Hollister
– The Hollister School District will pilot a program developed
by southern California educators that would restructure both
special education and regular classrooms and could significantly
alter the way students throughout the county are taught at
school.
Hollister – The Hollister School District will pilot a program developed by southern California educators that would restructure both special education and regular classrooms and could significantly alter the way students throughout the county are taught at school.
“I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen,” said Don Knapp, principal at Rancho San Justo Middle School, one of the school sites that may try out the program. “So now it’s a matter of getting information out to our teachers and seeing if they can get behind it.”
HSD has been considering the ExCel model since late February, in light of the fact that $2.7 million of the district’s general fund is spent on special education, and roughly 800 students are enrolled in at least one form of special education programming or another, whether they have a learning disorder and have trouble keeping up or are more severely handicapped.
Moreover, special education class sizes are larger than ever and fewer and fewer students are able to transition back into regular education programs. Educators are hoping this new program might help the cash-strapped district use its resources more effectively while making sure special students are able to make the most of their education.
“I think a lot of teachers are worried about not being able to reach students at all levels,” said Cheryl Rios, a HSD Speech Therapist who has visited schools using the ExCel model. “And a program like this would help every student become engaged because they’re able to do the work at their level.”
The program, which HSD hopes to rename ASSET, Assuring Student Success in Every Team, seeks to integrate as many special education students as are able into a regular classroom during most of the day, and then split all students up for study of particular subjects by how much extra help they require – regardless of whether or not they are enrolled in special education.
“I think this is a good move for the district because it allows us to reach students who need special education level help but haven’t been identified yet,” said Rios. “I’m excited that the board has been supportive of this and I hope that enthusiasm continues in the future.”
For example, a class of 30 students could be split up according to skill level when it’s time to study math in order to receive individual attention and move at their own pace, and then return to their normal classroom setting to study a different subject.
“We’re really excited about anything we can do to mainstream our special education students into the regular program,” said Christine White, Calaveras School principal.
The board voted unanimously in late March to hire educators from the Hesperia School District, where the program was first developed, to visit Hollister and train local teachers in the ExCel method. Calaveras and Rancho San Justo have both expressed interest in trying a small scale version of the program next year – Rancho is considering using the model for 6th grade math and Calaveras might use it for fourth and fifth grade reading.
“Our classes are extremely big,” said White. “This is a good way to use our resources and give students that small class attention.”
ExCel training for two school sites will cost HSD $12,400, but champions of the program say the cost is insubstantial compared to the benefits that students reap.
“This program has worked wonderfully well in other districts, and it’s almost without cost,” said HSD Trustee Dee Brown. “There are no materials to buy, it’s just about utilizing every staff member effectively… this doesn’t just target students who aren’t performing well or English learner, it has something to offer everyone.”
Hesperia School District says that schools who adopt the program report better test scores for all students, regardless of special education. status, grade, culture or socio-economic background. In addition, more students at these schools are exiting their special education classes and succeeding in regular classrooms.
For more information on the ExCel model, visit http://www.hesperia.org/ Excel/index.htm
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
ds****@fr***********.com
