Email: meg@mybps.us 

Twitter: Follow @meg_bps 

 

I am pleased to share that Barnstable Public Schools is undertaking an effort to improve the effectiveness and equity of services for supporting struggling students both with and without special needs.

While we are proud of the quality of services provided to students with disabilities and the hard work of our staff who help all children achieve at high levels, ever-higher expectations require us to look for ways to further increase student learning and improve the way we deliver services to our students. The district has engaged the District Management Group, a Boston-based organization to assist with this project.

This systematic study will examine our current regular and special education services, programs, procedures, and staffing for serving struggling students through the use of quantitative (both in- district and benchmark district information) and qualitative data gathering (using focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and classroom observations). The review will also help the district understand how various categories of staff use their time as they serve struggling students. With this information, the district will be able to make thoughtful and informed decisions to ensure all of our students receive appropriate support.

The result should be a better picture of what is working well in the district, a better understanding of what the appropriate level of staff and services are, overall improved delivery of services to special education students and parents, and better utilization of district resources.

We are excited to be undertaking this study and appreciate your support in this process. I will be sure to keep you updated as the project achieves key milestones. In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions.

For more information: Contact me or the Executive Director of Special Education Jane Jezard at 508-862-4953 or via email at meg@mybps.us or jezard_jane@mybps.us.

Sincerely,
Meg