Orange County Schools Exceptional Children’s Programs Overview of 2010 NCDPI Program Review and Parent Survey Results 1 Orange County Schools Exceptional Children’s Programs Fast Facts ∗ Number of students identified: 1036 ∗ Percent of district membership: 13.7% ∗ Preschool: 68 ∗ Elementary: 435 ∗ Middle: 253 ∗ Triumph Day Treatment Program: 8 ∗ High School: ∗ Partnership Academy: 2 266 14 Orange County Schools Exceptional Children's Programs Fast Facts Number of Students Identified by Disability Category Autism: 65 Developmental Delay: 46 Hearing Impairment: 9 Intellectual Disability: 54 Multiple Disabilities: 10 Orthopedic Impairment: 5 Other Health Impaired: 240 Serious Emotional Disability: 26 Specific Learning Disability: 404 Speech/Language Impairment: 172 Traumatic Brain Injury: 3 Visual Impairment/ Blindness: 2 3 Child Count Child Count Date Total Number of Students December 2010 1019 April 2010 1017 December 2009 1031 April 2009 1021 December 2008 1019 April 2008 1052 December 2007 1045 April 2007 1086 December 2006 1074 April 2006 1142 December 2005 1151 April 2005 1221 4 Orange County Schools Exceptional Children’s Program Fast Facts ∗ Exceptional Children’s services are offered at every school in the district. ∗ District-wide programs at a glance: ∗ Preschool: ∗ 2 separate classrooms (PE/GAB) ∗ 4 inclusive classrooms (PE/GAB/NH/CE) ∗ Autism Program: ∗ 2 separate classrooms (GAB) ∗ 1 separate classroom (ALS) ∗ 1 separate classroom (OHS) ∗ Multiple Disabilities Program: ∗ 2 separate classrooms (NH) ∗ 1 separate classroom (ALS) ∗ 2 separate classrooms (OHS) 5 Exceptional Children’s Funding 2010-11 Federal : $2,039,900 Federal ARRA: $1,163,951 State: $3,499,776 Local: $ 318,029 Total: $7,021,656 10.5% of OCS Total Operating Budget 6 8.7% of OCS Total Operating Budget without ARRA Funding Exceptional Children's Staff ∗ Teachers: ∗ Assistants: ∗ Related Services: 65 37.72 20 ∗ Contract with 7 Speech Therapists for Preschool ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ Program Specialists: Coordinators: Office Support: Director: 3.5 1 1 1 Total Exceptional Children’s Staff: 136.22 7 NC DPI Review Team ∗ Date of visit: September 15-17, 2010 ∗ Areas reviewed: ∗ Caseload/class size ∗ Paperwork procedures ∗ Staffing /licensure ∗ Service delivery models and instructional methods ∗ Programs for students with Autism ∗ Four teams of specialists visited almost every school in the district including Partnership Academy and Triumph Day Treatment Program 8 NCDPI Program Review Commendations Recommendations ∗ Adequate professional development ∗ Strong elementary and middle school programs ∗ Good access to professional development and instructional materials ∗ Good collaborative initiatives ∗ Develop systems for writing and implementing stronger IEPs ∗ Refine special education programs at the high schools ∗ Improve professional development plans ∗ Help teachers develop a better understanding of evidenced based strategies for students with autism, with a primary focus on enhancing the communication /language abilities 9 Exceptional Children’s Survey Results 2010-11 Number of students in the Exceptional Children’s Program: 1036 ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ Surveys Completed: Preschool: Elementary: Middle: High: Did not answer: Surveys Completed by Grade Level 64 8 34 10 11 1 16% 53% Preschool 17% Elementary Middle 12% 2% High No Answer 10 EC Programs Parent Survey Results 2010-11 Question Strongly Agree/ Agree Disagree/ Strongly Disagree Did not answer IEP Team was well prepared for the IEP meeting 79.7% 15.6% 4.7% Regular Ed. Teacher participated in the IEP meeting 87.5% 9.4% 3.1% Parent received a copy of Procedural Safeguards and someone offered to explain or answer questions 92.2% 4.7% 3.1% The IEP team explained the IEP development process 76.6% 20.3% 3.1% I understand the process regarding placement of my child in the EC program 76.6% 17.2% 6.3% At my child’s most recent IEP meeting I felt like I was considered as a partner regarding services for my child 84.4% 12.5% 3.3% 11 Survey results con. Question Strongly Disagree/ Agree/Agree Strongly Disagree Did not answer The IEP team discussed the program in terms of the least restrictive environment 71.6% 22.2% 6.3% We discussed accommodations and modification my child would need to access the general curriculum. 76.6% 20.3% 3.1% The IEP team discussed if my child needed extended school year services 75.0% 21.9% 3.1% Written and verbal justification for anytime my child is removed from regular education was included in the IEP 71.9% 23.4% 4.7% Exceptional children and general curriculum teachers are available to speak to me about my 12 child 81.3% 14.1% 4.7% Survey results con. Question Strongly Disagree/ Agree/Agree Strongly Disagree Did not answer The school provides information regarding services in my home language 89.1% 4.7% 6.3% Teachers and administrators show sensitivity to the need of students with disabilities and their families 75.0% 21.9% 3.1% Teachers and administrators encourage me to participate in the decision –making process 82.8% 14.1% 3.1% The school has personnel on staff to answer parent questions 79.7% 18.8% 1.6% The school/district offers parent information sessions on different topic related to EC programs and services 65.6% 28.1% 6.3% 13 The school offers parents a variety of ways to communicate 89.1% 9.4% 1.6% Survey results con. Question Strongly Disagree/ Agree/Agree Strongly Disagree Did not answer I receive routine reports on how my child is meeting their IEP goals 64.1% 32.8% 3.1% At the most recent IEP meeting we discussed how my child would participate in grades 3-12 statewide testing 37.5% 26.6% 35.9% My child is 14 years old or older and I am satisfied with the amount of information received from the school 14.1% 9.4% 76.6% How satisfied are you with the quality of special education and related services provided to your child in the district 71.9% 21.9% 6.3% 14 Next Steps ∗ Provide the Board of Education with a biannual report on the progress of the Strategic Plan ∗ Develop a budget to address costs in the NCDPI Program Review recommendations ∗ Program Review and Strategic Plan will be posted this week under the Exceptional Children’s website. 15