Kiryas Joel, NY – As a result of its collaboration with state agencies, Kriyas Joel School District’s program for special needs students has made great strides, meeting the needs of over 400 special needs students currently, with a staff of 235, including 100 therapists.
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RECORDONLINE.com (http://bit.ly/THfg5s) reports that since state legislation forced the creation of a special needs program within the district 24 years ago, KJ”s special needs student enrollment has more than doubled, and has relocated from a pre-fab structure to 44,000 square-foot facility that accommodates students ranging in age from 3 to 21.
Since partnering with the state Education Department’s (NYSED) Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, school Principal Jehuda Halpern said the district has “significantly changed the culture and how we deal with behavioral issues.”
As one of the state’s designated school districts, NYSED’s spokesman Tom Dunn said KJ is benefiting from the program’s outreach which lends the assistance of behavioral specialists from one of the state’s 10 regional special education assistance centers.
“The behavior specialists from each center work with NYSED-designated school districts to establish and sustain positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) within those school districts,” Dunn said.
I am very happy for them they are making great strides in helping their children.
At the cost of millions and millions of dollars. These kids still do not learn secular subjects. Two of them attend school in Rhode Island for 97k each. They learn how to ski. It’s almost a 2-1 ratio of teacher to student, yet in the public schools, it’s 5-1 and the public school parents pay for KJ. So why are KJ classes so much smaller?
And why do so many KJ kids need special education compared to the rest of the country?
Honestly, I don’t agree with people reproaching this initiative. It’s cruel to deny these kids’ future just because they need a little more care to succeed in life. This program actually needs expansion since there are still many schools without decent approach to this matter. Special needs students are not that different from average kids. Any of them could apply now and get help with assignments they find hard do by themselves. And it’s ok, I’m sure in future these students will most definitely find jobs appropriate for them. Everyone deserves a chance in this life.