1. Overview of Special Education
Lori Centeno, IEP Coordinator
PS/IS 119Q

2. Special Education Reform
The Department of Education is making significant improvements in the way we deliver services to students with disabilities. The goals of this reform are: to close the achievement gap between students with disabilities and their peers without disabilities;
to provide increased access to and participation in the general education curriculum; and
to empower all schools to have greater curricular, instructional, and scheduling flexibility to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities.

3. A Shared Path for Success
2012 Initiative to provide all students with IEP’s the greatest possible access to the Least Restrictive Environment appropriate to each individual student’s needs.
Teacher and school leader training and resources provided to crease safe, inclusive school environments that support positive student behavior
Increase of family communication to collaboratively improve student academic success
Implementation of Common Core to help students delve deeper into the content areas and develop problem solving skills that are based on real-world situations

4. Goal of Special Education
to educate students with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers by:
Providing an individualized educational plan focusing on specific goals
Providing LRE environment
Provide multiple supports to reach grade level performance (services, resources, skill based goals)

5. Least Restrictive Environment

6. Flexible Programming
A continuum of various combinations of special education supplementary aids, services and supports available across the entire spectrum of instructional settings
Educates students with disabilities alongside their non- disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
requirement that all students be held to high academic and behavioral standards
Provides for far greater flexibility in creating high-quality and innovative instructional designs for students with disabilities who require special education services

7. Special Education is a Service NOT a Program

8. Resources
Special Education Process
EP/default.htm
Special Education Programs
Family Guide to Special Education Services
Contact Lori Centeno, IEP Coordinator