(posted on October 20, 2009)
Mollie Laut, Director of Special Education, has been awarded three IDEA Competitive Grants totaling $110,947. The first, in the amount of $25,853, is the IDEA Grant for Parent Involvement. This grant will provide training to Parent Advocates who will hold regional trainings to teach parents strategies they can use to help their children, to explain the IEP process, and to talk about parents and children's rights and responsibilities.
Laut has also received the IDEA Competitive Grant for Discipline in the amount of $46,527. This grant will provide training to WRAPS and school-based Mental Health Counselors in Positive Behavior Supports so they can support the intervention and IEP teams. Additionally, five regional Behavior Specialists will be trained and will then coach other teachers in the use of positive behavior supports. This program will decrease the number of expulsions and suspensions of our students with disabilities.
The third grant awarded to Laut is the IDEA Competitive Grant for Model Demonstration Sites in the amount of $38,567. Horry County Schools will serve as a model demonstration site in the areas of placement in the least restrictive environment, drop-out prevention and increasing the graduation rate of students with disabilities.