St. Lawrence County is a rural, sparsely populated region in upstate New York. The land area is 2,842 square miles, making St. Lawrence County the largest county in the state. The population base is approximately 111,931 people (2000). Thirty-two towns and the City of Ogdensburg compromise St. Lawrence County.
The primary providers of public education services within St. Lawrence County are seventeen school districts and the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Countywide school enrollment is approximately 18,000 students (2000).
It is the intent of local school districts to provide appropriate educational services for all children under their jurisdiction. With regard to children with disabilities, it is the goal of the local education agencies and BOCES to provide educational opportunities equivalent to those of non-disabled children. These services are offered in the least restrictive setting; even severely/profoundly disabled children are instructed within local, public school buildings.
Special education programs and related services are offered by local districts and BOCES. The trend has been for increased local participation in the direct delivery of the services to children with disabilities. Many local districts are assuming operation of programs suitable for children with disabilities, such as resource room programs, some related services, and self-contained services. In accordance with this trend, BOCES is the primary provider of the service options which follow: the countywide preschool program, programs for the visually impaired, some related services, and self-contained special education classes. Hence, there is a heavy reliance on BOCES as the provider of services not offered by the local districts.
A continuum of educational services for placement of children with disabilities does exist within St. Lawrence County. Cooperation among local school districts, BOCES, and public and private agencies results in the following spectrum of services:
· In district placement – regular classroom
· In district placement – regular classroom plus related services
· In district placement – regular classroom plus consultant teacher services
· In district placement – regular classroom plus resource room
· In district special class placement
· Out of district special class placement
· Day treatment program
· Homebound or hospital based instruction
· State operated facilities within the county or in proximity to the county (i.e. New York State Psychiatric Center-Ogdensburg; and Sunmount Developmental Center-Tupper Lake)
The opportunity for related services and other support services exists at every level of this continuum.