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Special education in Bryan
Education matters
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized by an act of congress in 2004.
On October 13, 2006 the federal government approved and posted the rules and regulations governing that act. Subsequently, each state was given the responsibility of reviewing, and revising or modifying their respective state rules to be in line with the final rules and regulations from Washington. Georgia has been diligent in this process, and has provided Internet access to the rules they will be proposing for adoption in March, 2007.
Recently, the Department of Education was conducting informal public comment sessions, allowing constituents to share ideas on the proposed rules. With this valuable information, the department will re-tool the proposed rules for formal review and comment sometime before the March submission. If you have not already done so, consider reviewing these documents. They can be found in the Exceptional Children section of the DOE web site (www.GADOE.org).
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is currently in its fifth year and also preparing for reauthorization. Both NCLB and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004, is changing the face of education. The lines that once divided special and general education are fading; requiring the way student learning is approached to also change. The approved federal and proposed state rules, reflect these changes. Research continues to support that students with disabilities learn best in curriculum-rich environments when appropriate supports, modifications, and accommodations are in place. Students with special needs are being held accountable to the same curriculum standards as their typical peers, and are expected to perform equitably on annual assessments and daily performance.
The Bryan County School District is working to stay abreast of these changes. Scientifically based and research supported curricula and methods continue to be utilized in the classrooms. In addition, continual training to improve instructional skills remains a priority for all teachers. These initiatives are consistent with the Bryan County Board of Education vision/mission statement by allowing all students an opportunity for academic, physical, social, and emotional growth and development to the full extent of their abilities, and thereby fostering each student’s self-worth by providing meaningful learning experiences in a supportive, safe, and healthy educational environment.

Williams is director of special education for the school system

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Groups hand out scholarships
RH theater scholarship
Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer shows her Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. With her are Tom Harris, Ashlee Farris, Brett Berry and Kim Diebold. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016. - photo by Photo provided.

Three reports recently presented scholarships

Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer received the Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016.

Garden Club

The Richmond Hill Garden Club recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Katherine Wood and a $500 scholarship to Carly Vargas, both seniors graduating from Richmond Hill High School.

The awards were presented May 8 during Honors Night at RHHS.

Wood plans to attend Green Mountain College in Vermont and major in environmental studies.

Vargas plans to attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, to pursue a degree in either environmental studies or biology.

The garden club awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to a local high school senior who plans to major in a field related to environmental concerns, plants and/or gardening.

This year, due to having two exceptional candidates, the garden club awarded an additional $500 scholarship.

Exchange Club

The Exchange Club of Richmond Hill recently named Caroline Odom as its student of the year.

The club each month during the school year names a student of the month, and the student of the year is chosen from among those winners.

Awards are based on academic performance, community involvement and leadership.

Monthly winners receive $100, with the annual winner getting a $1,000 scholarship.

The Exchange Club has been recognizing students for more than 30 years.

Odom will go on to compete in the Georgia District Exchange Club against students from across the state.

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