Special Education Services
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Special Education Community
Report, 1997
Special Education
Director's Report, 1998-1999
All students can and do learn, but some need to learn in
a way which best uses their strengths and at a rate
appropriate to them.
What is today known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.) was first signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1975. This law establishes the right of all children who experience disabilities to a free and appropriate public education. This legislation also includes the principle of "zero rejection" which states that no child is so disabled that he/she can not benefit from an appropriately designed education at public expense.
The law requires that specialized programming be available for children with physical disabilities such as hearing, vision, orthopedic, and other health related impairments; speech disorders; language disorders; learning disabilities; mental retardation; autism; traumatic brain injury, and behavioral and emotional impairments.
The purpose of the specialized instruction is to ensure that each child acquires the foundation of skills necessary to benefit from their educational; program. How that is defined for each child is determined by a team of professionals and the parents called a Pupil Evaluation Team or P.E.T. Look for more information about the P.E.T. process in the next newsletter.
Special
Services
Director's Report
Bucksport Town Report, 1998-1999
The Maine Learning Results document was published in 1997, and describes the knowledge and skills essential to prepare Maine students for the adult world. The Maine Learning Results provides schools with a "blueprint" to ensure that each school district is meeting the educational needs of all Maine students. "All students can and do learn" is the foundation for delivery of education in the Bucksport School Department. High expectations are established for all students, and special education services in the Bucksport Schools support the achievement of these expectations and the Maine Learning Results. State and Federal law require special education programming. Special education services were provided to approximately280 students last year in the Bucksport school system. These students were identified as individuals who experience a disability and who need special services in order to benefit from an education at public expense. Fourteen special education teachers and a strong team of educational technicians were employed in the Bucksport School district last year. Over 489 meetings were held to discuss individual student programming. While 25 students needing special education services moved into the district, 29 students who received special services moved out of the district. The average number of students receiving services at any given point during the school year was 230. Last year an Individualized Education Plan was developed for each student who required special education services. Each student’s Individualized Education Plan described the services and goals for the students during the current school year. Both special education teachers and regular education teachers were involved in professional development activities to align the Bucksport School curriculum and each student’s Individualized Education Plan with the Maine Learning Results. This initiative is a process the a will continue over the next two years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bucksport Community, Town Council, School Board, parents and students for their continued support. This is a community that values and supports the delivery of strong educational programming for all students. I would also like to thank all of the parents, teacher, educational technicians, administrators and support staff who participated in the 489 meetings held last year. Your support enriches the district as a whole.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Brady, Special Services Director
Revised: Cassandra Caton, 07/2000