Encinitas
Union School District EUSD presented with special education report Kim Epler ENCINITAS - The board of trustees of the Encinitas Union School District heard a report Tuesday on the status of special- education programs in the district. Beverly Barrett, director of pupil personnel services, presented an overview of pro- grams, results of parent and staff surveys, and plans for the department. Ten percent to 12 percent of the district's 5,000 students - about 600 children - receive special-education services, she said. The students' needs range from speech and language classes to full-time placement in pro- grams for autistic or severely handicapped children. The greatest growth in the district has been in the Other Health Impairment category, which includes children with attention deficit disorder and autism. Barrett showed trustees results of a survey returned by 130 parents of special-education students. About 90 percent approved of the services and education their child received. Barrett, said there are still concerns about communication between parents and the district and the process in which a child's individual learning pro- gram is developed. There also is a need to hire additional, qualified personnel to work with special-education children, she said. Throughout the nation, districts are having a difficult time finding teachers who are trained to work with special- needs students, Superintendent Doug DeVore said. Barrett also talked about forming a committee of parents and special-education teachers to look at issues surrounding special education and the district's programs. Several parents and special- education teachers were at the meeting. |