Special Education BUDGET for Stimulus Funds ARRA (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act) Presented to Rockingham County School Board September 22, 2009 Scott Hand Director, Pupil Personnel Services

In the beginning….. Just imagine! However, this did not quite fit into federal guidelines for expenditures 

Four Principles of Distribution 1. Spend funds to save and create jobs. 2. Improve student achievement through school improvement and reform. 3. Ensure transparency, reporting, and accountability. 4. Should be invested in ways that do not result in unsustainable continuing commitments

Activities Specific to Children with Disabilities (Federal Guidelines) Analyze intervention appropriateness  On a division level, is what we are doing now working? Review the placement patterns of students with disabilities  Are current service delivery options “effective”  LRE Disproportionate representation in the identification and disciplining of students with disabilities The development of strategies to address special education staffing needs through recruitment, professional development, and retention activities

Input into the decision on how the funds are to be spent Prior to the ARRA budget being prepared, a variety of opportunities to give input were offered. -Special Education Advisory Committee -Administrative Staff -Pupil Personnel Staff

Stimulus Activities to Date Purchased buses specific for use with students with disabilities Purchased vans, one for each high school, to assist with transitioning (job skills/adult options) or community-based instruction activities Purchased “Smart Boards” Purchased “document cameras” Professional development for Special Education/Pupil Personnel Staff  “Closing the Gap” (assistive technology)  Autism (in conjunction with SVRP funding)  RtI  Transitioning to Adult Options  Literacy for low-incidence populations

Activities (Continued) Purchased the Woodcock-Johnson III Assessment Battery  Provided training for all special education teachers in appropriate use Purchased IRI assessment materials (both elementary and secondary levels)  Training is currently underway Purchased the Houghton-Mifflin pre-K curriculum materials to enhance our movement towards more inclusive preschool opportunities for students with disabilities ages 2 through 4 Purchased various curriculum or activity support items for special education programs, pre-K through 12

Special Education Initiatives (Rockingham County) Identify patterns in SOL performance for SWD  Identify instructional (program) strengths/concerns  Target areas for improvement  Develop, in coordination with individual schools, corrective action plans Monitor SWD impact on AYP Improve VaDOE Performance Indicators  Graduation Rate (standard/advanced diplomas)  Drop-out Rate  Decrease OSS rates for SWD  LRE

Future Stimulus Activities Provide funding for future special education initiatives through training/materials & supplies  Improve pass rates for SWD on SOL exams  Increase SWD receiving Standard or Advanced diplomas  Decrease OSS rates for SWD Continued enhancement of technology in the classrooms  Online IEP program (aka “IEP-PAMS”) with supportive technology  “drawing tablets” for Smart Boards Ongoing professional development

Show Me The Money! Section 611:$2,797, Section 619:$94,192.00

Questions?