Columbus County Schools reports 645 students with IEPs, expands autism supports and applies for competitive EC grants

Miss McCready and Miss Jackson presented an in-depth update on the Exceptional Children (EC) program, reporting a December 1 child count of 645 students with active IEPs and describing staffing, interventions and planned expansions.

McCready said EC students represent just over 12% of the district’s student population, below the 13% cap that can trigger local funding obligations. She reviewed disability-category counts (autism 58; developmental delay 60; specific learning disability 164; speech/language impairment 141; intellectual disability total 109 in its subcategories) and clarified these are primary disability designations and that students may have secondary categories.

On funding, McCready explained federal IDEA funding has historically covered roughly 10–15% of special education excess costs and provides about $2,500 per student in the district; North Carolina’s flat state allocation provides $5,593 per student with IEPs. Most special education costs are borne by state and local dollars, and the district is watching overall enrollment and the 13% cap closely.

Programs and supports highlighted included assistive and augmentative communication devices, adapted furniture, sensory equipment, and therapy services. Jackson reviewed the Robokind partnership (started 2022): the district currently uses robots at some campuses but the vendor is moving to an Avatar curriculum at half the previous curriculum cost, which the district expects will enable expansion at no extra charge.

McCready described the extensions program (formerly self-contained) with 71 students (1.3%) on extended content standards who generally receive a certificate of completion; the remainder of EC students receive a standard North Carolina diploma. She also described occupational course of study options and recent NCVPS-funded opportunities to provide core content while an EC teacher co-teaches in person.

The district has formed a Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (CPAC) meeting monthly and plans targeted outreach to increase parent participation. McCready said the district applied for two competitive EC grants, including PRC 118, and that the Sandhills Region application is pending. Jackson described plans to expand a district autism (AU) team with a stipend for selected staff to provide campus-level training and early MTSS interventions to reduce the need for full IEP services.

Board members thanked the presenters and encouraged continued growth of Disability Awareness Night and parent engagement efforts. Presenters said they will provide additional details on NCVPS participation numbers and continue follow-up on grant results.