Support Services (Special Education)

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District is responsible for providing special education services to all resident students who qualify for such supports. These services are coordinated by the district’s Special Education and Student Services departments, which include the district’s Committees for Special Education at the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels.

Special Education and Student Services also oversee the district’s counseling and mental health services for all resident students.

Questions About Your Child’s Growth or Development?

BKW staff use Response To Intervention (RtI) to determine a classification of “learning disability” for students. Response to Intervention is a thorough form of evaluation that includes some formal testing, as well as other means of determining the best supports for children who are having difficulty learning.

If you suspect your child may have a learning disability, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your building principal to schedule an Instructional Support Team meeting. In some cases, interventions can be determined at this meeting so your child can receive immediate assistance based on what is being seen by teachers and other school staff.

The District Plan for Special Education 2025 for the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District outlines the programs, services, and staffing dedicated to students with disabilities (SWD) for the upcoming school year.

Core Services & Definitions

The district provides a continuum of services ranging from related services to specialized out-of-district placements, following the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) principle.

Key offerings include:

• Related Services: Occupational therapy, speech/language services, physical therapy, counseling, and music therapy.
• Instructional Models and Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT): Combining general and special education teachers in one classroom.
  • Consultant Teacher Services: Direct or indirect support within regular classrooms.
  • Resource Rooms: Supplemental instruction (minimum 3 hours per week).
  • Special Classes: Self-contained settings with class sizes of 8, 12, or 15 students.

Staffing & Budget

For the 2025-26 school year, the special education budget is $3,098,745.

Staffing includes:

• 11 Special Education Teachers (6 Elementary, 5 Secondary).
• Psychologists & Counselors: 2 School Psychologists and 3 School Counselors.
• Therapists: 2 Speech/Language Therapists, 1 Occupational Therapist, and various part-time specialists for Physical Therapy, Vision, and Music Therapy.

Student Placement Data

The district serves a total of 140 students:

• In-District: 112 students.
• Out-of-District: 28 students placed in BOCES programs or state-approved private/public schools (e.g., Wildwood, Langan School).

New Developments

• Expanded Capacity: The district added two new classrooms this year to provide smaller class sizes and more individualized instruction.
• Reintegration: Five students have successfully returned to the district from out-of-district placements, with a goal to continue growing on-campus programs.

For specific inquiries, the Director of Special Education, Karrie Diacetis, can be reached at (518) 872-5101.