Managing Special Education Gets ‘Easy’ in Hamilton County

Chattanooga, TN, January 29, 2008 – Hamilton County Department of Education, Exceptional Education department will host a ‘Big Easy’ reception after school hours on Thursday at the Blue Orleans restaurant on Amnicola Highway to celebrate its new ‘EasyIEP’ special education data management system. The “Big Easy” reception is an effort to take time to honor the staff for the dedicated time and effort put forth in entering the initial data required for state and federal reporting. The staff was required to make and take the time to enter a significant amount of information within a brief window of time. The Exceptional Education department appreciates the district and building level administrators for supporting this huge effort. The Exceptional Education department has accepted private donations from businesses and individuals to cover the costs associated with this celebratory event.

Developed and installed by Public Consulting Group (PCG) of Boston, MA, EasyIEP™ is a web-based special education management tool that will significantly boost efficiency of Hamilton’s special education program while letting teachers spend more time in the classroom with students.

Over the past four months, Hamilton and PCG have trained over 700 educators on the new system. In turn, the staff has converted paper-based Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) into electronic format for the district’s nearly 7,000 students who are eligible for special education services.

“The staff and PCG have worked so hard on this and we’re ready to celebrate!” said Pam Hudson, Director of Exceptional Education for Hamilton County Schools.

Dr. Elaine Swafford, Area 2 Superintendent, also applauded the efforts of the Exceptional Education department: “Now that all of our IEPs are electronic, our state, federal and local reporting will improve dramatically and we’ll be able to ensure compliance with state and federal special education requirements – which, of course, includes confidentiality safeguards and meets the spirit of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act incentive to use technology-based communication and to reduce paperwork.”

With EasyIEP, Hamilton County will also be able to dramatically cut staff time spent on paperwork and increase real time spent with students. The system’s state-of-the-art reporting, compliance monitoring, and data analysis capabilities will position the district to improve teacher case load planning and improve student outcomes.

“Hamilton will now have complete information on each student in the special education program, which can be passed on from one grade to the next to ensure continuity in each student’s education,” said Christen Hunter, Education Consultant at PCG. “The district can also transfer IEP information when a student moves to another district, so that student’s information remains intact.”

In February 2004, PCG began implementing EasyIEP™ and a student information management system in school districts across Tennessee to create the Statewide Student Management System (SSMS). Some 120 school districts are now on the system, with the goal to ultimately have all 136 Tennessee districts enrolled.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Boston, MA., Public Consulting Group offers full-service management consulting services and technology to public education and health and human services clients. With offices in 21 U.S. cities and Montreal, Canada, PCG has worked with state education agencies, education partners, and more than 1,500 school districts across the country.