Greenwich Public Schools
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DRAFT - Richmond Public Schools Targeted Exceptional Education Review Special Education Review Greenwich Public Schools June 2021 Authors: Matthew Korobkin Dr. Jennifer Meller Dr. Jerry Petroff Matthew Scott Greenwich Public Schools Special Education Review Greenwich Public Schools Special Education Review June 2021 Acknowledgements The PCG team thanks the many individuals who contributed to this review of GPS’s services for students with disabilities. Their efforts were critical to our ability to obtain a broad and detailed understanding of the system so that we could present the best possible proposals for improving special education services for GPS’s students. This review would not have been possible without the support of the GPS Board of Education, Superintendent, and Steering Committee. We thank them for their willingness to devote the time and attention needed to ensure a high-quality and inclusive review. PCG also thanks the many GPS staff members with whom we met. Their commitment to the work they do was evident through their comments and earnest feedback. They work passionately to support students with disabilities and those requiring intervention supports and ensure GPS serves these students in the best possible manner. Public Consulting Group Public Consulting Group 1 Greenwich Public Schools Special Education Review TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 8 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................................ 8 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 8 PCG’s Foundational Approach ........................................................................................................... 13 Terminology ........................................................................................................................................ 14 II. DISTRICT CONTEXT AND DEMOGRAPHICS ............................................................................. 16 District Context .................................................................................................................................... 16 Synthesis of Prior Special Education Reports .................................................................................... 17 Overview of GPS’s Special Education Demographics ....................................................................... 21 Early Childhood Education Demographics ......................................................................................... 30 Summary and Implications .................................................................................................................. 32 III. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES ............................................................................................. 33 Child Find and Identification Practices ................................................................................................ 34 Special Education Referral Practices and Evaluations ....................................................................... 40 Special Education Referral and Eligibility ........................................................................................... 43 Individualized Education Program Development ................................................................................ 48 Continuum of Services for Students with Disabilities.......................................................................... 56 Specially Designed Instruction ............................................................................................................ 67 Accommodations and Modifications in the Classroom ....................................................................... 70 Co-Teaching and Collaborative Consultation Teaching ..................................................................... 71 Specialized Behavior Support for Students with Disabilities .............................................................. 80 Credit Recovery Programming for Students with Disabilities ............................................................. 83 Coordinated Early Childhood, School to School, and Postsecondary Transition Activities................ 83 Shared Accountability and High Expectations .................................................................................... 85 Summary and Implications .................................................................................................................. 87 IV. SUPPORT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING ............................................................................ 89 Strategic Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 89 District Leadership .............................................................................................................................. 91 Pupil Personnel Services Office .......................................................................................................... 92 Human Capital .................................................................................................................................... 97 Technology ........................................................................................................................................ 103 Transportation ................................................................................................................................... 104 Policies and Procedures ................................................................................................................... 105 Fiscal Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 106 Public Consulting Group 2 Greenwich Public Schools Special Education Review Town Governance, Charter, and Budget Timeline ........................................................................... 107 Financial Comparisons ..................................................................................................................... 108 Special Education Out-of-District Tuition .......................................................................................... 110 District Resource Allocations ............................................................................................................ 111 Staffing Ratio Comparisons .............................................................................................................. 118 Summary and Implications ................................................................................................................ 120 V. PARENT ENGAGEMENT ........................................................................................................... 122 Information and Communication ....................................................................................................... 123 Parent Voice, Collaboration, and Trust ............................................................................................. 125 Student Support ................................................................................................................................ 128 Parent Comments on Survey ............................................................................................................ 129 Summary and Implications ................................................................................................................ 133 VI. PEER DISTRICT FINDINGS ...................................................................................................... 134 Peer District Data .............................................................................................................................. 134 Role of Interviewees ......................................................................................................................... 134 Continuum of Services and Staffing ................................................................................................. 134 Multi-Tiered System of Supports and Special Education Referrals .................................................. 143 Professional Development ................................................................................................................ 144 Family Engagement .......................................................................................................................... 145 Biggest Challenges in Special Education ......................................................................................... 146 VII. RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION STEPS .......................................................................... 147 Learning Environment and Specialized Services ............................................................................. 148 Leadership ........................................................................................................................................ 154 High Expectations ............................................................................................................................. 155 Human Capital .................................................................................................................................. 155 Systems and