Special Education
In December 2010, the district reported that 272 or 18.3% of its students received Special Education services, with 55% of those identified as having specific learning disability. In December 2008, the district reported that 277 or 18.4% of its students received special education services. In December 2008, the district reported that 19% of students received special education services. The Southern Columbia Area School District provides a variety of opportunities for the screening and evaluation of students thought to have disabilities. In kindergarten all students receive screenings on readiness as well as standardized indicators of early literacy. The elementary school has an identified and trained Instructional Support Team (IST). The Instructional Support Team works with school staff to provide screening in various areas (cognitive, emotional, social, communication, motor, vision and hearing). Parents may request IST consideration through the building principal. The IST process can recommend interventions, further screening and/or a referral for multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE) for special education services for a student with a disability. At the middle and high school level these teams are in the form of Child and Pupil Study Teams. In addition, the district conducts screenings to identify students who may need special education through universal screens, health screens, group intelligence tests and achievement tests.
A multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE) can be requested at any level by school teams and/or parents if a student is thought to be in need of special education services. Once a student is identified to be in need of Special Education an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed and reviewed annually to offer the necessary Specially Designed Instruction. This plan would include all the necessary supplemental aides and services for the student to make meaningful educational progress.
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs. The state requires each school district to have a three year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. Overidentification of students in order to increase state funding has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.
Southern Columbia Area School District received a $762,288 supplement for special education services, in 2010. . For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.
Read more about this topic: Southern Columbia Area School District
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