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Special services report: district lowers out-of-district placements, expands RISE transition program
Summary
District special services leaders said out-of-district placements fell from 23 to 14, highlighted expansion of the RISE transition program and diploma reinstatement work at South Campus, and described strengthened community partnerships and teacher development.
Special-services directors told the board that targeted programming and early-intervention practices reduced the number of students placed out of district from 23 to 14 this year, and that all such placements remain IEP-driven.
"Every single one of those placements is IEP driven," Ms. Schneider said, describing the district's efforts to create alternatives and return students when appropriate. The report highlighted the RISE transition program rebrand, the addition of a third teacher and a student-run enterprise called Panther Pops that supplies popcorn across campus.
Leaders described partnerships with community organizations and feeder schools to align transition planning and IEP placement decisions. The district also marked year five of a diploma-earning reinstatement program at South Campus, which allows certain students to take adapted coursework (geometry, biology) that yields credit toward a diploma rather than a certificate of completion.
Special-services staff said they will continue community engagement, teacher professional development, and collaborations with the counseling and social-work teams to support students' academic and social-emotional progress. Presentation slides flagged a projected increase in cross-categorical special-education numbers for 2026–27 (noted as 270 versus earlier internal projections of 225).
