APS PEC interim director Constance Goodson (left) and executive director of Student Programs and Services Aaron Fernander (middle)
Atlanta Public Schools’ Program for Exceptional Children (PEC) rolled out its new inclusive school practices initiative that will be implemented over the next three years, to approximately 900 special education professionals during a system-wide training held Aug. 4-5 at Douglass High School.
PEC interim director Constance Goodson stated during her presentation, titled “Pathways to Systemic Change,” that the district will implement unified, system-wide inclusive school practices framework over a three-year period through intense professional development and teacher assessment. The term “inclusive practices” is the collection of organizational and instructional practices used by effective schools to educate a diverse student population, including students with disabilities in general education settings.
Also new this year: Every school will have a lead special education teacher who will coordinate logistics in collaboration with special education teacher, and all special education teachers will serve as case managers for their students. In addition, principals (or assistant principals at larger schools) will serve as the Local Education Agency Representative, which is required for every PEC student that participates in an Individualized Education Program.