Overview of Special Education Lori Centeno IEP Coordinator

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

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.

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

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)

Least Restrictive Environment

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 nondisabled 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

Special Education is a Service NOT a Program

Resources Special Education Process � http: //schools. nyc. gov/Academics/Special. Education/S EP/default. htm Special Education Programs � http: //schools. nyc. gov/Academics/Special. Education/programs/environment/default. htm Family Guide to Special Education Services � http: //schools. nyc. gov/Academics/Special. Education/tellmemore/important. Documents. htm � Contact Lori Centeno, IEP Coordinator lcenteno 2@schools. nyc. gov