The current 2022-2023 Commack School District Co-teaching Model is as follows: 

General education classroom with general education teacher all day 
Teacher's assistant present all day long 
Special education teacher 2 hours daily; pre-teach, modify, re-teach lessons accordingly
Up to 8 identified students

This model is not adequate for the children in our district!

I am resident and a special education teacher on Long Island and want to discuss the current integrated program in Commack.  At the primary level, there is a special education teacher for 2 hours a day.  Supported by a teacher assistant all day.  For the children in our district the model is inadequate.  Primary school is the formulative years for children.  

Many young families moved into this district because of the excellent reputation Commack has.  My son is in first grade at North Ridge.  He is doing phenomenally well with an amazing team of teachers, related service providers and teacher assistants.  My husband and I  appreciate all they are doing for him but there are more services children need in the primary grades.  

In the primary grades, the model used in neighboring districts is composed of two teachers, one special education and one regular education teacher working collaboratively all day supported by a teacher's assistant.  This model has proved successful with many children  as they advance through the upper grades.  They benefit from  having the consistency of two teachers that can pre-teach and re-teach subject matter to  accommodate the special  needs children have in their formatives years of learning.

The model already exists on the high school level in Commack today   In the primary grades, front loading intervention proves to be a more successful approach.  

There are numerous shortcomings in the current model that need to be reconciled with updates in a new model.   For example, when a teacher is needed to cover a class the teacher's assistant is pulled for the  task.  This leaves the regular  teacher alone with 21 students who remain in need of both teacher's full and constant support.  This prtocal is not compliant with the student's IEP.  

I am aware of this program in other districts and the benefits it has on children in the primary grades.    

Throughout Long Island there are districts who use a more comprehensive model, They include Hauppauge, Smithtown, Half Hollow Hills, South Huntington, East Islip, Massapequa, Merrick, Bethpage, Plainedge, William Floyd, Deer Park…the list goes on and on!  All who have special education teachers in the integrated classes full time. 

Commack Schools need to improve their integrated model!  They require a special education teacher throughout the day to help breakdown concepts and  other subject matter.  

Please sign this petition to help our students  reach their full potential in an environment that will benefit all children!