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Director of Exceptional Children details training, new curriculum and data-driven supports
Summary
Melvin Diggs, director of Exceptional Children, described EC headcount trends, expanded classroom walk-throughs, a new middle-school EC math curriculum, progress-monitoring tools and autism-focused staff training that the district plans to continue and expand.
Melvin Diggs, the district’s Director of Exceptional Children, briefed the board on May 14 about changes and investments in special education services across Asheboro City Schools.
Diggs said headcount for students with IEPs has shown a slight decrease, which he described as an expected outcome if early supports are effective. He emphasized data-driven practice: EC staff conducted classroom walk-throughs and comprehensive needs assessments, and the department is using progress-monitoring tools to track student growth.
"We actually did walk throughs in EC classrooms specifically...and we really tried to look at the needs environmentally in the classrooms," Diggs said, describing observational work and follow-up to purchase resources and target professional development. He added the district purchased a new middle-school EC math curriculum (TransMath) and secured an MOU to expand occupational-course-of-study programming for job-shadowing and external opportunities next year.
Diggs outlined professional learning and supports for autism-spectrum students, including 12–15 hours of focused training for teachers and instructional assistants and planned coaching and modeling. He said updated protocols for extended-time and comprehensive resource classrooms will be shared with staff and that progress monitoring will drive placement and program decisions.
Board members thanked Diggs and the EC leadership for early-year investments and the focus on measurable supports; no board action was requested at the meeting.
