• Special Class Services

    Special Class Services, also called “self-contained,” means a class consisting of students with disabilities who have been grouped together because of similarity of individual needs for the purpose of receiving specially designed instruction in a self-contained setting, the students primary instruction are separate from their non-disabled peers outside of a general educaiton classroom.  

     
    In RCSD these classes may have from 6 to 12 students in them with one special education teacher and one teacher assistant or paraprofessional. The classroom may have more paraprofessionals assigned to it based on student need as documented on the IEP. If your child requires more intensive and constant adult supervision in order to learn, he or she will be recommended for a more intensive student-to-­staff ratio.
     
    The Committee on Special Education determines the special class ratio following NYSED guidelines:
    • The maximum class size for special classes containing students whose management needs interfere with the instructional process, to the extent that an additional adult is needed within the classroom to assist in the instruction of such students, cannot exceed 12 students, with one or more supplementary school personnel assigned to each class during periods of instruction (12:1+1).   The class may have additional paraprofessionals based on student need and as outlined on the IEP.
    • The maximum class size for special classes containing students whose management needs are determined to be highly intensive, and requiring a high degree of individualized attention and intervention, cannot exceed six students, with one or more supplementary school personnel assigned to each class during periods of instruction (6:1+1).  The class may have additional paraprofessionals based on student need and as outlined on the IEP.
    • The maximum class size for special classes containing students whose management needs are determined to be intensive, and requiring a significant degree of individualized attention and intervention, cannot exceed eight students, with one or more supplementary school personnel assigned to each class during periods of instruction (8:1+1).  In RCSD a part time school social worker supports our behavior intensive 8:1+1 classes.
    • The maximum class size for those students with severe multiple disabilities, whose programs consist primarily of habilitation and treatment, shall not exceed 12 students. In addition to the teacher, the staff/student ratio shall be one staff person to three students.  The additional staff may be teachers, supplementary school personnel and/or related service providers (12:1 + (3:1)).