Regional education program focuses on inclusion process

Staff Writer

By dave benjamin

Regional education program
focuses on inclusion process

ENGLISHTOWN — Funding costs of $1,500 and permission have been granted by the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education for staff members to participate in the Regional Professional Development Academy.

The program, "Professional Develop-ment Programs for Personnel Working with Children with Disabilities," is sponsored by the Monmouth-Ocean Education-al Services Commission and began July 1.

"This program presents us with opportunities for training sessions throughout the year," said Helene Unger, the district’s director of pupil personnel services. "It provides us with a lot of training opportunities and materials we can give to the staff."

Georgian Court College, Lakewood, and 14 school districts will join hands to implement the Collaboration, Awareness, Reinforcement, Evaluation program (CARE) that will develop a Regional Professional Development Academy for administrators, teachers, staff and parents in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

"The topic they’re going through this year is the inclusive education process and it’s a lot of work in helping teachers and administrators understand and implement inclusion programs throughout the state," Unger said. "There will be members from universities on the panel and experts in the field to give materials."

Speaking at a recent meeting of the board, Unger said participants received packets of materials at the first session which they will in turn use to help teachers in the fall.

The goals of the program include increasing the number of pupils with moderate to severe disabilities in regular education classes; increasing the number of educators working with pupils who have disabilities; providing skills for regular teachers, special education teachers, professional support staff and parents; and providing an opportunity to share experiences and strengths while refining inclusion strategies.

As a result of the program it is expected that schools and communities will receive skill enhancement opportunities, understanding of disabilities and instructional practices that will help to increase the number of students with disabilities in regular classrooms; increase the number of students with disabilities participating in standardized testing; improve communication and planning between regular and special education teachers; and have an impact on the number of regular education teachers participating in inclusion classrooms.

The program also aims to improve the students academically, socially and emotionally.

"It’s state-of-the-art and cutting edge by people who work with the state Department of Education," Unger told board members. "They are involved in the assessment process and they know what school districts have to do."

It is expected that the comprehensive program will aim to have 12 training sessions per month which will be spread throughout both counties. Six skill areas will be explored at the training session: academic instruction and best practices, social and emotional development; academic achievement and assessment; workforce readiness and the core curriculum content standards; parent and family involvement; and tolerance, awareness and sensitivity.

The programs will use classroom instruction, distance learning, video and library resources and informal peer mentoring session. It is expected that these learning opportunities will be used by Monmouth and Ocean County school district administrators to maximize the inclusion programs in their schools.