Westbury Special Ed Sections Triple
The district's RISE program expanded from two to nine sections, keeping 55 students enrolled locally.
By Olga Kaur ·
Westbury's special education department has tripled the size of its Reaching Independence through Support and Empowerment, or RISE, program. The initiative grew from two sections during the 2024-2025 school year to nine sections for the 2026-2027 academic year across elementary, middle, and high schools.
Director of Special Education Michael Mack presented these updates at the Westbury Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27. This presentation marked the first in a new monthly series featuring different district departments. Mack stated that the core goal of these updates is to support students, families, and teachers within the community.
The expansion of the RISE program is part of a wider set of service improvements. The district added special education, counseling, and resource room services to its night school offerings over the past two years. Staffing changes also increased in-house capacity. The district hired occupational therapy staff and behavioral analysts. Mack noted that internal staff provide greater community engagement and a better understanding of student needs compared to outside agencies.
These programming and staffing changes directly impacted student retention. The district recorded 30 students returning to the system and retained 25 additional students through the new services. Special education services for bilingual students also expanded to cover grades K-3.
Mack highlighted specific program successes beyond the classroom. The Challenger soccer team, part of the instructional sports initiative, finished the recent season with a 6-1 record. He also shared photographs of staff interacting with students in costumes and participating in playful activities, emphasizing the importance of enjoyment in the educational process.
Mack described his work in education as the best job available. He acknowledged that the role is stressful and challenging but noted that some of his greatest life moments occur when he engages directly with students. The presentation concluded with Mack expressing gratitude to his team members for their contributions to these service expansions.
The board will continue its monthly departmental presentation series following this initial update from the special education division.
Source: Long Island Press
