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The goal of the DoDEA Special Education Initiative is to provide educational improvements in the area of staffing, curriculum, professional development, and equipment. The plan is in place and the implementation of DoDEA’ s Special Education Initiative has begun. 

In an effort to enhance existing services and programs, DoDEA performed a system-wide review of its special education services. The review focused on the four major components of a quality program: resources, curricula, related services, and facilities. The review provided valuable feedback and called for additional resources for students with moderate to severe disabilities.

Fifty-six point five million dollars have been allocated to support the special education initiative. The key features of this initiative support the following areas:  staffing, purchasing of materials and furniture, training, and assistive technology.

In the area of staffing, the initiative provides for hiring assessment personnel to lead the assessment process and hiring clerical support to assist the assessors. The role of the new assessor for Learning Impaired and Communication Impaired students is to focus on assessment and on collaborative activities with the Case Study Committee.

Additionally, the paraprofessional’s work schedule has been extended to provide time for collaboration and instructional planning. The additional hours for paraprofessional and the support from the assessment team allow the special educator more time to focus on collaborative activities and instruction, with less time spent on assessment.

Material and Furniture will be purchased to provide age appropriate material and furniture for preschool and moderate to severe classrooms. Appliances will be purchased to support life skills curriculum and specialized equipment for students with physical disabilities. Literacy materials to support DoDEA Reads Initiative for students with mild disabilities will be provided  

Training will be provided to special educators, assessors, paraprofessionals, and general educators. Parents of children with disabilities, administrators, and liaisons will also receive training in the area of special education. 

In the area of Assistive Technology, the establishment of lending libraries to support a student’s assistive technology needs is part of the special education initiative. Purchase of assistive technology software, devices, and materials for preschool and moderate to severe programs is planned. 

The DoDEA Special Education Initiative is a bold and enterprising effort to bring special education services to new levels of excellence by providing additional staffing, materials, training, furniture, and assistive technology.

For more information about the DODEA Special Education Initiative, contact your school's administrator.