Twp. Schools Honored for Innovative Program

Members of the District's special education department were recently recognized for their achievement in helping classified preschool students increase abilities in Language Arts and Mathematics with new ways of learning.

The quartet of personnel included Steve Jason, director of special services, Sharon DiPaolo, Amanda Scairpon, and Denise Scairpon. They educators were honored by the New Jersey School Boards Association on Friday, May 18.

According to the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), the group was recognized among nine other school districts in the state for its Kid Connections program. In a press release from the NJSBA, the program was described as the following:

The program pairs fifth-grade students in the resource room with classified preschool students, many of whom have been diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. The older children read to the younger children, allowing both groups to develop social and academic skills and build confidence.

In addition, the older students play math games they have developed that reinforce basic math concepts with the preschoolers. The fifth graders established baseline skill levels and then planned, created and instructed the preschoolers.

Program assessments showed that both the younger and older students have benefitted from their involvement in Kid Connections. Pre-and post-language samples from preschool students showed a gain of 18 percent in word utterances compared with a class of similar students in a preschool class that did not participate, as well a growth in mathematical awareness, progress in expressive language, and an increase in positive social behaviors.

The fifth grade students showed a 15 percent increase and an 11 percent increase, respectively, in language arts and mathematics testing, over a similar class that did not participate.