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District special‑education director reports 312 students in program, flags staffing and inclusion needs
Summary
Director Jean Fagan told trustees Piedmont serves 312 students with IEPs (about 13% of enrollment), outlined program types (RSP, social communication learning centers, counseling‑enriched programs, inclusive preschool), noted funding limits and staffing challenges, and previewed collaborations and training to expand inclusive behavioral practices.
Jean Fagan, the district’s director of special education, briefed the board on Oct. 9 that 312 students currently qualify for special education services in Piedmont — roughly 13% of the student population and roughly in line with statewide averages.
Fagan reviewed program placement (most students supported in resource‑support programs within general education; social communication learning centers at middle and high school; co‑taught classrooms at the middle school; small counseling‑enriched programs), comparative SELPA data, and funding constraints. She said about 2.6% of students with IEPs are placed in non‑public schools and that most special‑education funding is consumed by salaries and benefits and, when necessary, contracts with non‑public agencies to provide services not available in district staff.
The director listed strengths — dedicated staff, collaborative teams, and several successful programs — and areas for growth: staffing capacity, consistency of communication with families, systems for compliance and monitoring, inclusive behavioral practice training (BCBA consultation and January training), and transition processes for elementary→middle and middle→high school. Fagan said she has engaged stakeholders, conducted a SWOT at a community meeting and plans a special‑education vision to inform 2025–26 annual goals.
Trustees asked whether Piedmont follows state protocols for IEP/504 eligibility (Fagan: yes) and whether programs like the inclusive preschool at Havens were at capacity (Fagan: preschool capacity is six students with disabilities and six without; CEC programs serve ~5–8 students and are not yet at capacity).
