Exceptional Student Education Polk County
ESE Advisory Meetings

Attention Parents and Caregivers

Polk County has started a new ESE advisory committee! This is your opportunity to be a
part of this collaborative team between our community and our schools.
The first meeting was held March 27th and it began with:
  • Open discussions on how the group wants to form and run the committee
  • The importance of using a positive approach in this new collaboration.
  • How to better  improve communication between parents and the school district
  • Improving CBI (Community Based Instruction)
  • Improving the development of IEP goals
  • Better training for parents and teachers
  • Budget cuts and spending
These are just a few of the topics discussed. We encourage all parents of ESE students to
attend these meetings.

Next meeting will be held on April 28th 2008 at 6:30pm at the Bartow Municipal Airport.
For more information, contact the ESE department at
863-647-4258  Hope to see you there!
District Inclusion Update  Nov 2007
A word from Nancy Woolcock
Assistant Superintendent, Learning Support

In preparation for developing a district inclusion plan, administrators and all teachers,
both ESE and regular education, were given the opportunity to complete a short survey
about their beliefs and utilization of inclusion.  A parent survey will be distributed in the
coming weeks.   Compilation of these surveys will be gathered to assist with the
development of the district’s inclusion plan.

Through the Florida Inclusion Network (FIN) grant and Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) grant, eight schools are working with FIN and Dr. Deborah
Harris on inclusive practices at their school sites.  This will prepare the district to have
demonstration sites for best inclusive practices.  There are also plans to complete some
videotaping at these sites so that when schools ask, inclusive practices occurring here
in Polk County can be viewed.

In our continuing efforts to expand inclusive practices in Polk County Schools, the
District Exceptional Student Education department is participating in a three day
inclusion workshop to establish a consistent district message.  Also, the District ESE
and FIN staff is presenting inclusive practices at each of the principals’ meetings this
year.   To further inclusive opportunities, our District ESE staff will be implementing a
professional development, Flexible Scheduling, for all Polk County Schools to assist
them with providing the continuum of services for all students.


Nancy Woolcock
Assistant Superintendent, Learning Support
Polk County School Board
863-524-0931
nancy.woolcock@polk-fl.net
Click here to view the Autism Spectrum Disorders Rule Change Powerpoint  July 1, 2007

Holly Sutherland
Polk County Schools
Low Prevalence Facilitator
Welcome to the new ESE information page. We hope to keep
you informed of all district updates with regards to ESE and our
children.