Annual Inclusive Education Report
Assistant Superintendent Heather Putio led the Annual Inclusive Education Report to the Board with a note that services for students with severe and mild/moderate disabilities overlap with classroom practices, making them beneficial to all PWPSD students.
Inclusive Education staff work with community partners and contracted service providers to offer individualized academic, social-emotional and physical interventions to children and youth at PWPSD schools. PWPSD's Student First Framework for Learning guides the process; ensuring students do not slip through the cracks.
PWPSD's Collaborative Response Model (CRM) has improved the effectiveness of the Inclusive Education team, enhancing the family voice to promote shared problem-solving in schools, and uses data to put the best services in place for each student.
"The feedback we receive from our partners is that the PWPSD collaborative process is unique," says Ms. Putio. "Our staff also report greater job satisfaction as a result of the CRM, knowing that students are being appropriately served."
Back in 2012, approximately 115 PWPSD students met the criteria for severe disabilities, compared with 150 students this year. However, staff are now challenged to provide the same level of service without an increase in resources, and the resulting shortfall means searching for greater efficiencies in programming and specialized services.
"Our goal is to program for student independence and successful transition into the community beyond high school," adds Ms. Putio.
District Principal Karen Chrenek highlighted Inclusive Education supports currently in place to support PWPSD's preschool children, along with the highly specialized programming for students requiring coordinated wraparound services from the Peace Collaborative Services team of specialists.
Project Independence, launched in the past school year, provides instructional strategies to build capacity in Educational Assistants (EAs), resulting in positive outcomes for students. This year, the project extended to include eight days of specialized training for EAs and staff members who work with students with more complex needs.
Other Inclusive Education-supported programs include Transitioning Beyond School, an evening session for parents and youth needing supports beyond junior and senior high; the Think Equal and Social Express programs that foster social-emotional development; Augmentative Alternative Communication apps; Early Years Evaluations; Functional Life Skills; Family Oriented Planning Sessions; sensory rooms; and staff professional development, including sessions this school year with Dr. Jody Carrington. A PWPSD Wellness Coach provides unique service to four high schools through the division's Mental Health Capacity Building Project.
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