At a recent Parkland School Board meeting, representatives from Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 explained Project MAX, a program from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for students with complex instructional needs.

Deborah Popson, CLIU director of special programs and services, stated the intention is to maximize access to the general educational curriculum and Pennsylvani Core standards for all children.

Natalie Krebs, CLIU educational consultant, reported 1 percent to 3 percent of students have complex instructional needs.

“This is a population of students that can’t be forgotten,” Krebs said. “We don’t want to limit them.

“We want to give them challenging academic content and increase academic rigor.

“We get the word out to parents to raise expectations for their children.”

She introduced Jennifer Penn and her son, Coby, who is in the MAX program.

“Coby really advanced a lot this year,” Penn said. “It’s made a big impact on our family.”

She noted Coby, in second grade, is starting to spell, not just small words such as “cat”, but words such as spaghetti and computer.

“Even Coby’s sister in kindergarten was impressed by his spelling skill,” Penn said.

CLIU Board President and Parkland School Board member Bob Bold expressed appreciation for the MAX program and the other services provided by the CLIU for students with special needs.

“We’re doing things at the intermediate unit for children who didn’t get a fair chance at life,” Bold said.