Meetings on Special Class in Integrated Settings Workgroup

The State Education Department is holding a series of regional meetings to examine program and fiscal issues related to the special classes in integrated settings service model. School districts face many challenges with this model for special education classes. The issues include inadequate funding, insufficient numbers of providers, regulations for class size, and student ratios that do not align with general education settings and overwhelming paperwork requirements that comes with dealing with multiple funding streams and authorizing agencies.

The meetings that were held on September 12-13, included panel members from districts and providers to discuss the challenges that face them with the provision of this service model. SAANYS President-Elect Joyce Carr from the Elmira City School District participated on the first panel. Her insights on how the program works for students and families provided a serious and pragmatic perspective on the sustainability of this model in school districts. SAANYS members Robin Hooper from the Rochester City School District and Margo Nish from the Syracuse City School District provided two very different and compelling implementation stories. NYSED will continue these discussions around the state and we would encourage your attendance.

The dates of the next regional meetings are:

October – Discussion: Improving Reimbursement for Greater Integrated Opportunities
  • October 26 | 10:00am – 4:00pm | within State Administered Prekindergarten programs
  • October 27 | 10:00am – 4:00pm | within NYSED approved SCIS programs
November – Discussion: Review Potential Department Recommendations
  • November 28 | 10:00am – 4:00pm | within State Administered Prekindergarten programs
  • November 29 | 10:00am – 4:00pm | within NYSED approved SCIS programs