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The vision of Special Education Services and Supports is for all students with disabilities in Georgia to participate in challenging educational programs designed to meet their unique needs, resulting in increased academic performance and preparing them for employment and independent living.
Fickett Elementary School is a PK-Fifth grade public school within the Atlanta Public Schools District. We accept all students regardless of their race, sex, gender, or exceptionality.
Philosophy:
We believe that all learners have unique needs that must be addressed in order to ensure that they meet/exceed their level of potential. R.N. Fickett applies approaches and support systems that address the individual needs and varied learning styles of students, including those identified with special needs (special education, gifted and talented and English Language Learners). By recognizing the diversity of our learning community, we support the development of internationally minded people.
Practices
At Fickett, we adhere to federal and state guidelines governing the education of students with disabilities, “The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).” Students with special needs are provided access to the curriculum in the least restrictive environment. For some, that means a self-contained classroom or mainstreaming for part of the day. However in many cases, this is a regular, comprehensive classroom where classroom teachers and specialists collaborate following an inclusive approach. Teachers/Specialists assess the children to determine each child’s individual needs and provide any special services and/or materials they require. Teachers collect and analyze data, monitor progress and facilitate setting/updating goals with the students and parents.
Fickett used the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework as outlined by the state. This process includes screening, progress monitoring, multi-level prevention system, and data based decision-making. This tiered framework provides evidence based interventions and educational support for all students at increasing levels of intensity based on their individual academic and behavior needs.
Special Needs Programs, Services, and Staff
General Education Teachers
English as a Second Language (ESOL)
Special Education Interrelated Teachers (IRR)
Co-Special Education Teachers
Autism Teachers
Physical Therapy (PT)
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)
Assisted Technology
Social Worker (SW)
School Psychologist
Counselor
Multi-Tiered System of Support Team (MTSS)
Differentiation:
At R.N. Fickett, students receive instruction that enables them to perform and achieve success at a rate appropriate to the learner’s ability and interests. Differentiation is seen as the process of tailoring instruction to meet individual needs, whether by content, process, products, or the learning environment. The use of pre-assessments and formative assessments are also used to discover students’ strengths and identify areas to target for remediation.
All students have the opportunity to participate in every aspect of the school community, including IB Programmes and extracurricular activities. The extent to which students with identified special education needs or 504 plans participate in the IB Programmes is defined by the following: 1) Individualized Scheduling 2) Progress Monitoring 3) 504 Plan Accommodations, and 4) Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Assessment
We assess students at Fickett in the following ways:
Easy CBM Progress Monitoring
MAP
IREADY
Accelerated Reader
Checklists and rubrics to support student self-assessment
Teacher created assessments (Formative and Summative)
System-wide Benchmark Assessments
End of year standardized testing-Georgia Milestones
Student Data Binders
Student Goal Setting
Affirming Identity and Building Self-Esteem:
We provide a variety of opportunities to affirm and support the diverse needs of students:
House System
LiveSchool APP
Personalized Learning
Verbal Praise
Class Dojo
School Gameroom
In class celebrations of demonstrated achievement and character
IB Learner Profile Attributes Brag Tags
Daily parent communication
Valuing Prior Knowledge:
When planning units of inquiry, the teachers incorporate strategies that will be used to explicitly activate and build prior knowledge for all students. Assessing each learner’s level of prior knowledge helps the teacher to determine how to differentiate tasks and additional activities needed to deepen their learning throughout the units of inquiry.
Scaffolding:
Learning at Fickett is scaffolded in order to move students towards a stronger understanding of material and a greater level of independence. The following are examples of how instruction is scaffolded for learners.
Story Maps, Vocabulary Maps, Visual Thinking Maps (Graphic Organizers)
Visual aids for classroom and take home usage
Computer Aids
Small group instruction
Individual Instruction
Providing Prompts
Asking Questions
Personalized
Extended Learning:
Learning is extended for all students at Fickett Elementary School. An Intervention Block is done 4 days a week based on data. Tutorial is provided after school one day a week to allow student’s additional time with the teacher(s) on targeted skills. College scholars are utilized daily to work with small groups or individual students on math and reading fluency. Students with disabilities as well as our English Language Learners extend their learning by accessing increasingly sophisticated texts using assistive technology and read aloud software. These fiction and nonfiction resources allow students to extend their academic language and allow for additional student centered learning activities.
Compliance
Fickett Elementary School documents compliance to state and federal guidelines in working with students with special needs through our counseling, ESOL and special education departments. Those departments are managed by building administration and the district’s Director of Special Education. Individuals in these departments are responsible for the annual writing and updating of Individual Education Plans (IEP) and 504 Plans. All information regarding the progress and performance of these students is contained in the student’s personal cumulative folder found in a secured location in the main office.
More Information
More information regarding special needs programming may be found on the Atlanta Public Schools Website and the Georgia Department of Education Website.
Special Needs Policy Review
The Fickett Elementary School Staff will review the Inclusion Policy annually.
This document was created by the IB Team and Special Education Staff Fall 2017
This document was revised by staff October 2019 including Special Needs Staff
This document was reviewed and revised by the Fickett Elementary School Administrative and Leadership Teams 10/2019, 11/2020, 11/2021, and 5/2024
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