Special Ed teachers......

I teach high school health and yesterday my school added all the 12:1:1 students into my regular classes (4 in one class and 6 in another). It was explained to me that self-contained students are required to take electives (which health is not because it is a graduation requirement) and because I am not a core subject I do not need a special education co-teacher with me and I do not qualify for a paraprofessional because I don't have all 12 students in one class. They said I could ask around the special ed department to see if anyone would be willing to give up a prep to help me. Does this sound right?
I have asked to push into self-contained in the past to teach a health class exclusively at their level so this is not about not wanting to work with 12:1:1 students. I just find it a little hard to believe that I would be responsible to differentiate instruction with that kind of spread without help. Does this happen in your schools and can you give me any advice to make it work.

Re: Special Ed teachers......

Im a school psychologist, and absolutely students in such a ratio are in gen ed health, technology, etc. They are only required to be in special class for the subjects on their iep and every child should be included as much as feasible with the gen ed population for so many reasons.

A special ed teacher will help the health teacher to differentiate instruction. We've also had some students do it as pass/fail if it was challenging. Lastly, if our resources allow, our building would send in an aide or ta to help provide more support to the students during the class time. This does not 'need' to be done legally but it's a nice support.

Having said that, if you truly feel that any student (on an individual basis) cannot do your class,then you should speak with whomever oversees the cse meetings and perhaps alternate classes need to be considered.

Re: Special Ed teachers......

One point of clarification I may have missed! Are the students alternately assessed or taking the same nys assessments (ie regents) as everyone else?

If they are alternately assessed in their ieps, then you may have a leg to stand on to say that they need a specially-designed program.

Re: Special Ed teachers......

My school is entirely special ed so I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that if the ratio says 12-1-1 it must be maintained throughout the day unless it says differently on the IEP.

Re: Special Ed teachers......

There is a section of the IEP titled "participation with students without disabilities "
Maybe see what it says for your students.
This is what twp of my student 's IEP read.

FOR THE SCHOOL-AGE STUDENT:

Explain the extent, if any, to which the student will not participate in regular class, extracurricular and other nonacademic activities (e.g., percent of the school day and/or specify particular activities):

STUDENT'S cognitive, speech and emotional delays are too severe for him to be with the general education setting.

Another Student's IEP said :

STUDENT 2 can participate in extracurricular and other non-academic activities with his mandated supports in place.



If the student is not participating in a regular physical education program, identify the extent to which the student will participate in specially-designed instruction in physical education, including adapted physical education:

STUDENT will participate in Adaptive Physical Education to address global delays and social emotional delays.

EXEMPTION FROM LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH DIPLOMA REQUIREMENT:
No Yes - The Committee has determined that the student's disability adversely affects his/her ability to learn a language and recommends the student be exempt from the language other than English requirement.

Special Ed teachers......

When I taught self-contained (12:1:1 ratio) the students were mainstreamed for art, music, gym, and health. There were no co-teachers or paras. The art teacher (or whichever teacher) would consult with the special ed. teacher on an as needed basis.

Special Ed teachers......

Thanks everyone