| Bartlesville Public Schools' success in Special Education | |
| Since the federal government enacted the law now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975, millions of American children have benefited from Special Education Services. 727 students are currently enrolled in Special Education Services through Bartlesville Public Schools. These students receive assistance through speech therapy, curriculum modifications, self-care skills, sign language interpreters, or whatever needs their disability requires. | |
| Bartlesville Public Schools is committed to contacting, evaluating, and educating all special needs children ages three through twenty-one. Our commitment to excellence can be illustrated by the results of a survey given to parents of Special Education children, 88% of parents surveyed were satisfied with services their child received, and 93% said BPS special education personnel provided the necessary information about their child’s IEP and services being implemented. | |
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Two years ago a Special Education Advisory Committee evaluated Bartlesville Public Schools Special Education Services. Nearly all of the recommendations made were implemented, including information packets for parents, progress reports with feedback for parents to respond, pay raises for aides, Medicaid billing improvements, providing teacher in-service training for special education teachers, and getting information to other teachers on any special education students they will be teaching. Bartlesville Public Schools Special Services now assists parents in the process of getting an Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, for their child. First, after the initial tests have been administered, the school psychologist meets privately with parents to discuss the results. Then, the parents meet again with the IEP team of professionals to discuss the best options for their child. Since parents have had the opportunity to ask questions, they often feel more comfortable in the team meeting for their child and are more likely to give opinions and ideas. Second, BPS Special Services has a goal to test all possible special education students within 60 days of being referred. This is more difficult than it appears, as several different departments and professionals must coordinate their efforts. However, this goal is being accomplished, meaning children are receiving the help they need much sooner. Bartlesville Public Schools has a professional and dedicated Special Education staff. “My teachers are awesome,” says Teresa Ledbetter, Director of Special Education Services, “they are master jugglers, teaching in regular classrooms, teaching the modifications for special education students, filing proper paper work for each child, meeting with parents, scheduling annual IEP’s, their job is demanding and time consuming, and they are incredible.” They aren’t the only teachers who teach special education students. Any teacher, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, who has a student with an IEP in his or her classroom, must make curriculum adjustments for that student. This depends on the student’s needs, but in some cases, teachers may need to create two or three lesson plans for the same topic. Special Education Services continues to progress towards inclusion of special education students into regular classrooms. It is only one of the ways that Bartlesville Public Schools are Inspiring Student’s Success.Bartlesville Public Schools, Christina Hoskin, Community Relations Supervisor |
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