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District hires PCG for special-education review; focus groups and surveys to run March——6
Summary
Public Consulting Group (PCG) will conduct a special-education review focusing on learning environment, human capital and systems/structures. Data collection (IEP review, focus groups, parent surveys, classroom visits) is scheduled March 15—through early April with a final report expected in June for public release and action planning.
The Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District on March 13 outlined a contracted special-education review conducted by Public Consulting Group (PCG), which the district said will examine six domains of program effectiveness and recommend actionable improvements.
Alex of PCG (S9) described the review framework and three research areas. The first area centers on the learning environment and pre-referral interventions (multi-tiered systems of support/RTI) and will assess whether IEP practice reflects Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and least restrictive environment principles. The second combines high expectations and human capital: PCG will analyze culture, inclusion practices and how human resources are organized from administrators through teaching assistants. The third focuses on systems and structures, including how central-office staffing, policies and budget practices affect outcomes and parent satisfaction.
PCG will gather qualitative and quantitative evidence: interviews, focus groups, classroom observations and a targeted review of select IEPs (with identifying information redacted). PCG will cap virtual parent focus groups at 15 participants and expand sessions if demand requires. Nicole Moore, a PCG facilitator named in the presentation, will coordinate responses to family outreach.
Timeline and next steps: PCG expects to complete stakeholder data collection between March 15 and the first week of April, produce successive drafts and deliver a final report in June. District leaders said the report will be presented publicly and followed by facilitated action planning; at this stage, the district has not decided whether PCG will remain engaged to assist with implementation.
The board asked whether the review will feed into the district's state-mandated special-education plan and whether outreach to families who do not use email would be expanded; PCG and district staff said principals and newsletters are being used and that families can contact the district for alternate arrangements.
