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Scranton SD to expand K–2 Montichello program as special-education enrollment rises
Summary
District presenters said special-education enrollment has grown sharply; the district will expand its Montichello K–2 program and partner with NEIU to add autistic-support programs to reduce delays between diagnosis and school placement.
Scranton School District presenters said the district will expand its Montichello program to serve students in kindergarten through second grade to meet sharply rising special-education needs.
Greg, a district staff member who presented special-education data, said the district’s special-education population rose from about 1,900 students in 2021–22 to nearly 2,600 this school year. He said autistic-support enrollment is projected to climb from roughly 175 in earlier years to about 383 next year, and earlier-intervention counts have more than doubled, increasing pressure on staffing and related-service providers.
The expansion aims to provide intensive academic, behavioral, communication and social-emotional supports so students identified through early intervention can transition into neighborhood schools and be with same-age peers. Greg said the district is planning two autistic-support programs at the elementary level in partnership with the NEIU to improve earlier identification and placement.
Presenters noted caseload rules affect program capacity: for students in supplemental or full-time autistic-support placements, a single teacher’s caseload is limited to eight students, creating clear staffing implications as enrollments rise. The district said smoother transitions from early intervention (0–3) and preschool (3–5) into K–2 placements are central to the plan.
Mr. O'Donnell, a Head Start representative, added that the district opened three preschool sites (John Adams, McNichols Plaza and Sumar) in the past 18 months and will seek additional state 'preK counts' seats if they become available to increase preschool access.
The presenters framed the Montichello expansion as both a staffing challenge and an opportunity to optimize early-intervention windows for better long-term outcomes. No formal motions or votes were recorded during the presentation; next steps discussed included finalizing staffing plans, coordinating with NEIU and seeking available preschool seats through state channels.
