For about half of their meeting last week, Waterville Board of Education members heard data and discussed the Special Education programs.
Katie Hansen, director of Special Programs for Waterville Central School District, went over the process for Individual Education Plans and 504 Plans, which are for students with physical conditions that need services.
Some of those, Hansen said, could be temporary, such as with a broken leg.
As of last week WCS had 128 students with disabilities.
These include hearing, vision and the biggest group, intellectual, Hansen said.
Because of early screening programs, the special needs of students are determined earlier.
That is why, Hansen said, the numbers of students in Pre-K who need special services, like speech and language, is rising.
Hansen said WCS is not alone in seeing the numbers increase, which in part is due to learning gaps created during the pandemic.
The breakdown of students is 46 at the elementary school, 40 in the Junior- Senior High, 29 who are in BOCES programs, 14 in Pre-K and four students awaiting placements.
Hansen said all placements are full because of the overall growing need.
“UCP opened a new classroom,’’ she said, “and it was full immediately.’’
The practice at WCS ...
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