Overview

The Pelham Public School District is committed to providing special education and related services to students with disabilities through a continuum of service delivery models that offer these services in the least restrictive environment and in an integrated setting with non-disabled peers. Our district programs stress access to the general education curriculum, improvement in student academic performance, and meeting the individual academic and affective needs of students.  Through a strong collaborative relationship among professional staff, administrators, parents, and students, we strive to achieve our goals and provide a well-coordinated learning experience for our students with disabilities.

Overview Presentation: SEPTA Meeting

In District Programs

The school system maintains a core staff in each building to address student needs. Called “Pupil Personnel Services,” this support includes areas such as health, social-emotional wellness, speech, special education, guidance and psychological services. The Pelham Public Schools offer comprehensive special education programs for students who require alternative instructional support, based upon a disability identified by the Committee on Special Education. Our schools offer a continuum of programs including: Resource Room, Consultant Teacher, Special classes, and Inclusion classes.

Related Services

Related services currently provided within the district include speech and language therapy, psychological services, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Additional related services could include Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing or Teacher of the Visually Impaired.  These services are provided to students with disabilities in conjunction with their special education and/or general education programs.  The related service professionals address knowledge and skills, which are not typically included in subject area curriculum.  The goal of the district is to provide these services through district personnel, whenever practical.

Consultant Teacher Services

Consultant teachers provide direct and indirect services to students with disabilities who participate in full-time general education programs.  Direct consultant teacher services are provided to students in a general education classroom.  A special education teacher provides indirect consultant teacher services to general education teachers to assist them in making environmental and/or instructional modifications for students with disabilities in order for these students to be successful learners.  They serve as a specialized, highly skilled resource to the general education teacher.

Resource Room Services

A resource room program provides specialized supplementary instruction in a small group setting of up to five students who have similar academic, social, physical, and management needs.  The resource room teacher addresses specific academic and organizational difficulties experienced by the students and offers support for students in their general education classes as well as supplemental instruction.

Resource Room/ Consultant Teacher Services

This service is ideal for students who do not require the full three-hour per week of pullout service in a Resource Room, but could instead benefit from direct instruction and special teacher support.  The program is offered as a combination Resource/ Consultant model for a total of 3 hours in a 6-day cycle.  

Integrated Co-Teaching

Districts use the terminology “integrated co-teaching,” consistent with the regulatory requirements, so that the level of services provided to a student is clear and consistent among school districts.  Integrated co-taught classes are programs in which the special education teacher co-teaches with the general education or content area teacher in the general education classroom.  The special education teacher offers more intensive support than in the consultant teacher model, including developing modified materials, instructional techniques and behavioral strategies. In grades 5-11, co-taught classes are available in various subject areas and have been particularly effective for students who in the past may have been taught in a separate special class setting.  The integrated co-teaching model is proving to be effective for many students each year, including students enrolled in Regents level courses in grades 8 through 11.

Special Class Services

A special class provides primary instruction in one or more academic areas. The maximum class size for a special class program ranges from six to fifteen students.  In the Pelham Public Schools, the majority of special classes have an enrollment of up to twelve students.  Special classes are typically staffed by one teacher and at least one teaching assistant. Students are grouped together for special class instruction based on the similarity of their needs.  Grouping by needs is based on present levels of academic achievement and learning rate, levels of physical and social development, and the management needs of students in the classroom.  Students are mainstreamed in specials and, when appropriate, specific academic classes at the elementary level.  At the middle school level, special classes are offered in several of the core academic areas based on student need. Students are mainstreamed for specials/electives and various academic courses.  Special class offerings have expanded in the middle and high school in recent years, to allow increased numbers of Pelham students to be educated within the district.  

Supplemental Services

It is important to note that there are times that students need reteaching of class material, support to remain on task, or organizational assistance for short and long term class assignments.  Such students may not require an integrated co- taught class in which a certified special education teacher must be in attendance.  Teacher assistants and school monitors are employed to meet these specific student needs at various times during the school day.  These staff members may assist in delivering testing and program accommodations for one or more class periods.  

Therapeutic Support Program (TSP)

The Therapeutic Support Program (TSP) provides a safe, supportive learning environment with personalized opportunities for each student to develop the social emotional and academic skills, strategies, and knowledge, to become a responsible, successful, compassionate, internationally minded citizen.

TSP delivers individualized therapeutic and academic services to students who demonstrate significant emotional, social, and/or psychological need. Through intensive positive behavioral intervention supports; academic assistance and monitoring; crisis intervention; and, ongoing communication with staff, parents, and healthcare providers, TSP maximizes student growth and success. TSP provides educational opportunities and experiences that foster respect, problem-solving, and responsibility, while helping students develop personal, community, and global consciousness. Identified students in the middle and high school are provided with a structured, organized form of instruction, therapeutic opportunities, and supervised mainstreaming by highly trained staff, creating a comprehensive network of academic and social-emotional support.

Foundations of Learning

The Foundations of Learning is a specialized program which had been historically offered in the Prospect Hill School and Pelham Middle School in past years.  It was fully implemented in the Pelham Memorial High School for the 2008-2009 school year.  Students are accepted into the program based on educational needs, yet not a specific classification.  Students work toward alternative learning standards based upon the NYS Curriculum and their own individual differences.  Students are typically struggling with basic academic or communication skills and may exhibit mild behavioral demands. 

Psychology Services

School psychologists assist the educational staff in evaluating student learning and related problems. The psychologists work with students and parents and refer them to appropriate counseling agencies as needed.

Speech and Language Services

The Pelham Schools offer speech and language services to students who have significant receptive or expressive language delays. Therapists assist in the identification and instruction of children requiring these services.  

School Counseling Services

The counseling programs for middle and high school students are proactive. Small group outreach programs target both social and academic concerns. Post secondary goals also are a major focus for PMHS counselors. Counselors work with families, administration, outside agencies, the District Special Education Office and Section 504 Committee to ensure that students’ needs are met. Students and parents may contact counselors at any time by making an appointment with the Counseling Office.

Building Level Multi-tiered Systems of Supports

Individuals participating in an instructional decision-making team have a broad understanding of interventions and are highly skilled in data analysis, problem solving and decision making in support of improving instructional programs for students. The Multi-tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) Team is a collaborative building-based team which may include the principal, school psychologist, a general education teacher, a special education teacher, interventionist, speech and language therapist, and other support staff. Using a problem solving approach, the team will create intervention plans for students who are not meeting learning standards and/or are exhibiting learning or behavioral differences.  If the interventions do not result in progress toward closing the gap, the child may then be referred to the Committee on Special Education for an evaluation.  The MTSS process does not preclude parents from referring their child to the Committee on Special Education (CSE) at any point.   

Special Public and Private Day or Residential Schools

The majority of students with disabilities are educated in Pelham special education programs; however, students with more intensive specialized needs may require a different educational setting.  Pelham utilizes the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) special education programs as well as other public school districts’ special education programs.  A small number of children are also educated in NY State approved private day or residential schools.