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Shall we SAILS away on the WAVE?

An explanation of the redesign of LID programming for grades K-8

Presentation for Parent Support Group

Tuesday, March 10

A brief history of DISD Special Education programming

Low Incidence Disabilities

•Life Skills Class

•START

•IMPACT

•SLC

•WAVE

•WAVE 18+

High Incidence Disabilities

•Resource class

•Content Mastery

•Academic Coach

•STRIVE

•Instructional Support (IS)

•Inclusion support in General Ed (IS or PASS or SLC)

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The only thing constant is change…

• New research = changes in methodology• New laws = changes in practice, procedures• New Personnel = new ideas

Back in the day….

Self contained for everything

Pendulum swings

Inclusion for everything

Happy medium

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DISD has a long history of “naming” our special education programs

So what is in a name?

• So how does SLC + IMPACT = equal = SAILS ?

• Previously…• IMPACT was heavily focused on functional life skills using task analysis

methodology and community based instruction.

• SLC was heavily focused on academic skills using ABA and structured TEACH methodology.

• Six years ago…• we made a strategic decision to cross train IMPACT and SLC teachers, as

students in both programs needed aspects of the other.• ABA training summer camp + life skills + 10 Critical Components

• Now, all SLC and IMPACT teachers follow the 10 Critical Components.

• Two years ago, we merged SLC and IMPACT at the high school and renamed it WAVE = woven academics & vocational education = to reflect the change in philosophy (academics + vocation) as well as the methodology (everyone using the 10 CC’s)

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Now it is time to adjust our elementary, middle, and junior high programs

• The federal government ruled that ALL students must participate in standardized academic tests

• The requirement to address functional life skills still remains

• Thus… we are keeping the Structured Academics part from SLC and

• The Life Skills part of IMPACT…

To become……SAILS

Structured Academics Integrated Life Skills

Students will attend class on their zoned campus. (No more transporting students to only HRES or SLES for IMPACT).

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Structured Academics Integrated Life Skills

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What are the 10 Critical Components?

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We should expect some growing pains…

• It took us two years to iron out the scheduling concerns when we did this with WAVE at the high school.

• We predict that there will be some adjustments we have to make at elementary, middle and junior high as well.

• Teams are already meeting to make plans. We are currently in the process of mapping every SLC and IMPACT student K-6 to their zoned campus.

• Students at HRES and SLES who have attended for 3+ years (and entering 4th grade for the 2015-16 school year) will be able to request to stay at that campus.

• Questions??

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THANK YOU!

• The parent support we receive greatly enhances the quality of programs we are able to provide.

• We have formed a Parent Advisory Committee – Kate Sanger is the co-chair….please feel free to contact her or Laurie Rodriguez if you have questions, suggestions or ideas. We want to hear from you!

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