Special education departments in Bellingham, Lynnfield, and Milton have recently contracted with Walker Partnerships for district-wide special education program evaluations, to be conducted in September and October. West Boylston Public Schools has also contracted with Walker Partnerships for a Title I grant evaluation, scheduled for this September.
Walker Partnerships program evaluations are designed to identify the strengths of existing special education programming and services within a district as well as those program and service areas that need to be enhanced and further developed. These program evaluations can be site-specific or district-wide. They are uniquely tailored to each specific district and are issued-focused to provide action steps that will lead to sustainable improvements and, often, cost savings.
At the completion of the evaluation, clients will receive a detailed evaluation report that provides student data comparisons with similar school districts, financial analysis of special education expenditures, trend line data on student needs, areas of professional development that need to be addressed, current utilization of paraprofessionals, and other information critical to programmatic planning and budgeting. And each recommendation is supported with a detailed explanation that can help build consensus through discussion among all stakeholders.
“The report has become a guide to the next steps in the district for both program development and professional development” said Terri Hamm, Director of Student Service, Old Rochester Regional School District.
The evaluation report can serve as a blueprint for administrators of special education to map out short- and long-range plans for building the capacity to serve more students within the district and, in many cases, facilitating the return of students from out-of-district placement.
John Brackett, Superintendent of Sudbury Public Schools, recently noted that “In the three years since receiving the report, we have implemented many of the report’s recommendations and believe our special education department is the better for it.”
Walker Partnerships has conducted nearly 70 district-wide special education program evaluations, specific program evaluations, and federal-grant-funded program evaluations since September 2004. Cost of these program evaluations are based on Walker Partnerships rate structured for on-site time of $160.00 per hour and off-site time of $100.00 per hour with $125.00 per hour for travel time and expense.
For further information regarding a district-wide or program-specific evaluation, please contact Jim Earley at jearley@walkerschool.org or 781-292-2178.
