The current trends in Special Education best practices have evolved and even come full circle. One hundred years ago, students with disabilities were educated in their local school, by their neighbors with their peers. They were a part of the community from the time they entered into education to the time they exited. As years past, the same students were “pulled out” first into separate classes and then into separate schools, even separate towns. Over the past decade, the pattern of separate schooling became clearly unequal. Students were being educated miles from their homes, outside of their communities with challenging accountability to the local education association.
In March of 2009, Plainfield Schools Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Gallon III established a task force of stakeholders to identify a target population(s) of students currently being taught in (or expected to be taught in) Out of District Schools; and design a realistic, comparable program in district to meet their education needs as determined by their education plans. This charge allowed the District to embrace the mantra “all children should be educated at home with their peers receiving a quality education.” To that end, the Plainfield Public Schools has embarked on a model of continued movement towards expanding special education programs to meet the needs of all students.
For the 2009-2010 school year, three programs were expanded. These programs were Autistic, Multiple Disabilities, and Behavior Disabilities. Four schools now have programs and students that were previously served by Out of District Schools. The expanded programs reach not only the immediate students they serve but impact all of the children in the building. A greater understanding of individual learning differences has been fostered at Hubbard Middle School as a newly expanded class of students took the stage during the winter concert. An interaction that had never happened before now occurs every day as Kindergarteners from all classes join their peers with Autism during daily story time together. The “home school advantage” can be seen each time a child that previously traveled an hour each way to school is embraced by their neighborhood peers.
An additional benefit to the home school is the fiscal gain realized by the district. The 2009-2010 school year saw an increase of 35 pupils in the 4 expanded special education programs in The Plainfield Public Schools. This increase represents an estimated $1,750,000 dollars in tuition returned to In-District programs. Transportation costs are also reduced and all students benefit from enhanced school services.
Plainfield Public Schools students are being educated in their home district, money is returning to the district and a continuum of services is growing. These represent three compelling reasons to complete this circle of Special Education. Exemplary services at home for all students is the goal of the Plainfield Public Schools and is one that the District is committed to and a goal that makes the job of educating children worth having.
