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Board asks whether Freedom Schools and other summer programs meet needs of students with disabilities
Summary
Members pressed staff on inclusion and whether Freedom Schools can serve students with significant IEP needs or ESY requirements; staff said many students with IEPs participated but one-on-one or therapy services were not guaranteed and future planning will consider added supports and costs.
Several board members raised access and inclusion concerns during Q&A, asking whether Freedom Schools and other summer offerings can serve students who require individualized services. A board member asked directly whether the program could be staffed to support "profound disabilities," and presenters acknowledged the district currently does not have the full range of intervention staff in the Freedom Schools model and would need to discuss financial and staffing implications to offer 1:1 or therapy supports.
Project director Darlene Campbell said the program accepted students who could access core instruction and that the district did include students with IEPs this summer, but she cautioned that the site could not promise the full scope of IEP services during the summer without additional staff. Board members asked staff to return with cost estimates and to study how MSCR achieves broader inclusion, with one member specifically requesting a memo comparing MSCR practices and pay models for inclusive programming.
