Derby schools are facing an influx of 3‑year-olds entering the district with severe special education needs.
As a result, the district is looking to expand its pre-school to create more spots for the students, who have autism and other developmental disabilities.
Thursday, the Board of Education will have to decide whether to hire a new pre-school teacher to help meet the needs.
The teacher would finish out the 2010-11 school year paid by a $25,000 federal grant. But in the 2011-12 school year it would be up to the district to fund the full-time position, according to Director of Special Education Lois Knapton.
Knapton said the district doesn’t have much choice.
“These kids are coming, and we are obligated to either send them out (to schools for children with special needs) or keep them in and get a new teacher,” Knapton said.
The cost of placing one student outside of the district could pay for one full-time teacher to work with several students in-district, Knapton said.
The district currently has two pre-school sessions — one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. At least half of each class is made up of special education students.
Knapton said next year special education enrollment will likely require another session be opened.
By June 2011, the district expects 17 special needs 3‑year-olds to enter the district.
The new pre-school teacher will help the program expand to offer “discrete trial instruction,” a specialized teaching method for students with autism, Knapton said.
Knapton said the teaching method helps autistic students learn skills through repetition.
“It’s very specific,” Knapton said. “Every skill is broken down in to bite-sized pieces.”
But it’s also very time-consuming and expensive.
