NPS:Special Education

Links to Student Services Reports

There are nine Students services reports delivered to the school committee every year.

"Each report tracks special education aide assignments, compares special education and preschool aide budgets by FTE, provides a cost breakdown for special education aides including pre-k aides, provides preschool enrollment analysis by month, details the contracted services and out-of-district placements accounts, and reports special education transportation spending."

Links to the reports below. The summary of each section is included here. See the full report for the tables of more detailed information

June, 2010

The following changes are noted

• There are newly identified student needs (1.7) and replacement of staff (1.0). However as a result of staff vacancies (3.0) and changes in student needs (.1), there is a .4 decrease in the number of special education aides.

• Contracted services has increased by $20,000 to bring in• outside service providers because of staff leaves of absence.

• The enrollment in the integrated preschool is up by three students (two students with special needs and one student without special needs).

• The number of students placed out-of-district is increased by four from last month – five students were placed out-of-district (one at the middle school level, three at the high school level, and one as a result of a cost share agreement). One student aged out of their placement at the high school level but there was a small decrease in cost due to lowered estimates for year end placements.

• The number of students receiving special education transportation is up by 14 students from last month. However there was no increase in cost because of existing vehicles/routes as well as changes in out-of-district placements. The net result is that the variance to the budget improved.

Central High School
As of June 1, 2010, 15 students are enrolled at Central High School. Four additional students have been referred to the program.

The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP)
The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP) is currently serving 280 students. As of June 2, 2010, the program includes 81 students with special needs and 73 students without special needs in integrated preschool classrooms. Two students referred by Early Intervention with special needs, were placed in integrated classrooms. One student enrolled in an integrated classroom as a student without special needs. Students receiving speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy or social pragmatics includes 126 students. The preschool is evaluating 70 students. The increase in evaluations is due to the special education requirement to evaluate and hold a Team Meeting before a child turns three years of age. We are evaluating children who turn three between now and September 20, 2010 in order to be in compliance with this regulation. NECP provides two students, attending community preschools, with 504 Accommodation Plans.

Out-of-District Accounts
Currently there are 166 students in out-of-district placements. During the month of May, five students were placed out-of-district (one student moved into the district resulting in an out-of-district placement at the middle school level, three students were placed out at the high school level and one student was added to the cost share list). In addition, there was one student who aged out of their placement at the high school level. There were no changes at the elementary level.

Special Education Transportation
As of June 7, 2010, a total of 506 students receive special education transportation (147 students to private placements/359 within the Newton Public Schools).

May, 2010

The following changes are noted:

• This month as a result of newly identified student needs and replacement of staff, there is an increase in the number of special education aide positions (2.7). The variance to the budget is slightly increased.
• Contracted services has increased by $100,000 to meet unanticipated student needs and to bring in outside service providers because of staff leaves of absence or vacancies.
• The total enrollment in the preschool program is 277 (79 students with special needs; 72 students without special needs and 126 who receive related services).
• The number of students placed out of district is 162. The variance to the budget is increased.
• 492 students with special needs receive transportation (140 students are in out of district placements/352 students within NPS). The variance to the budget is decreased as a result of changes in student placements out of district.

Central High School
As of May 4, 2010 14 students are enrolled at Central High School. Two additional students have been referred.

The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP)
The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP) is currently serving 277 students. As of May 5, 2010 the program includes 79 students with special needs and 72 students without special needs in integrated preschool classrooms. Three students with special needs were placed in integrated classrooms (two children referred by Early Intervention and one child referred by his parents) following initial eligibility meetings. One student has joined an integrated classroom as a student without special needs. The number of students receiving related services (speech and language, occupational, and/or physical therapies or social pragmatics) is 126. Seventy-four students are currently being evaluated. The increase in evaluations is due to the special education requirement to evaluate and hold a Team Meeting before a child turns three years of age. Therefore, evaluators are evaluating children who turn three between now and September 20, 2010 in order to be in compliance with this regulation. NECP provides two students, attending community preschools, with 504 Accommodation Plans.

Out-of-District Accounts
Currently there are 162 students in out-of-district placements. During the month of April, at the high school level, four students were placed, two students aged out of their placements, one student returned to Newton Public Schools and one student changed from a day placement to a cost share placement. At the middle school level, there was one change in placement from day to residential. There were no changes at the elementary level.

Special Education Transportation
As of April 30, 2010, a total of 492 students receive special education transportation (140 students to private placements/352 within the Newton Public Schools).

April, 2010

The following changes are noted:

• This month this is a slight increase in student needs, however as a result of students moving out of district and/or into an out of district placement, and staff vacancies and/or reassignments, there is a decrease in the number of special education aide positions. The variance to the budget is decreased.
• The total enrollment in the preschool program is 263 students (76 students with special needs; 71 students without special needs and 116 students who receive related services).
• The number of students placed out of district is 160. The variance to the budget is decreased.
• 475 students with special needs receive transportation (130 are in out of district placements/345 within NPS). The variance to the budget is decreased as a result of changes in out of district and within district placements.

Central High School
As of March 31, 2010 12 students are enrolled at Central High School. Three additional students have been referred.

The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP)
The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP) is currently serving 263 students. As of April 5, 2010 the program includes 76 students with special needs and 71 students without special needs in integrated preschool classrooms. Three students with special needs were placed in integrated classrooms (one child referred by Early Intervention, one child referred by his parents and community preschool, and one child moved to Newton) following eligibility meetings. One student from an integrated classroom moved out of Newton. The number of students receiving related services (speech and language, occupational, and/or physical therapies or social pragmatics) is 116. Forty-nine students are currently being evaluated and two students, attending community preschools, are on 504 Accommodation Plans.

Out-of-District Accounts
Currently there are 160 students in out-of-district placements. During the month of March, there were no changes at the elementary and middle school levels. At the high school level, two students were placed out-of-district and one student was placed out-of-district for a short term of thirteen days. Ten students are pending placement.

Special Education Transportation
As of April 6, 2010, a total of 475 students receive special education transportation (130 students to private placements/345 within the Newton Public Schools).

March, 2010

The following changes are noted:

• This month there are additional student needs, however as a result of staff resignations and reassignments, there is no change in the number of special education aide positions. The variance to the budget is slightly decreased.
• The number of students placed out of district is 158. The variance to the budget is slightly decreased.
• 471 students with special needs receive transportation (134 are in out of district placements/337 within NPS). The variance to the budget is slightly increased as a result of increased needs.

Central High School As of March 4, 2010 11 students are enrolled at Central High School. Two additional students have been referred.

The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP)
The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Programs (NECP) is currently serving 244 students. As of March 1, 2010 the program includes 74 students with special needs and 71 students without special needs in integrated preschool classrooms. Two students with special needs were placed in integrated classrooms (two children referred by Early Intervention) following initial eligibility meetings. Students receiving speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy or social pragmatics includes 99 students. The preschool is evaluating 49 students and provides two students, attending community preschools, with 504 Accommodation Plans.

Out-of-District Accounts
Currently there are 158 students in out-of-district placements. During the month of February, five students were placed out-of-district (one from the elementary level, one from the middle school level and three through cost share agreements.) In addition, at the high school level one student ended their placement and at the middle school level one student changed their placement.

Special Education Transportation
As of February 25, 2010, we have a total of 471 students receiving Special Education Transportation. We currently have 134 private placements and 337 within the system.

October, 2009

Special Education Aide Assignments
There is a 5.1 increase in aide positions over the approved 354.1. The increase in aides is because of changes in current students’ needs, students newly identified as having special needs, and students with needs who recently moved into Newton. Additional aide support is anticipated in the months ahead as IEPs are finalized and students with needs move into the district. Any increases or decreases in aide support will be updated in future reports.
200 children are enrolled in the preschool program - 64 students with disabilities are currently in integrated classrooms. This is an increase of 15 students from October 2008 (five children moved in to Newton with IEPs; 10 children were identified the spring 2009 and/or turned three and referred from Early Intervention.
The number of students placed out of district is 141.
375 students receive transportation services (111 students to private placements/264 within the Newton Public Schools).

Preschool Status - Enrollment FY 08-09
The Newton Early Childhood Preschool Program (NECP) is currently serving 200 students. In October 2008, the program included 49 students with disabilities placed in the integrated preschool classrooms.
As of October 1, 2009, 64 students with disabilities are placed in integrated preschool classrooms. The increase of 15 students, from October 2008 to October 2009 includes five students who moved in from July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009 with Individual Education Programs from other cities, towns, or states requiring placement in an integrated special education preschool. The additional 10 students account for children evaluated in the spring of 2009 and as a result are placed in an integrated classroom and/or student turning three years old and referred from Early Intervention. The preschool is evaluating 43 students and provides one student, attending a community preschool, with a 504 Accommodation Plan.

Out-of-District Accounts
Currently there are 141 students in out-of-district placements. Since June 30, 2009, 11 students graduated, two students returned to the district, one student dropped out, two students were privately placed, eight students with cost share agreements ended, three students moved, five students aged out, for a total of 32 placements ended. In addition, 19 students have been placed and 11 students have had a change in placement.

Special Education Transportation
As of today, October 2, 2009, we have 375 students receiving Special Education Transportation between private placements (111) and schools and services within the system (264).

Links to NPS and PAC Web SPED Sites

Newton Parent Advisory Committee Web Site: http://www.newtonpac.org

PAC Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newtonpac/

Main Newton Special Education Page: http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/studentservices

History of special education in Newton

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