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Special education staff warn of co‑teaching shortfalls as special‑education enrollment rises
Summary
District special-education staff reported a 15% increase in special‑education enrollment since 2021 (about 117 students) and said the division lacks enough teachers to implement co‑teaching models consistently; board asked for a positions‑needed list before next meetings.
Special education leaders told the Isle of Wight County School Board that the district’s use of co‑teaching models is constrained by staffing shortages even as enrollment of students with disabilities has grown.
Presenters explained co‑teaching approaches and specially designed instruction (SDI) used in district classrooms, and said research and local data support inclusive instruction when staffing allows. "Co‑teaching is an instructional approach in which two educators share responsibilities for planning, delivering and assessing instruction for a diverse group of students," a special education presenter said.
A coordinator reported that, looking back to the 2021 school year, the special‑education population increased by about 15% — roughly 117 students — and that about 30% of that increase (approximately 35 students) require self‑contained placements where class size caps (8 students) apply. The presenters said the district is "staffed at compliance" but does not currently have enough teachers to implement full co‑teaching models at any grade level; when co‑teaching is used it is planned strategically and often pulls staff from other classrooms.
Board members pressed for numbers. The district indicated it will provide a detailed list of positions needed before next week’s meetings so the board and staff can prioritize vacancies and new positions during budget deliberations.
Programs and interventions named in the presentation included Touch Math (K–2), IXL (3–12 math), SPIRE (decoding intervention), Lexia (reading comprehension), MyFocus intervention and other SDI tools. Presenters emphasized that SDI is "not a place" but an individualized instructional approach aligned to IEP goals.
Next steps: staff will supply the requested positions and vacancy detail to the board in advance of upcoming budget sessions.
