Ed Clark, Stoughton’s director of special education, told the School Committee that the district experienced an unusual influx of students this summer: 209 move-ins between July 1 and early November, 51 of whom already had individualized education programs when they arrived. Clark said that increase moved the district’s share of students with disabilities above the state average by roughly two percentage points.

Clark said the district’s largest disability category is students on the autism spectrum (about 20.6% locally vs. a 17.3% state average as shown on DESE comparison tools cited in the presentation). He described a full continuum of substantially separate and inclusion programs: preschool GROW classrooms expanding to a third classroom, five elementary TLC (Therapeutic Learning Center) classrooms, RISE classrooms, three learning-center classrooms, a language-based classroom at South, middle- and high-school substantially separate programs and an alternative learning center (ALC) at the Hanson School.

Clark said 70 students are currently being served outside Stoughton Public Schools because their level of need exceeds local programing; several of the out-of-district placements are students on the autism spectrum. He explained the role of educational collaboratives (about 25 statewide) as an option between district services and private special-education schools and noted some students receive transitional services or vocational training through collaboratives.

To address the surge, Clark described structural changes (team chairs and a transition coordinator) and process improvements, including an electronic-signature feature for special-education documents that greatly reduced paperwork turnaround. He said he will recommend increased special-education staffing in next year’s budget and is considering shifting emphasis to evaluate inclusive supports as well as substantially separate programs.

Clark also reported a recent DESE site visit focused on facilities and staff qualifications; preliminary findings will be shared in January and could require corrective action plans in specific areas. Committee members pressed on the biggest challenges; Clark said unpredictability of move-ins, rapidly increasing needs and preventing staff burnout were top concerns.

The committee did not take immediate action but heard that staffing and program expansions will be part of budget planning and future committee votes.