The special education department provides academic support for students who are identified through a staffing process as qualifying for special education services as defined by the IDEA and Exceptional Children’s Education Act. We assess students to determine their needs and eligibility for special education and write specific goals and objectives based on their identified needs. Students are provided support in language arts and math. Most children are either seen in small groups in the special education classroom or within the regular education setting. Some children are seen individually when it is deemed appropriate for their progress. We also consult with teachers on curricular modifications and adaptations they can make in the regular classroom. We have several educational assistants who also assist in implementing the above mentioned activities.

Children identified through the staffing process as having speech/language problems that affect their progress in the general education curriculum are also provided with speech/language services. Most of these students are seen in the speech pathologist’s classroom. They work on specific articulation skills, phonemic awareness activities, and/or receptive and expressive language skills. Some students are served in the classroom setting, as well. The speech pathologist also screens the speech of students through teacher referral. All teacher-referred first and second graders are given a screening in the fall for phonological awareness proficiency.

The school social worker is a member of the Special Education team. She assesses students and participates in staffings and in the provision of services for designated students. She acts as a consultant to staff and parents, and presents classroom programs around particular topics of need. She often meets with the Child Quest Team (child study process), who confer to find ways to meet the needs of children through the regular education process if possible.

The role of a school social worker is to provide services to students and their families to enable them to take full advantage of their educational opportunities. Individual and group counseling is provided to children who are struggling with any emotional issue that interferes with their learning. Grief counseling, divorce recovery, social skills and problem-solving, friendship, stress management, and behavior/anger management groups are some of the groups which are part of our regular program. The school social worker also provides crisis intervention as well as the linking of families to appropriate resources in the community to assist them.  Additionally, the school social worker aids in the promotion of school programs such as the Kindness Campaign, Word of the Week, Character Education programs, Bully-Proofing, and the Student Assistance Program that holds groups twice a year after school for children desiring to participate.