KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Know County Board of Education heard a report about KCS Way, an ongoing initiative from KCS to improve and enhance services provided to special education students and families, at a meeting on Monday.
The report was provided by Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Jason Myers.
The KCS Special Education Task Force provided a series of recommendations to the BOE in August. This report details three areas where significant steps have been taken.
Firstly, KCS created a Special Education Council, which includes former members of the task force to provide feedback related to Special Education efforts.
KCS also created a Student Success Leadership Council, which is meant to identify opportunities for meaningful improvements in all areas of the student success division, including support for English learners, whole-child programming and behavior support.
Both councils held their first meeting on Nov. 27 and will meet again on Dec. 13.
The district also partnered with ESS South Central LLC, a firm that provides special education support staff on a contract basis. The Special Education and Human Resources teams have worked with ESS to fill approximately 30 teacher assistant vacancies in district schools.
Lastly, the district created a new position to provide insight into the change process in the student success division. Chelsea Price was hired and will be responsible for looking at best practices. She most recently served as an attorney with the Held Law Firm and has already begun working for the district.
“Knox County Schools is committed to making our special education department a model for the entire state,” Myers said. “The actions we are announcing today were made possible by a team effort that includes families, educators, and administrators, and I’m very grateful for their efforts. Our work is only beginning, but I believe these steps demonstrate our focus on making tangible progress on behalf of special education students and families.”
