Paterson expands special-education programs at two schools

What happened

Paterson is expanding its in-district specialized education programs at Dale Avenue School and Norman S. Weir School for students whose individualized education plans require intensive support. The district says the added capacity is intended to serve more students locally and reduce reliance on out-of-district placements.

Why it matters to families

About 130 students were awaiting placements in learning and multiple-disabilities programs. The expansion may allow some students to receive specialized instruction closer to home, while easing costly out-of-district placements; individual placement decisions remain based on each student's IEP.

The evidence

At the Sept. 9 workshop, the assistant superintendent for special education described the district-operated Public Separate program at Dale Avenue and Norman S. Weir as expanding. The district reported 194 self-contained classrooms and 16 more pending approval (154 elementary and 40 high school), an expanded moderate-disabilities/autism program, and 14 moderate-disabilities classrooms for students moving up grades. It said 18 students were potential candidates to return from out-of-district placements, which cost about $2.5 million for tuition and aides; those returns were not described as final.

The source