Student Services Priority Plan 2026-2027 Summary

The LCSD Student Services Department has identified two key priorities for the 2026-2027 school year focused on improving outcomes for students with disabilities and increasing student engagement in their educational planning.

Priority 1: Improve IDEA Performance and Student Outcomes

LCSD is committed to increasing its IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Performance Matrix score from 58.54% to above 60% by April 2027. Achieving this goal would move the district from the state designation of “Needs Intervention” to “Needs Assistance.”

To support this effort, the district will:

• Conduct weekly classroom walkthroughs in Special Education and ENL programs to monitor instructional practices and provide feedback to teachers.
• Analyze instructional data through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and Special Education Facilitator meetings.
• Provide staff with resources and professional development focused on Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) and Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI).

Priority 2: Increase Student Leadership in IEP Meetings

LCSD is committed to creating a more student-centered approach by empowering students with disabilities to actively participate in and lead their Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings. The goal is for at least 50% of students on every K-12 special education caseload to reach or exceed the “Present with Some Participation” level on the Student-Directed IEP Continuum by June 2027.

To achieve this goal, the district will:

• Implement a Student-Directed IEP process in partnership with special education teachers, speech pathologists, and school psychologists.
• Utilize Leader in Me resources to teach students self-advocacy, goal setting, and leadership skills.
• Provide staff training, ongoing support, and collaboration opportunities through PLCs.

Expected Impact

These initiatives are designed to strengthen instructional practices, improve student achievement, increase compliance with IDEA performance standards, and help students develop the self-advocacy and leadership skills necessary for success in school and beyond.