Special Education Support Services: Program Evaluation Report. No. 91-059.

Overview & Synopsis

Support services provided for special education in the Des Moines (Iowa) Independent Community School District (DMICSD) were evaluated. The context evaluation, input evaluation, process evaluation, product evaluation, and future planning of the support services are described. The DMICSD employs physical therapists, occupational therapists, adaptive physical education and itinerant vision teachers, speech-language pathologists, school social workers, and school psychologists through a contractual arrangement with Heartland Area Education Agency 11. These personnel provide services to students identified as needing special education, as well as to regular education students if needs arise. There are 3,610 special education students in the DMICSD, and an additional 837 not in special education programs receive services. The primary services include: (1) consultation; (2) assessment; (3) counseling; (4) direct or indirect therapy; (5) educational or behavioral interventions; (6) follow-up assessment; (7) parent/teacher education; and (8) referrals to community agencies. Staffs submit monthly reports, and annual summaries are sent to the State Department of Education. The use of district norms for curriculum based assessment and the Behavior Rating Scale has resulted in better monitoring and more integration of students in regular education. Plans are underway to improve and expand services while increasing collaboration with regular education and community agencies. (SLD)