special education program implementation update susan b. mitchell director of special education...
TRANSCRIPT
Special Education Program Implementation
Update
Susan B. Mitchell
Director of Special Education
February 10, 2009
Purpose of Presentation
Provide an update on Special Education programs and services
Review Special Education costs Provide an update on recommendations from
Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team report completed in August 2006
Program Recommendations for 2009-2010 school year
Special Education History Prior to 1975 (Special
Education not required) 100,000+ students out of
school Federal Law created due to
several lawsuits Public Law P.L. 94-142 (1975)
Free and Appropriate Public Education
Child Find Provision Reauthorization 1997 -
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) 1997 Individually designed services Participate and make progress in
General Education Accountability
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (known as IDEA 2004) Focus on Accountability Focus on Improving
educational results and functional outcomes
Emphasis on reading, math and science with heightened responsibilities for general and special education collaboration
Scientifically researched strategies and Response to Intervention (RtI)
Numbers/Percentages Served
California Basic Educational Data System (CBEDS)
(K-22)
K-22
Pupil
Count
0-22 Total Pupil
Count
Special Education
% K-22
Alameda
2006-0710,260 936 1,089 9.12%
Alameda
2007-0810,315 1,000 1,134 9.69%
Alameda
2008-0910,183 1,017 1,151 9.99%
High Cost Disabilities, 3-22
Emotional disturbance (ED)
% of
Pupil
Count
Autism % of Pupil count
Low Incidence
% of Pupil Count
Alameda
2006-07
45 4.13% 86 7.60% 28 2.57%
Alameda
2007-08
68 6.00% 94 8.29% 56 4.94%
Alameda
2008-09
70 6.08% 106 9.21% 54 4.69%
What are the costs?(07-08)
Total Special Education Revenue: $8,132,263 Base Revenue: $1,861,510 Total Revenue: $9,993,773
Expenditures ($15,449,224)
General Fund Contribution $5,455,451
General Fund % of Expenditures 35.31% (of $15,449,224)
08-09 Anticipated General Fund Contribution Increase
$1,862,321 Increase Why?
Lack of available personnel Contracted Speech Therapists Contracted Behavioral Support Services New teachers requiring on-going support
Increased complexity of student needs Autism and Emotional Disturbance Increase in paraprofessional support
Increase in cost for transportation services
Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) Report
Team visited and interviewed District in April 2006 Report completed in August 2006 121 recommendations
Program Efficiency and Delivery Staffing Non-Public Schools / Non-Public Agency Costs Transportation Legal Accounting Processes Special Education Local Plan Agency Reorganization
Progress to Date:
Areas Yes No In Progress Items
Program Efficiency & Delivery
26 8 10 44
Staffing 12 3 3 18Non-Public Schools/
Non-Public Agencies20 6 11 37
Transportation 5 2 2 9
Legal 3 1 1 5
Accounting Processes 5 5
Reorganization 3 3
Total 74 20 27 121
Program Efficiency & Delivery
Progress to Date: Continuum of Special Education Programs
Resource Specialist Programs & Related Services Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe Special Day Classes Counseling Enriched Classes (CEC) (3rd-12th grades) Continuum of Autism Programs
Inclusion (K-12) BRIDGE Program (K-8) Elementary Autism Supported Inclusion (EASI) Intensive Special Day Class (Preschool-8th grade)
Program Efficiency & Delivery
Progress to Date: One-to-One Instructional Assistance
Specialized Health Care
Medi-Cal and Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA) Billing
Program & Efficiency
Next Steps: 2009-2010
Build the infrastructure of existing programs 2009-2010 to 2010-2011
Expansion of existing programs Counseling Enriched Classes Intensive needs autism high school class
2009-2010 to 2011-2012 Develop new district programs
Center-Based early intervention program Expansion of services for 18-22 year olds
Staffing
Progress to Date: August 2008-New Lead Speech/Language
Therapist job position September 2008:
4 - District Speech Therapists 8 - Non-Public Agency Speech Therapists
January 2009 4 - Additional District Speech Therapists, replacing
Non-Public Agency staff
Staffing Progress to Date:
New Special Education Teachers Require mentoring, training and staff development
Behavior Specialist Job posted and in process of interviewing
School Psychologists High workload to meet assessment, behavioral and counseling demands
Occupational Therapists Two District Occupational Therapists Additional positions provided by Non-Public Agency
Special Education Nurse Provided by Non-Public Agency
Staffing
Next Steps: Recruit and Hire:
District Speech Therapists Highly Qualified Special Education Teachers Additional School Psychologist Additional Occupational Therapist District Special Education Nurse
Continue to provide mentoring, training and staff development
Non-Public Schools &Non-Public Agencies
2008-2009 Costs
Non-Public Schools- $1,436,900 Projected increase- $150,000
Non-Public Agencies - $840,800 Projected increase- $285,000
Non-Public Schools
Progress to Date: Slight decline in number
of students but cost per student has increased
Next Steps: Review all placements to
determine which students are ready to return to district programs
School Year # of Students
2007-2008 42
2008-2009 40
High Cost Non-Public Agency Services
Progress to Date: High Costs continue for the following Non-Public
Agency Services: Behavioral Support Services
Provide training to staff Provide behavioral support to classes Develop functional analysis assessments Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
Occupational Therapy Services
Non-Public School and Non-Public Agency Costs
Next Steps: Continuum of District Special Education Programs to reduce
number of students placed in Non-Public Schools: Autism Emotional Disturbance Moderate/Severe Disabilities
District Special Education positions to reduce dependency on Non-Public Agencies: Hire behavior specialist Additional psychologist Additional occupational therapist Special Education Nurse
Transportation
Progress to Date: New transportation company Cost- $1.4M
Next Steps: Reduce costs Consolidate routes Explore options
AUSD Special Education
Provide students Free and Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment
Compliance Highly Qualified Staff Partnership with General Education Partnership with Parents Fiscal Responsibility
Summary How do we build the infrastructure of existing
programs? Hire District staff to reduce dependency on Non-Public
Agencies Speech Therapists Behavior Specialist Additional Psychologist Additional Occupational Therapist Half-time District Special Education Nurse
Cost Neutral because District is currently paying Non-Public Agencies for these services that support our existing programs.
Questions?