Special Education

Special educators, classroom teachers, and intervention teachers work together to support the academic needs of all Swanton Elementary students. Student achievement is closely monitored, and striving learners receive additional support in the general education curriculum prior to any evaluation for special education services.

Children with disabilities become eligible for special education after a referral process and a comprehensive evaluation process to determine whether they are in need of special education services. Children who are eligible for special education are entitled to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This plan outlines the necessary supports and accommodations needed in order for the student to be successful in the classroom. The plan also contains learning goals for the current year. IEPs are reviewed and re-written annually. Children with disabilities may be identified as early as birth; children entering our kindergarten program with an IEP have a transition plan so that specialized programs continue from early education settings into the kindergarten program. Every three years, another comprehensive evaluation takes place to determine how best to meet the needs of the learner.

Special educators help classroom teachers provide inclusive, differentiated instruction and specialized instruction in specific skills. Specialized instruction is connected to the core curriculum and students with disabilities receive most of their instruction in the regular education classroom. Differentiated instruction involves varied approaches to what students need to learn, how they will learn it, and/or how they can express what they have learned in order to increase the likelihood that each student will learn as much as he or she can as efficiently as possible.

The Speech Language Pathologists work with children in the areas of language, articulation, voice, and fluency. They also collaborate with guidance counselors, the school psychologist, teachers, and other related service providers.

The School Psychologist consults with teachers, parents, administrators, and outside agencies about problems with learning and behavior; engages with students on IEPs who have been identified as needing psychological counseling; and participates in special education evaluations.