NORTHAMPTON — Students in the city’s elementary schools will see a major shift in the way they are taught in the coming academic year.

The School Committee on Thursday unanimously approved Superintendent John Provost’s budget plan, which reduces educational support positions, adds special education teachers and moves students receiving special education services into the mainstream. The approved budget for the coming fiscal year amounts to $28,838,966.

The overhaul addresses what many are calling “our high needs future.” The proposal came, Provost said, because the high needs population jumped 49 percent over the last three years.

And students separated from traditional classrooms are disproportionately male students, students of color and students on reduced lunch.