Student Experience

Bethel Park Schools have a long history of being best-in-class for special education.  Many families have moved here to benefit from the excellent education and services that we provide.  We are proud to support our students, parents and administration in continuing to deliver exceptional education for our exceptional students.  Here is a summary of the approach that the Bethel Park School District has taken with our support to address the needs of special education programs.

The school district institutes its behavioral health services with a tiered approach. Our five elementary buildings are staffed by a social worker at each elementary school as well as one site based therapist that handles the student cases for all locations. The Student Assistance Program (SAP) operates at each elementary building and consists of the social worker, an instructional support teacher, the building administrator, and the Director of Student Support Services. At many elementary buildings there are other teachers and paraprofessionals that are a part of the team as well.

The tiered approach used above is also at the MS and HS and include school counselors and TEAMS room staff.  Additional support is provided for through a partnership with Auberle, a local SAP provider. There is one liaison at the K-4 level and one liaison at the 5th-12th grade level. Auberle also provides two site based therapists that are a part of the program as well.

In addition to the support discussed above, the tier 1 strategy at the elementary buildings includes the inclusion of the Second Step program, a social and emotional learning program that is research based. This program is implemented by the social workers with their regular and special education teaching colleagues. This program is meant to teach students about themselves and others and how they interact across the five competencies of the CASEL framework. Social workers push into the classrooms to implement this research based program. The frequency of this push in varies but is typically between once per week to once every other week.

Bethel Park School District has a history of inclusion, for the last 4 years our inclusive itinerant number (more than 80% included) has been greater than the state. average.  Based on the 2021-2022 Special Education Data Report, most recently 65.8% of special education students are included 80% or more of their school day, which is 4% higher than the state average. Demonstrating that we are striving for inclusion within our school district and meeting the state targets.

Bethel Park School District ensures that services are provided to children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment including opportunities for interaction with non-disabled peers during the school day and in extracurricular school activities. IEP teams follow the special education process outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Chapter 14 of the Pennsylvania State Code. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed to address the individualized needs of the student, including special considerations and present education levels. Annual goals and objectives, specially designed instruction, and all supports and related services are designed to meet the individual student needs. Lastly, appropriate educational placement is discussed and offered through the Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP).

The district also provides the needed support and resources including specialized transportation, if necessary, to support the participation of children with disabilities in nonacademic and extracurricular activities. Students with disabilities are also afforded the opportunities to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities in the same manner as non-disabled peers. As services are provided to children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, the majority of students with disabilities in the district attend the same school as their neighborhood peers.