Parent Petitions for Co-Teaching Classrooms in Sewanhaka District

While every parent would like to see their child receive more individualized attention in the classroom, some students require the increased amount of assistance, such as those in special education programs. At the level, many special education classrooms are comprised of one teacher and one teaching assistant or aide in a self-contained classroom.  However, this is not always the case on the elementary level.

During the Tuesday, Nov. 23, monthly meeting of the Sewanhaka Board of Education at Sewanhaka High School, the parent of a sixth grader from Franklin Square asked if a "co-teaching" model classroom would be in place by the time her son reaches the high school level next year.

The co-teaching model involves having two certified teachers providing instruction in the same classroom at the same time.  "It's a special education model," Superintendent Warren Meierdiercks said, "we do not have that in our district at the present time; we do of course, have IEP's for our youngsters based upon their special needs."

In meeting to discuss his transition from the elementary level, the mother said there was no co-teaching classrooms and "no plans currently in place" to start such a program in the 2011-12 school year at H. Frank Carey, the school her son will be attending.  The Franklin Square elementary level has reportedly had the program in place for the past five years.  The woman asked the board to consider implementing the co-teaching program.  "He's been very successful in this model, he's made huge gains," the woman said.  "I find that my son has flourished in this program, which is approved under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act."

Meierdiercks said that while "there are no plans now" to introduce a co-teaching model at the high school level, "as part of our discussions as we go through the budget process, we will be taking a look at all programs and one of the things we'll be looking at is our special education programs including looking at a co-teaching model."

Every child that enters into the high school level with a classification is first reevaluated by special education personnel.  "Every youngster who comes in has a CSE (committee for special education) meeting and we re-evaluate how they did at the sixth grade level," Meierdiercks said. "We'll look at the plan that they have for the youngster at the sixth grade level and hopefully we come up with a plan that's going to meet the youngster's needs as they enter the seventh grade."