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c. 1. A. Will Be Provided with Equal Access to Activities Assisted Under the Act.

Current Narrative:

Special populations include but are not limited to individuals who are economically disadvantaged; non–English speaking; students with disabilities; preparing for careers that are nontraditional for their gender; single parents; displaced homemakers; migrants, etc. Members of special populations will be provided equal access to the full range of CTE programs available to individuals who are not members of special populations, including occupationally specific courses of study, cooperative education, apprenticeship programs, and comprehensive career guidance and counseling services. Individuals who are members of special populations will be provided with equal access to activities assisted under Perkins IV through a number of proactive initiatives implemented by Delaware Department of Education, including:

Equal access and services to special populations are monitored as part of the Delaware Education Success Planning and Evaluation System (http://www.doe.k12.de.us/domain/212) to ensure that students in special populations are provided with appropriate service and access to career and technical education (CTE) programs. Reviews will increase the focus on outreach and recruitment activities, as well as program placement options to ensure equal access to CTE information for special populations.

A Special Populations review group, consisting of CTE Associates, associates from the DDOE Exceptional Children’s and Curriculum Improvement groups, LEAs, and other stakeholders, examines best practices to assist students in special populations to meet or exceed state levels of performance.

The Special Populations review group promotes the following activities:

  • Delaware’s Employment First Initiative requiring that state agencies that provide services and support to persons with disabilities shall consider, as their first option, competitive employment in an integrated setting for persons with disabilities.
  • Interagency collaboration for support and transition services to special populations. This group collaborates with Delaware’s Community of Practice on Secondary Transition for students with disabilities, which is supported initially by a grant from the federal Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Division on Developmental Disabilities Services.
  • Coordination and collaboration of CTE instructors, special education, and ELL staff in secondary school programs.
  • Professional development opportunities in statewide conferences and forums on effective practices.
  • Data analysis is used to identify effective programs that serve special populations in the most integrated settings possible. Programs requiring assistance to provide access and demonstrate success will also be identified.