Special Education

The Special Education Department is committed to meeting the educational and emotional needs of students with learning difficulties in the least restrictive environment.  The department strives to provide those students with special learning needs with successful academic experiences through the development of an Individualized Educational Plan.  This may include special education and/or general education classes. A TEAM, which includes the student, child’s parents/guardians and school personnel, determines a student’s special needs as a result of an evaluation and recommends services designed to meet those needs.  This process involves exploring and documenting all general education alternatives before referral to Special Education for an educational evaluation.  Each student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) is reviewed quarterly and a progress report is written and sent home to parent(s)/guardian(s). The Individualized Educational Plan is reviewed on an annual basis and goals are written to reflect the student’s needs.  Every three years a re-evaluation is completed and eligibility for special education services is determined. Students (14+) become a participating member of the team and assist in the decision making process.
 

This course is designed for students who need reinforcement and further development in basic reading skills. The focus of this course will be on comprehension, vocabulary development, and content in reading.  Organizational and learning strategies for learning will be taught to increase student academic success. Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM. (Full year course, meeting 3 or 4 times in a cycle)

 

These courses are designed for severely deficient readers who require a structured, sequential, and multisensory presentation of reading and writing tasks. The methods utilized teach students directly and systematically how to decode words fluently and accurately and improve encoding skills.  This course is appropriate for and recommended only for students who have not internalized the sound - symbol associations for reading and spelling as evidenced by a diagnostic evaluation and TEAM recommendation.

 

This language-based course emphasizes direct teaching of word analysis in terms of word structure and phonetics.  Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM. (Full year course, meeting 3 or 4 times in a cycle open to grades 9 – 12) 

 

This course builds on the skills mastered in Reading I.  Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM.  (Full year course, meeting 3 or 4 times in a cycle, open to grades 9 – 12)

 

This course is designed for special education students to develop and reinforce the applications of mathematics in today’s society.  Students will investigate topics such as money management, filing tax forms, calculating net pay, budgeting expenses, buying and renting a home, and finding the cost of operating a motor vehicle. The goal of this course is to guide students in building a strong foundation in logical thinking and problem solving that will enable them to make good decisions in their daily lives.  Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM. (Full year course open to grades 12)

 

This course is designed for students with a disability documented on an IEP who exhibit deficiencies in executive functioning, and who require review and reinforcement of academic skills in order to have equal access to the curriculum and to receive support for IEP academic support goals. Instructional intervention and compensatory strategies are the focus of this class, along with the re-teaching of specific skill areas designed to achieve student IEP goals and benchmarks. Students in this class should be willing to accept staff assistance.  Students will be introduced to various strategies to assist them academically, including: time management, organizational skills, note taking, study strategies, self-advocacy, and test preparation skills. Furthermore, students will become familiar with the IEP process and purpose;  Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM. Grading is Pass/Fail. (open to grades 9, 10).

 

This course is designed for students with a disability documented on an IEP who exhibit deficiencies in executive functioning, and who require review and reinforcement of academic skills in order to have equal access to the curriculum and to receive support for IEP academic support goals. Instructional intervention and compensatory strategies are the focus of this class, along with the re-teaching of specific skill areas designed to achieve student IEP goals and benchmarks. Students in this class should be willing to accept staff assistance.  Students will continue to utilize learned strategies and continue to develop strategies to assist them academically, including: time management, organizational skills, note taking, study strategies, self-advocacy, and test preparation skills. Additionally students will become more familiar with the IEP process and purpose, and investigate alternative post-secondary options. Students will develop skills needed to learn about their disability (learn about their accommodations, strengths, weaknesses, interests and how this translates to their  post-secondary plans ) Learning Support 2 teachers in will help students develop the skills needed for planning for movement from high school to post-school activities including; post-secondary education, vocational training, continuing adult education and independent living Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM. Grading is Pass/Fail. (open to grades 11, 12).

 

This course is designed to assist students with challenges in the areas of communications, socialization, and organization.  Students will have the opportunity to learn and practice necessary social skills for developing and maintaining peer relations as well as learn how to cooperate and work in a group through a variety of activities.  Students will be taught how to navigate the unstated rules of society that can be difficult for them to understand. Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM. Grading is Pass/Fail.  (Full year course, meeting 3 or 4 times in a cycle, open to grades 9, 10)

 

This course is designed to assist students with determining an appropriate post high school plan. Students will role play interviewing skills and communication skills that arise in the workplace. Also, students will be exposed to post-secondary educational options. They will complete college and work applications. Daily living skills for adult life will be explored.  They will be exposed to the necessities of independent living such as budgeting and time management.  Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM. Grading is Pass/Fail.  (Full year course, meeting 3 or 4 times in a cycle, open to grades 11, 12)

 

This course is individualized based on the student's entry level and is intended to build oral and written communication skills based on the ELA general standards. Discussion; Questioning, Listening, and Contributing; Oral Presentation; Vocabulary Concept Development; Structure and Origins of Modern English; Formal and Informal English) Students are put into groups by level where they work to develop and improve their vocabulary, reading and writing skills. Topics covered, but not limited to: Calendar/days of the week/months/seasons/weather; letter recognition/writing; site words; reading for understanding; name/address/phone number recognition/writing; journal writing; identifying parts of speech, dictionary practice, antonyms/synonyms; cause & effect; reading comprehension. Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM.   (Full year course, open to grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

 

This course is individualized based on student’s entry level and is intended to build functional math skills based on the math general standards. (Number Sense and Operations; Patterns, Relationships, and Algebra; Geometry; Measurement; Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability) Topics covered but not limited to: Basic Operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; solving word problems; money, time; writing and recognizing numbers; counting; using a calculator). Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM.   (Full year course, open to grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

 

This course is individualized based on the student's entry level and is based on the Science and Technology/Engineering general standards and the History and Social Science general standards. Topics covered but not limited to: Plants vs. Animals; Alive vs. Not Alive; Scientific Method; Understanding the meaning and appearance of the American Flag; Difference between a country, state, city etc.; Study New England Region, Southeast/Northeast Regions: borders, landmarks, capitals; Map Skills. Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM.   (Full year course, open to grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

 

This course is individualized based on the student's entry level and is intended to develop skills necessary for transition after high school. Topics covered but not limited to: Researching jobs that are of interest to individual students; writing names and phone numbers; job skills in the school cafeteria; learning about the job application process and how to fill out a job application; learning about the interview process and participation in mock interviews. Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM.   (Full year course, open to grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

 

This course is individualized and based on a student's entry level and is intended to build vocational skills. Topics covered but not limited to: Safety in the kitchen; Safety Signs in the community; Cooking Skills; Nutrition: Travel training; Money Skills; Job opportunities both within and outside the school. Students are enrolled in this class upon determination by the IEP TEAM.   (Full year course, open to grades 9, 10, 11, 12)