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Council Rock panel reviews special‑education pilots, moves toward audit RFP
Summary
District staff described three special‑education pilots and Wilson training and reported outreach to audit firms about a possible deep systems review focused on IEPs, data and program efficiency; the board asked administration to draft an RFP defining scope, deliverables and references.
Nicole Khan, chair of the Council Rock Education Committee, presided over a March 26 meeting at which district staff updated the committee on special‑education pilots and next steps toward an audit of special‑education services.
Amanda Serene, supervisor of curriculum and specialized instruction, told the committee the district is piloting three programs this year: a computer‑based foundational literacy/numeracy program she described as “Provo Time,” a targeted skills intervention called Do the Math, and Go Math used as a full curriculum in ILS classes. Serene said the pilots include embedded progress monitoring so teachers can see student responses in real time and personalize instruction. "The students seem to be so engaged with it," she said.
Serene said Do the Math is being used at Holland Middle, Newtown Middle and Holland Elementary; Provo Time is running in Goodnoe [Good Note] and Richborough in autistic‑support classrooms; Go Math is used in ILS settings. She said Wilson training for foundational reading is underway: teachers completing Level 1 this year will move to Level 2 next year, and the district expects at least 14 staff with Wilson certification by the end of this school year.
On evaluation, Serene told board members the teams will look to students' IEP progress‑monitoring data to judge whether the pilots produce meaningful movement. She cautioned that progress for students with IEPs must be considered individually and that short pilot windows limit what can be concluded in months. "We're looking for goal progress — is it helping move their IEP goals?" she said.
The meeting also revisited earlier discussions about a formal audit of special‑education services. Dr. Al Overman, director of special services, reported that he had contacted several audit firms to gather information on approaches, timelines and costs. He described a range of possible engagements from a focused IEP review to a "deep systems review" that would combine interviews, classroom observations and a detailed dive into program structure, data and budgetary allocations. Overman said some firms also offer post‑audit implementation support.
Board members emphasized that the RFP should be tightly scoped and should ask firms for references and concrete deliverables. One member cautioned against paying for extensive original research when the district already holds substantial data; another urged the administration to ensure the RFP requires sample deliverables and references so the board can compare what firms actually produce. Overman said those elements would be included as the administration drafts the RFP.
The committee did not take a formal vote; members asked administration to use the feedback from tonight’s discussion to draft RFP language and return with a recommended scope and timeline for board approval.
What’s next: administration will draft an RFP incorporating board feedback (scope, references, deliverables) and return to the board for review and approval before issuing the solicitation.
