Special Education

Reopening Plan Main Page

The District’s reopening plan, whether services are provided in-person, remote and/or through a hybrid model, must address the provision of free appropriate public education consistent with the need to protect the health and safety of students with disabilities and those providing special education and services.

All special education students will be provided their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) recommended programs and related services through either live or virtual instruction to the greatest extent possible (depending on the specific needs of the student).

  • The Bethlehem Central School District reopening plan allows for all K-12 Skills and Intensive Skills classes to receive in-person instruction daily.
  • Elementary K-5 students with IEPs will receive in-person instruction daily. Students will be appropriately distanced and will be following their IEPs to the greatest extent possible. Services will be pushed into classrooms, to maintain smaller cohorts of students and to reduce movement in the building. Grade 6 will also be in daily, with some modifications to their general education schedules.  Grade 7-12 will do an A/B (n an “A” Day or “B” Day-type rotation) schedule.
  • Families requesting remote or hybrid classes will be accommodated.

The school reopening plan must address meaningful parent engagement in the parent’s preferred language or mode of communication regarding the provision of services to his/her child to meet the requirements of the IDEA.

Regardless of whether Special Education services are provided on site, hybrid or remotely, effective communication between the family and the CSE/District must occur. This will be done by:

  • Continuation of all CSE/CPSE meetings occurring remotely through video conferencing.
  • Communication with parents in their preferred language with ongoing documentation of outreach efforts.
  • Working closely with families (using all modes of communication) to communicate the District’s efforts to provide services and evaluations within established timelines, in order to follow the student’s IEP and necessary referrals to CSE for evaluations.
  • The District is planning a series of parent forums to explain the District’s reopening plan and allow parents the opportunity to ask questions that we can respond to.

The school reopening plan must address the collaboration between the committees on preschool special education (CPSE) and committee on special education (CSE) and program providers representing a variety of settings where students are served to ensure there is an understanding of the provisions of services consistent with the recommendations on individualized education plans (IEPs), plans for monitoring and communicating student progress, and commitment to sharing resources.

  • All members of the committee on special education and committee on preschool special education, including Albany County, will work collaboratively to ensure that programming is provided (on-site, hybrid remotely) to all special education students to the greatest extent possible.
  • The members of the CSE will work with their colleagues to ensure that materials and content are accessible, that accommodations and assistive technology is provided when/where needed, that materials are adapted and modified so all students with disabilities can access their program as well as general education curriculum where participation is recommended.

The school reopening plan must ensure access to necessary accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids and services and technology (including assistive technology) to meet the unique disability-related needs of students. 

  • The delivery of all special education services will be provided to our staff, students and families by making all materials and services accessible, modified in accordance with the student IEP or 504 plan.

The school reopening plan must address how it will document the programs and services offered and provided to students with disabilities as well as communication with parents in their preferred language or mode of communication.

The reopening plan will document the programs and services offered to students and their families in their preferred language or mode of communication.

  • Using Frontline, a student’s IEP and 504 plans will be accessible and available for translation services if needed.
  • Distance Learning Plans, or a comparable format, will be utilized to document alternate arrangements for the provision of special education programs and services when current circumstances require adjustments.

Delivery of Special Education Services by Grade Level

K-5

Related Services

  • Cluster students in the same cohort; Pull cohort or push into classroom.

Resource Room

  • Cluster students in the same cohort; Pull cohort or push into classroom.

Co-Teach/DCT

  • Co-teach in the classroom.

Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

Intensive Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

BCMS Grade 6

Related Services

  • Cluster students in the same cohort; Pull cohort or push into classroom.

Resource Room

  • Scheduled as part of one of the student’s eight class periods.

Co-Teach/DCT

  • Co-teach in the classroom.

Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

Intensive Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

Grades 7-12 (Last Name A-K)

Related Services

  • Scheduled during a free class or 1:1 virtually on a home day.

Resource Room

  • Alternating in-person instruction and remote instruction.

Co-Teach/DCT

  • Alternating in-person instruction and remote instruction.

Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

Intensive Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

Grades 7-12 (Last Name L-Z)

Related Services

  • Scheduled during a free class or 1:1 virtually on a home day.

Resource Room

  • Alternating in-person instruction and remote instruction.

Co-Teach/DCT

  • Alternating in-person instruction and remote instruction.

Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

Intensive Skills

  • All students receive in-person instruction five days/week.

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