coaching and shadowing in classrooms to build teacher capacity.
Dr. Lehi said the district completed four sessions of IDEA training for staff and is beginning an audit of the emotional-support program, starting at the high school level and then moving systemwide.
Specific settlement agreements on the board agenda were discussed only in general terms because the documents contain student-identifying information; the special-education presenter described the agenda items as confidential settlement agreements.
