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Queensbury, South Glens Falls and Ballston Spa are among the 75 school districts identified by the State Education Department as "In Need of Assistance or Intervention" because of low performance among students with disabilities and will be mandated to improve.
This action is part of the Board of Regents initiative to close the achievement gap. It is also required under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Many districts identified, which include the Big Five cities, have graduation rates below 35% and dropout rates above 20% among students with disabilities. Many districts also had low performance in one or more of the 4th and 8 grade English and math tests and failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress in 2004-05. Districts with 30 or more special education students in the cohort were identified.
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/swd-100506/swd-list.html
Districts "In Need of Assistance" will go through a review of instructional practices to ensure they are using proven, research-based methods and/or professional development. They will get help from special education experts funded by the State Education Department. Districts "In Need of Intervention" may also be required to redirect their federal IDEA funds, which totals $700 million statewide.
"Students with disabilities can and do succeed in many schools throughout the State," Commissioner Mills said. "But in other schools their performance is very low. The Regents are putting the spotlight on this problem and requiring major improvements. All schools can and must help these students to achieve the standards."
The U.S. Department of Education will also soon identify states as "In Need of Assistance or Intervention" under IDEA. States and school districts that fail to make progress can ultimately face federal intervention or lose federal funding.
New York State has 410,000 students with disabilities, about 12% of the total public school student population. About 225,000 or 55 percent of students with disabilities are in the 75 districts that are being identified today.
The statewide graduation rate for students with disabilities is only 37%; the dropout rate is 19%. New York has set a goal of 80% graduation, with a target for improvement from the current 37% to 52% by 2011.
All of New York City's 32 geographic districts are identified, as well as the alternative high school district.
The State Education Department will provide identified districts with assistance from special education experts funded through IDEA and located regionally throughout the State.
The attached chart and slides provide additional information. 10-05-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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