Lakewood School District N.J. Least Restrictive Environment Least Restrictive Environment Returning Students to Returning Students to In- -District Supportive Programs That Increase District Supportive Programs That Increase In Graduation Rates Graduation Rates Presenters: Presenters: Michael I.Inzelbuch, Esq. – – Board Attorney Board Attorney Michael I.Inzelbuch, Esq. Yvette Cucuro – – Special Education Supervisor Special Education Supervisor Yvette Cucuro 1 1
Lakewood New Jersey Lakewood New Jersey � Is the Is the only only urban district located within Ocean urban district located within Ocean � County County � Township is populated by approximately 70,000 Township is populated by approximately 70,000 � inhabitants; a majority of the population not inhabitants; a majority of the population not availing itself of the public schools availing itself of the public schools � School District has 4 elementary schools, 1 School District has 4 elementary schools, 1 � middle school and 1 high school middle school and 1 high school � Student enrollment is at approximately 5400 of Student enrollment is at approximately 5400 of � which: which: � 82% are students of minority 82% are students of minority � � 75% receive free and reduced lunches 75% receive free and reduced lunches � 2 2
*Special Education - - Until 2003 the Until 2003 the *Special Education District faced: District faced: � No less than 25 lawsuits No less than 25 lawsuits � (yearly average filed by parents of classified students) (yearly average filed by parents of classified students) � Numerous states audits Numerous states audits � � Corrective Action Plan issued by the State in 2000 Corrective Action Plan issued by the State in 2000 � spanning the gamut of special education (By 2006- spanning the gamut of special education (By 2006 -2007, 2007, District satisfied 23 of 24 areas stated in a Corrective District satisfied 23 of 24 areas stated in a Corrective Action Plan and successfully reversed a New Jersey Action Plan and successfully reversed a New Jersey Department of Education report that alleged alleged disparate disparate Department of Education report that treatment of classified students) treatment of classified students) 3 3
To increase student attendance, programming To increase student attendance, programming opportunities and increase graduation rates from 2003 opportunities and increase graduation rates from 2003 until current, the district has introduced: until current, the district has introduced: 1. innovative programming innovative programming 1. 2. focus on effective parent/guardian 2. focus on effective parent/guardian engagement engagement 3. progressive discipline 3. progressive discipline 4. flexible scheduling 4. flexible scheduling 5. community based educational opportunities 5. community based educational opportunities 6. extra curricular offerings 6. extra curricular offerings 7. the use of instructional practices and 7. the use of instructional practices and learning strategies. learning strategies. 4 4
1. Innovative Programs Innovative Programs 1. STRIVE STRIVE Special Education Program for Behavioral Special Education Program for Behavioral Challenging Students for high school students Challenging Students for high school students th – th ) (7 th – 12 12 th ) (7 ACE ACE th - th ) Alternative Program for Secondary Level (7 th -12 12 th ) Alternative Program for Secondary Level (7 Regular and Special Education Students Regular and Special Education Students 5 5
Special Grant Programs Special Grant Programs � LRE Grant: Local Capacity Building and LRE Grant: Local Capacity Building and � Improvement Project for Special Education Improvement Project for Special Education Least Restrictive Environment (2002- -3yrs 3yrs Least Restrictive Environment (2002 grant, $500,000) grant, $500,000) � Expanding the Local Capacity Building Expanding the Local Capacity Building � Project – – LRE (2005 LRE (2005 - - $250,000) $250,000) Project � Governor Governor’ ’s Grant: s Grant: “ “Enhancing and Enhancing and � Expanding In- -District Program Options For District Program Options For Expanding In Students with Disabilities” ” ($450,000) ($450,000) Students with Disabilities 6 6
2. Focusing on Effective 2. Focusing on Effective Parent/Guardian Engagement Parent/Guardian Engagement Reaching out to Parents! Reaching out to Parents! Bus Aides Bus Aides Phone Contact– – Teacher/Administration Teacher/Administration Phone Contact Mail - - Regular/certified Regular/certified Mail Home Visits – – during day, night, and during day, night, and Home Visits weekends weekends 7 7
2. Focusing on Effective 2. Focusing on Effective Parent/Guardian Engagement Parent/Guardian Engagement Yearly picnic “ “Family Style Family Style” ” Yearly picnic Beautification of The ACE Program Grounds Beautification of The ACE Program Grounds CST Special Graduation Dinner CST Special Graduation Dinner All Meetings All Meetings (IEP, Intervention Planning, Manifestation) (IEP, Intervention Planning, Manifestation) 8 8
9 9
3. Progressive Discipline: Consistency 3. Progressive Discipline: Consistency Program Wide Behavioral System Program Wide Behavioral System Students work up points to reach specific levels Students work up points to reach specific levels of success for specific Rewards and Incentives of success for specific Rewards and Incentives such as: such as: Participation in “ “Community as a Classroom Community as a Classroom” ” Participation in program (i.e. special trips educating students program (i.e. special trips educating students outside of the Lakewood Community) outside of the Lakewood Community) Points used to purchase at School Store Points used to purchase at School Store operated by Model STRIVE students operated by Model STRIVE students 10 10
11 11
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS REMAIN ON TASK OBTAIN PASS, ESCORT, OR PERMISSION BEFORE LEAVING ROOM USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE RESPECT OTHERS RESPECT SCHOOL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY BE ON TIME NO CELL PHONE USE IN CLASS NO HEAD PHONE USE DURING LESSON MUST USE PROGRAM TRANSPORTATION 12 12
Infractions result in the following consequences or Infractions result in the following consequences or number of points not being earned number of points not being earned Following directions Following directions � 2 points not earned. If behavior continues, all behavioral 2 points not earned. If behavior continues, all behavioral � points will not be earned points will not be earned � ** If the direction is to leave the room, in attempt to ** If the direction is to leave the room, in attempt to � remove positive or negative reinforcement factors and remove positive or negative reinforcement factors and the student refuses… …LEVEL DROP LEVEL DROP the student refuses Remain on Task Remain on Task � 2 points not earned, if behavior continues 2 points not earned, if behavior continues- -all behavioral all behavioral � points will not be earned points will not be earned Obtain pass/escort to leave room Obtain pass/escort to leave room � If this is not done, LEVEL DROP If this is not done, LEVEL DROP � 13 13
Cont… …Infraction result Infraction result Cont Use Appropriate Language Use Appropriate Language � Cursing: 3 points not earned after warning Cursing: 3 points not earned after warning � � Cursing or Derogatory remarks made at staff: LEVEL Cursing or Derogatory remarks made at staff: LEVEL � DROP DROP � Inappropriate conversational topics: 3 points not earned Inappropriate conversational topics: 3 points not earned � after warning after warning Disruptive Behaviors Disruptive Behaviors � Throwing items, unnecessary noises, banging on walls Throwing items, unnecessary noises, banging on walls � or desks, hand gestures, bothering others, out of seat or desks, hand gestures, bothering others, out of seat during lesson, etc.: 3 points not earned. If behavior during lesson, etc.: 3 points not earned. If behavior continues, student will be separated from the group and continues, student will be separated from the group and all behavioral points will not be earned. all behavioral points will not be earned. 14 14
Cont… …Infraction result Infraction result Cont � HANDS ON BEHAVIOR/FIGHTING HANDS ON BEHAVIOR/FIGHTING : : � LEVEL DROP LEVEL DROP � THREATS THREATS : LEVEL DROP : LEVEL DROP � � DESTRUCTION OF STAFF/SCHOOL DESTRUCTION OF STAFF/SCHOOL � PROPERTY : LEVEL DROP : LEVEL DROP PROPERTY � REFUSING TO LEAVE THE ROOM WHEN REFUSING TO LEAVE THE ROOM WHEN � ASKED TO DO SO: LEVEL DROP LEVEL DROP ASKED TO DO SO: � MISSING BUS FOR DISMISSAL (WITHOUT MISSING BUS FOR DISMISSAL (WITHOUT � PERMISSION): LEVEL DROP LEVEL DROP PERMISSION): 15 15
Recommend
More recommend
