Transcript Improving the Graduation Rate for Students with

Improving the Graduation Rate
for Students with Disabilities
Receiving Regents Diplomas
Vera A. Gallagher & Mark Secaur
Oceanside Union Free School District
Presenter Information
 Vera A. Gallagher- Supervisor of Special Education
[email protected]
 Mark Secaur- Principal
[email protected]
Oceanside High School
 South Shore Nassau County
 2000 students
 Predominately middle class
 Demographic Information
 87% Caucasian
 9% Hispanic
 9% Students with
Disabilities
 Special Education Philosophy
The Age of Accountability
NCLB
APPR
Value Added
Etc.
What about the student?
Why is a Regents Diploma important?
• Life lessons
o
Hard work
o
Perseverance
o
Facing challenges
• Greater chance of success at
post-secondary level
• Self-esteem
• Employability
Data, Data, Data
Percent of Graduates with Disabilities
Who Earn a Regents Diploma
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
+
=
What is the equation?
Lay the Groundwork
 Identify the students
 Believe!
 Enlist the help of the “village”
o
o
o
o
Counselors
Teachers
Parents
Administration
The Strategy
 Develop plan for each student
 Create schedules/determine
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staffing needs
Hire certified teachers as subs
Provide short-term, intense 1:1
or small group instruction
Oversee interventions directly
Provide optimum testing
environment
Intervention Options
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Parent Meeting
Parent Call
Student meeting
Attendance Counselor
Discussion with teacher
Child Study Team
Skills Classes
Intensive tutoring in Resource
Centers
Able, Intelligent Minds (AIM)
mentoring program

Liberty Partnership

Preparation For Regents classes
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Component retesting
Summer School
Night School
Extra Help
Group Counseling
Social Worker/Psychologist
involvement
Associate Principal
involvement
504 plan
Castleton Alternative HS
Oceanside Learning Center
Students in Jeopardy
Student
Smith, John
Counselor
Mesquita
Concern

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Grades (Brit.
Lit.,
Economics,
Marine
Science)
Attendance
Emotional
issues
Interventions

Follow up
1,3,4,6,9,18, 19 
referred to
outside
counseling
(met w/

Psychologist,
Social Worker
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Jones, Susan
Mesquita
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Grades (US
Government,
Economics
Attendance
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1,2,4,6,9,16,18
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Closely
following her
attendance and
progress
Confirmed
counseling
Met with
Associate
Principal on
3/21
Will meet with
Principal 5/20
Meeting w/
student
frequently and
checking in w/
teachers
Parent Meeting
scheduled for
5/18
Essential Factors
 Shared Vision
 Sincerity of Purpose
 Positive Relationships
 Consistent Communication
 Follow up
Next Steps….
 Determine Optimal Times
for Interventions
 Focus on Student Mastery
 Identify the Most
Successful Staff &
Strategies