City doing better reducing numbers
Saturday, March 06, 2010
While complimenting Pittsburgh Public Schools' progress and promise in special education, evaluators from the Council of the Great City Schools said the district needs to work on placing fewer students in special education.
"It was clear to the team ... that too many teachers and staff members were using special education as an escape hatch when they did not know what else to do with students who were experiencing learning or behavioral problems," the report stated.
"This is not an unusual situation in many public school systems across the country, but the Pittsburgh Public Schools has the potential to make a real dent in the problem because of its determined leadership, strong collaboration with its teachers union and its forward momentum."
One sign of progress, the report noted, is that Pittsburgh was one of the few urban districts that met its targets last year for adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act, including those for special education students.
While the performance of special education students has improved in some grade levels, it still lags significantly behind that of other students.
In addition, the district has been developing tools -- including curriculum, interventions and professional development -- aimed at better meeting students' needs before a special education placement becomes necessary.
Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, and others from his organization presented the report to the school board this week.
"It was clear to the team ... that too many teachers and staff members were using special education as an escape hatch when they did not know what else to do with students who were experiencing learning or behavioral problems," the report stated.
"This is not an unusual situation in many public school systems across the country, but the Pittsburgh Public Schools has the potential to make a real dent in the problem because of its determined leadership, strong collaboration with its teachers union and its forward momentum."
One sign of progress, the report noted, is that Pittsburgh was one of the few urban districts that met its targets last year for adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act, including those for special education students.
While the performance of special education students has improved in some grade levels, it still lags significantly behind that of other students.
In addition, the district has been developing tools -- including curriculum, interventions and professional development -- aimed at better meeting students' needs before a special education placement becomes necessary.
Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, and others from his organization presented the report to the school board this week.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10065/1040714-298.stm#ixzz0hV84i8K2