Latest news with #IndividualEducationPlan
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fulton Co. Schools adds more educational resources for students with autism amid parents' concerns
Fulton County Schools students are on spring break this week, but the district is already looking ahead to next year. FCS said the need is growing, so the district is adding more resources in South Fulton County for students with autism. Parents got a letter dated March 31, alerting them to the changes. It said there will be new Autism Self-Contained programs at both Cliftondale and Stonewall Tell. Currently, only Wolf Creek Elementary has the classrooms that are supposed to allow for individualized learning and a lower teacher-to-student ratio. However, the letter told parents they would need to make the decision of where to send their child next school year by April 18. Parents said they should've been given more notice to make such a big decision regarding their child's education. 'It allows parents time to look at other schools and see if that's the proper placement because there were two other options these parents were given, so give them time to schedule appointments and see if this is a correct placement for their child, to see if it's the right teacher they want to put their child with, but we didn't have time to do that, and it's not fair,' Toysha Thomas, a parent of a student who is in the program at Wolf Creek told Channel 2′s Eryn Rogers. Fulton County Schools released the following statement: 'Fulton County Schools strives to provide high-quality instruction, services, and support to all our students, including our students with disabilities. Opening new classrooms for students, regardless of their disability, is not a new process. We annually assess each student's need for services per their Individual Education Plan (IEP), our student enrollment trends in each school community, available space at each of our schools, and then determine where to offer students the high-quality programming they deserve and are entitled to. We are still finalizing our plans for next school year but look forward to educating all our students in schools and classrooms that best meet their individual and unique needs.' Thomas said another issue parents had with the letter is it said if children in certain grades wanted to stay at their current school, then transportation would be up to parents. The district said, 'In Fulton County Schools, we think it is best for students to be educated in their home school and community if possible. In situations where that is not possible, we will offer the classroom and support at a neighboring school and will provide transportation. If a student is in 5th, 8th, 10, 11th, or 12th grade and the program or class included in his/her IEP is available at the current school, a parent may opt to stay but will need to provide transportation.' However, Thomas said that's the opposite of what the State Department of Education said. 'If they have transportation written into their IEP, the school cannot deny them of transportation regardless of grade,' Thomas said. Thomas filed a complaint against the district earlier this year when her son's transportation to Wolf Creek got taken away. In the ruling, the state Department of Education found Fulton County schools out of compliance because Thomas's son had transportation in his IEP. The DOE required FCS to review and revise its policies around its implementation of IEP, 'specifically special needs transportation and how this applies to administrative transfers.' FCS has until April 11 to report back to the Georgia DOE. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Marijuana, other THC products may pose heart hazard, research shows Disabled vet has VA benefits cut after agency claims he has job at diner he has never been One of 2 men killed by falling tree on Georgia golf course was a police officer [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Wrong direction:' teachers, parents oppose special education changes coming to Osceola County
Parents, teachers, and The Osceola County Education Association are sounding the alarm on the Osceola County School District's plan to restructure its special education program. Beginning next school year, the district plans to consolidate special needs classrooms in designated hub schools. Some high-functioning special needs students, who have only known 'self-contained' classrooms, will be moving into general education classes, while kids with more intense special needs could be forced to transfer schools. The district said the change is a step toward greater inclusion and is needed to comply with state standards. A spokesperson for the district said Osceola County Schools has 'an obligation to provide students with every opportunity to be educated with their non-disabled peers.' However, special needs parents say they were blindsided by the changes. Channel 9 spoke with several special needs parents on Thursday who said their kids need routine and believe these changes could reverse their progress. 'They're going to be ripped from everything that they've known…The hub that my son would be in would be a 40 minute on a good day,' said Karin Baker, whose special needs son Colin is currently a 7th grader at Harmony Middle School. In a Facebook post, the Osceola County Education Association said the changes 'will be hard' and would 'create more frustration than ever.' The association sited concerns about increased workloads, since more students with special needs and accommodations will be in general education classes. 'Many general education teachers have not been adequately trained for this transition,' reads the post, 'Some student may not be able to access grade-level curriculum effectively, leading to frustration and behavior management issues that will disrupt the learning environment.' The district said in a statement to Channel 9, staff will receive professional learning through the rest of the year and over the summer in anticipation of the changes. 'Through the inclusive scheduling process, additional supports will be available for general education teachers to implement a student's Individual Education Plan ('IEP'),' said an Osceola County Schools Spokesperson. Several teachers told the district during a school board meeting Tuesday that the changes were not practical. 'The plan looks beautiful on paper, but if you have never been in a classroom. You're not going to know that that's not reality for most of our students,' said one ESE teacher. 'I'm here to represent my students. I don't think this is the right direction for them,' said another ESE teacher. You can view Osceola County School District's full statement below: 'The Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Service's ('BEESS') target for students in separate classrooms is 12.7% for the current school year. Currently 21.4% of all ESE students in the district are being served in a separate class setting. The school district has an obligation to provide students with every opportunity to be educated with their nondisabled peers. Updates to the Continuum of ESE Services provides an increased level of support for students in their least restrictive environment while simultaneously maximizing the caliber and number of staff addressing the needs of separate class students. It is imperative that students receive a free and appropriate public education in their least restrictive environment designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, independent living, and post-secondary education. Providing ESE students, 15% of the district student population, with appropriate support, facilitates growth and success which ultimately benefits everyone. When students receive the resources and encouragement they need to thrive in their least restrictive environment, they become more confident, capable, and engaged, creating a positive impact on the entire community. There will be opportunity for the remainder of the year and during the summer for staff to receive professional learning. Through the inclusive scheduling process, additional supports will be available for general education teachers to implement a student's Individual Education Plan ('IEP') and to provide the necessary supports for students to effectively participate in the general education classroom. District ESE staff will be providing training in March and April for schools designated as hub sites for separate classes.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tax levy to drop for ACGC
Tax relief is on the horizon for Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City property owners. At its Dec. 16 meeting, the ACGC School Board dropped its levy by about 4 percent. The levy payable in 2014 will be $2.36 million, down from this year's levy of $2.46 million. Most of this amount, $1.26 million, was approved for the district's general fund, with $173,165 designated for community service and $933,063 for debt service. Business Manager Dan Tait credited several factors for the levy decrease: deferred spending on a public safety project and overall reductions in spending over the past few years as the district has adjusted to a lower student population. Recent legislative action, including more timely school aid, is another factor. The district's total budget is approximately $8.5 million, with most of the revenue coming not from the levy, but from various state aids. Because the board was not increasing its levy, no Truth in Taxation public hearing was necessary this year. While a 4 percent levy reduction will translate into modest cuts in school property taxes, Superintendent Sherri Broderius and Tait said that greater relief appears to be in the district's future, once the bonds on the junior-senior high school building get paid off in 2016. The board also adopted a list of 2013-2014 goals, following discussion Monday evening and at an earlier planning workshop in late October. Major goals for the district include: * Updating communications, including a new website. * Developing a plan to renew the current operating levy in 2015, with a vote during the general election in November 2014. * Continued improvement in students' math and reading scores. * Developing five business classes for 2014-2015. * Maintaining rental income to cover operating costs at the Cosmos building, while continuing to seek to sell the building. Board Vice Chair Mike Hendrickson announced two recent commendations for the district: * Special Education teachers were recognized by the Southwest/West Central Cooperative for their compliance with Individual Education Plan standards, following a recent audit. * School Board Member Judy Raske is slated to receive a President's Award from the Minnesota School Boards Association on Jan. 16, in recognition of more than 300 hours of attendance at MSBA activities. Broderius and Raske reported that, although negotiations are progressing on the 2013-2014 teachers' contract, resolution is not expected before the first of the year. The annual reorganizational meeting for the ACGC board is scheduled for 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9.
