Our Mission
The Schenectady City School District Special Education Department is a team of dedicated individuals working for the continuous improvement of education for all students.
Our mission is to promote and support an innovative educational environment where children with differing levels of abilities have equal access to educational opportunities consistent with the Federal IDEA and NYS regulations.
We will do this by:
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Collaborating with the school community to continually improve the educational opportunities available within and out of our schools that promote improved educational outcomes for children with disabilities in an effort for all to transition from school to higher education and/or work environments. We will do this in an effort to assist our students in becoming viable members of their community;
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Promoting an atmosphere where differences are accepted, valued and supported by the larger education system;
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Promoting communication within the Elementary, Middle and High schools to foster a sense of unity and understanding of the issues and solutions necessary to improve the effectiveness of the special education services within our school system;
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Providing Educational evaluations and interpretation of results for parents and teachers with recommendations for appropriate educational programming and placement;
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Providing educational opportunities to ensure that all students master their curriculum through the implementation of IDEA, NCLB, NYS Standards and the SCSD mission;
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Providing each student an opportunity to learn and progress in an inclusive environment to the maximum degree allowed by their unique educational needs;
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Creating supports to teachers and administrators in a caring workplace that fosters teamwork and personal and professional growth;
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Creating Cooperative partnerships with private agencies, colleges and universities in personnel preparation and staff development in the field of special education through internships, seminars, research projects and other professional development activities;
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Providing Consultative services for private and parochial schools to assist them in developing child identification procedures and an appropriate education program;
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Providing and promoting such services in a cost effective and efficient manner.