Lansing Sun

The Lansing Public School District welcomed their special education assistant director for middle schools to explain the needs of the department at their May 4 board meeting.

Cary Otis explained items that the special education department was requesting for purchase.

The first item they were asking for was “a district license for an online program called Goal Book. Goal Book helps ensure a student's IEP program is aligned to standards and differentiated according to their unique needs.”

This program would help them align goals, lessons and strategies to help each student with their IEP and educational journey based on their current levels within state standards.

The second item was the Wilson Reading system curriculum, which is intended “for grades second through 12th grade. It's a tier three curriculum, so it's for our most intensive students. It supports college and career readiness by providing students who have a language-based learning disability or those who are not making sufficient progress in tier one or tier two instruction.”

The purchase would come with curriculum materials like student workbooks, teacher guides, flashcards and textbooks. The curriculum allows students to start in whatever grade level they test into, regardless of their age. This would be a major source of aid for some students who struggle with dyslexia.

“The Wilson reading system is $198,000 and the Goal Book is $65,000 per year subscription,” said Deputy Superintendent of Special Populations Sergio Keck on the cost of the programs.

The board approved both of the purchases for the special education department, which will be funded by money from their general funds. Previously much of their curriculum materials were bought with grant funds, but those monies have decreased since the pandemic slowed down. The Goal Book is a one-time purchase while Wilson Reading will have an annual subscription fee.