ABA-Public School-Request

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SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA ITEM Agenda Item No. IV.B.3.

Prepared: November 26, 2003 New Business: December 4, 2003 Action:

December 18, 2003

Staff Contact: Brad Draeger, Chief Academic Officer (Acting)

SUBJECT: Alternative for Students with Autism

RECOMMENDATION:

That the School Board authorize the Superintendent to commit certain

resources and to take

certain immediate actions to support establishment of an Applied

Behavior Analysis (ABA)

program alternative for students with autism, to include the following:

.. create an ABA program position;

.. retain the short-term assistance of expert consultants and leading

public school

ABA administrators, acceptable to both Fairfax County Public Schools

(FCPS) and

Parents of Autistic Children's Education (PACE), to aid in defining

the appropriate

management and components of a new ABA program and to assist in

selecting a

suitable administrator; and

.. request an Alternative Staffing Plan authorization from the Virginia

Department of

Education allowing FCPS to operate an ABA program with a 10:1

student-to-teacher

ratio.

EXPLANATION:

When the School Board voted on November 20, 2003, to not approve the

PACE charter

school application, the School Board noted an apparent need to augment

services provided to

students with autism. Accordingly, it directed the Superintendent and

staff to work with PACE

to develop a program providing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

options to interested

parents for the 2004-05 school year. Designated PACE representatives

and staff have been

meeting and have identified certain fundamental requirements of the

proposed ABA

alternative, specifically that:

.. therapeutic and instructional approaches used should incorporate

methods established

as effective by validated scientific research (e.g., B. F. Skinner's

analysis of Verbal

Behavior);

.. adequate time must be allowed to permit careful design and

implementation of the

proposed program;

.. certain commitments by FCPS and PACE must be made immediately to

assure that

program development proceeds on a technically sound, expeditious basis;

.. implementation and operation of the program by FCPS should be led

internally by an

expert certified in the ABA approach, to assure appropriate technical

and managerial

direction;

.. aide FCPS and PACE in the development of an ABA alternative program

by consultation

with a mutually agreeable panel of outside ABA experts and leading

public school ABA

program administrators. Their input also could aid in the selection of

an FCPS

administrator;

.. cost-feasibility of the proposed ABA alternative is dependent on the

state's approval, as

authorized under the state's special education regulations, of a

Modified Staffing Plan

permitting a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio;

.. parents of students with autism and FCPS, alike, should pursue such

authorization;

.. PACE and FCPS should take such immediate steps as are necessary to

carry out the

foregoing.

The recommended School Board actions implement FCPS' participation to

date as outlined

above.

The FY 2004 cost of the proposed ABA program position would be

approximately $35,000,

including benefits and supporting costs. Annual salary and benefits

would be about $81,000,

depending on the actual position-level required. Consultant and expert

administrator travel

costs, expenses, and consulting fees (where applicable) would add an

estimated $33,000 to

these 2004 costs. Thus, the School Board is asked to commit a total of

approximately $68,000

to this initiative at this time.

A Student Services Committee work session is scheduled for December 8,

2003, to discuss this

initiative. Additional program details and cost estimates for FY 2005

will be provided at that

time.

ALTERNATIVE:

None

Site: http://www.fcps.edu/ss/ABA/index.htm