Special education needs at ISD 166 are growing. As of the October 3, 2013 school board meeting, 72 students – 16 percent of the student population – were receiving special ed services. According to Superintendent Beth Schwarz, about 11 percent of students in Minnesota schools receive special ed services.
The school went from two to three special ed rooms this year. The new room is for “Level III” students who are outside the regular classroom more than 60 percent of the time. The number of students who are now in this category is more than expected, however, Schwarz told the school board. More than one Level III room is needed now in order para staff up to 17. The budget will need to abide by state regulations regarding to be adjusted to reflect the additional the number of students per room. The staff. classrooms need to be in the middle/ In addition, Schwarz wrote, “We high school, but that part of the school likely have some students who would does not have any extra rooms available be better served in a Level IV setting.” A at the moment. In addition, another level IV setting is one in which students Emotional Behavior Disorder (EBD) receive special education and related teacher and another paraprofessional services for more than half the day in are needed in order to abide by regulations schools specifically for students with regarding the staff-to-student disabilities (some of these students may ratio. be in regular schools for part of the day).
Because of the needs that have been She has been talking with Cook County identified, the district is hiring a second Public Health & Human Services staff, EBD teacher, bringing the number of Great Expectations School Director special ed teachers to five, and an additional Peter James, and the Grand Portage paraprofessional, bringing the Tribal Council about these needs.
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