Copyright 1999 P.G. Publishing Co.
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
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February 7, 1999, Sunday, TWO STAR EDITION
SECTION: LOCAL, Pg. C-2
LENGTH: 474 words
HEADLINE:
SPECIAL ED PUPILS SENT TO CLASSROOMS
BYLINE: RHONDA
MILLER, POST-GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
BODY:
The
inclusion of special education students in regular classrooms could expand in
Shaler Area schools next fall under a proposal being considered by the school
board.
The impact of the proposal would be felt most at the middle
school, where the number of classes available to special education students
would triple. The basic academic subjects - English, reading, math, science and
social studies - would be taught by both a regular and a special education
teacher, using "flexible grouping." The plan includes a change for elementary
pupils with the most severe disabilities, who are enrolled in classes called
"life skills." Those students now attend special education classes in Burchfield
Elementary, rather than being spread among the five elementary schools. Under
the proposal, life skills pupils would attend their neighborhood school.
The inclusion proposal is Shaler Area school district's response to the
federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, approved
in 1997. IDEA requires districts to raise their expectations for children with
disabilities and to educate them in regular classrooms as much as possible.
"Kids with disabilities shouldn't be isolated. They should be with other
kids and learning as much as possible," said Bill Watson, director of pupil
personnel services for the district.
"Our vision is to maximize the
potential of every student. This proposal is the best way we have determined we
can do that. It has high, but realistic, expectations for special education
students, and provides the support they need to succeed."
The board will
vote on the plan at its Feb. 17 meeting.
Under the proposal, 45 classes
on all nine middle school teams would be available to special education
students, and the number of special ed classes would be cut from 45 to 20. A
special education teacher, already a staff member, will be added to each
academic team.
Each team includes an English, reading, math, science and
social studies teacher.
"One will not be the regular teacher, and one
will not be the special education teacher. They will be presented as two English
teachers and will switch off in their duties," Watson said.
Special
education students also will have a study skills class with a special ed teacher
to follow up on classroom work in more detail.
The district inclusion
committee of administrators, teachers and parents recommended hiring 1.5
additional classroom aides at the middle school to support the program. The
administration supports that recommendation, Superintendent Donald Lee said
Thursday. All staffing requests, however, must be approved as line items in the
1999-2000 budget, Lee said.
The cost of a full-time classroom aide, with
benefits, is about $ 18,000 annually, totaling about $ 27,000 for the additional
1.5 positions.
SHALER AREA SCHOOLS
LOAD-DATE:
February 9, 1999 
