Greenville County Schools Revamping Special Education Services

News Summary

Greenville County Schools is launching a review of its special education services to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. The district invites community feedback through forums and a virtual discussion. With a high graduation rate of 66.5% for students with disabilities, the district is committed to enhancing its programs and services, including budgeting for mental health counselors and addressing recruitment challenges for special education teachers.

Greenville County Schools Revamping Special Education: Your Chance to Weigh In!

Hey, Greenville! Exciting news is coming straight from the heart of our school district. Greenville County Schools is on a mission to improve special education services for students with disabilities, and they want to hear from you!

A Closer Look at the Review Process

The district kicked off a strategic review of its special education services back in January. This thorough examination, known as the Shared Ownership Review Process, is all about creating better outcomes for students who need individualized support. Feedback is key, and the school district is dedicated to collecting input from every corner of the community.

Getting Involved: Forums for Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians of students with individualized education plans, get ready to roll up your sleeves! Four in-person forums are planned just for you. Moderated by the dynamic Deb Sofield, these forums are your opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences. Mark your calendars! Each session runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is limited to 70 participants.

To secure your spot, be sure to register online before the deadline on April 24. And if you’re curious about what others have to say, a summary of survey responses is already available on the Greenville County Schools website. Knowledge is power, after all!

Open Discussions for Everyone

But wait, there’s more! In addition to the forums specifically for special education, two public forums will also be held to gather input from parents of general education students and the whole community. If attending in-person isn’t an option for you, don’t fret! A virtual public forum is scheduled for May 13 from noon to 1:30 p.m.. Just make sure to register online by April 24 to join the discussion, no matter how you choose to attend!

The Numbers Tell a Story

66.5%. That’s great news, but let’s keep aiming higher! With over 12,500 students with disabilities currently enrolled, the district understands there’s always room for improvement.

Last year, the district spent more than $114 million on special education, which is staggering. That funding is growing at twice the rate of general education funding, highlighting just how important these services are. Everyone knows supporting our kids takes resources, and that’s exactly what they are committed to doing.

Looking to the Future

As part of the review, the district is also considering an external review of its special education services to learn from best practices in other districts. The last comprehensive review took place back in April 2014, and a compliance review followed in April 2018. With the landscape always changing, it’s crucial to keep up with the needs of our students.

Recruiting and retaining special education teachers is another area where the district is facing challenges. They want to make sure that staff understands their roles in supporting students with disabilities effectively.

Budgeting for Better Services

As the largest school district in the state, Greenville County Schools services around 80,000 students and employs roughly 11,000 staff members. The proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year is approximately $947.8 million, which represents a $25 million increase from the previous year. Within this budget, there are exciting plans to include new mental health counselors and state-mandated raises for teachers and non-teaching staff.

The ultimate goal? Enhancing the ability of the district to serve all students, especially those with disabilities. It’s all hands on deck as we move forward, and the district is eager to see what the community has to say. Let’s come together and help shape the future of education in Greenville!

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Additional Resources

• Greenville Journal: Greenville County Schools Forums
• WYFF4: Special Education Review
• Greenville Online: Proposed Budget for 2025-26
• Fox Carolina: Special Education Report
• Kidding Around Greenville: Special Needs Guide
• Wikipedia: Special Education
• Google Search: Special Education
• Google Scholar: Special Education Funding
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Special Education
• Google News: Greenville County Schools Special Education