Special Services

Grade Level: 9-12 – IEP Decision
Semesters: 1
Credits: 0.5

This course is designed to further develop students’ independent learning strategies and transitional skills to be successful independent learners in academic, post-secondary, and community settings.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 11-12
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

This course prepares the students, through individualized small group instruction, for occupational opportunities geared to their level of achievement. Topics covered include career awareness; personality; values and interests; self-care; social security; application; letters of application; forms; interviews; job seeking; job keeping; progress on the job; payroll; transportation; fringe benefits; union; labor laws; budgeting; banking credit; buying; insurance; income tax; housing; buying a car; and telephone usage. Successful completion of this course meets the Consumer Economics requirement.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-12
Semesters: 1
Credits: 0.5

The purpose of this course and program is to provide support to students to address behavioral/emotional concerns through problem solving and social skills training. The design is to assist the student to be successful in standard or special academic classes by providing assistance for managing and completing academic assignments and projects from integrated classes.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-12
Semesters: 2
Credits: Grade 9-10=.5; Grade 11-12=.125

PEOPEL (Physical Education Opportunity Program for the Exceptional Learner) is an inclusive class that partners PEOPEL Tutors with students who have special needs. The classes offer a variety of sports and lifelong fitness activities that focus on individual skills and abilities. Individual needs of physical therapy related exercises are also addressed.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

This course is designed to meet the needs of students who are reading below the 4th grade level. This is a skill-based course that uses a variety of multi-sensory methods and materials to improve reading skills. The course will focus on developing decoding, vocabulary and comprehension skills through reading and writing.

Grade Level: Completion of Reading 1 and/or IEP Decision
Grade 10
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

Individualized or small group instruction may be utilized. Areas of study including word attack skills, utilization of context clues, identifying and sequencing main ideas and listening skills; identifying cause and effect, making conclusions and predicting outcomes; finding evidence and identifying facts versus opinion.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade 11-12
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

Students will continue to improve their skills in understanding both what they read and how they read it. Students will also continue to learn how and when to apply reading strategies to a variety of texts.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-12
Semesters: 1
Credits: 0.5

The purpose of the course is to assist the student to remediate/compensate specific academic efficiencies and to aid in the development of independent study skills, strategies and habits necessary for successful maintenance in the instructional setting. Students are provided assistance and support for managing and completing assignments and projects from classes. In addition, students will participate in a variety of peer-to-peer interactions that focus on enhancing their communication skills and social thinking. Throughout the school year, we will explore topics such as: friendship, perspective taking, and social problem solving.

Grade Level: 9-12 – IEP Decision
Semesters: 1
Credits: 0.5

The student will develop an understanding of the basic rights and responsibilities of the consumer in our society. Students will be exposed to how money systems and the banking process works, as well as, personal money spending/management & vocational, and career awareness skills. Decision making skills which include making choices, goal setting, and evaluating those choices, are also emphasized in the school and community settings.

Grade Level: 9-12 IEP Decision
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

The students will be provided with a variety of opportunities to practice real-life skills that include but are not limited to: social and emotional skills, personal hygiene, relationship building, navigating the community, accessing public transportation, shopping, cooking, cleaning, computer applications, and personal safety. This class will provide opportunities for guided practice in order to foster independence.

Grade Level: 9-12 – IEP decision
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

The student will be exposed to daily life applications of English. The class combines writing and reading in a functional way based on the goals in a student’s IEP.  Functional vocabulary building activities, listening and speaking skill activities, reading decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills, and functional writing activities are addressed.

Grade Level: 9-12 IEP Decision
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1.0

The purpose of this course is to expose the students to the “language” of the arts.  This will include the exploration of visual arts, creation of art, culinary arts, home arts, and musical intelligence. Students will be exposed to the sensory elements, organizational principles and qualities of the arts. Furthermore, students will make distinctions and connections among the arts as well as understand the processes, traditional tools, and modern technologies used in the arts.  Lastly students will be exposed to the importance of the arts in society and everyday life.

Grade Level: 9-12 – IEP Decision
Semesters: 1
Credits: .5

The purpose of this course is to study U.S. Government and it’s real life importance.  Students will study parts of governments and economics, key events, key figures, voting, current events, and personal rights.  Students are taught the meaning and responsibilities of citizenship as well as understanding of American society and its values.

Grade Level: 9-12 – IEP Decision
Semesters: 1
Credits: 0.5

The student will be exposed to knowledge and concepts related to nutrition, exercise, hygiene, safety, growth and development, avoidance of harmful actions, and characteristics of health habits. Students will also be exposed to strategies to develop decision making skills related to their personal health.

Grade Level: IEP decision
Grade: 9-12
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

The student will be exposed to daily life applications of Math.  Measurement units, money, time knowledge of numbers and basic computations are covered.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-12
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

The purpose of this course is to prepare students with skills to enhance post-secondary work and community environments. Students will recognize academic and personal needs to foster success in the community for future placement in the post secondary world. The topics of study could include, but are not limited to: managing time in correlation with rate of pay/compensation, interview skills and personal references, acquiring and completing job applications, knowledge and use of personal information, career exploration and social and behavioral skills at work and in the community

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-12
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

This course is designed to further develop students’ independent learning strategies and transitional skills necessary to be successful independent learners in both special and general education courses. This course provides a balance of vocational and academic support as well as direct instruction related to adult living.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-10
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

The student will be exposed to two aspects of science: Physical Science, Earth Science and Astronomy. This class will use technology, and experiments to provide applications to strengthen concept understanding.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-10
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

The student will be exposed to Human Biology, Life Science, and Animal Behavior.  This class will use technology, and experiments to provide applications to strengthen concept understanding. systems.

Grade Level: 9-12 – IEP Decision
Semesters: 1
Credits: .5

The students will explore the history of the United States and the role government plays in their lives.  The class will give the students an opportunity to learn the geography of the United States and the important events that happen to shape America.

Grade Level: 9-12 – IEP Decision
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

The purpose of this course is to promote the understanding of events, trends, personalities and movements in local, state, national and world history. Through the curriculum, the students will be exposed to the rules of our social system. They will learn to determine where their place is in our society as citizens and that they need to be contributing citizens now and in the future. Students will also learn how to make more informed choices, how to prudently use resources, and experience how significant historical figures have played an important role in our current society. They will also learn to understand common characteristics of different cultures and how their contributions have helped change our society over time.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 9-12
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

This course will provide the student with educational and work experiences through in-school vocational opportunities. The class provides information on training essentials for the student to adjust to the work environment.  Activities include orientation, supported training on an individual basis, within the school building in preparation for Community Based employment.

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 11, 12
Semesters: 2
Credits: 1

During the Junior and/or Senior year, special education students in the pre-vocational program may be placed in a series of jobs in the community setting. This is intended to give students the exposure and experience of working in the community, plus in certain instances other specific vocational training. During this time, students will also be making judgments about jobs they like and dislike.

A placement in the community is not only secured through the efforts of the pre vocational coordinator but also with certain commitment from the students. The coordinator does not get the job for the student, but finds job openings and sets up interviews. It is the student who gets the job through the application and interview process. To be eligible for the credit, the student must work an average of 10 to 20 hours per week. One full credit may be earned during the Junior and/or Senior year toward meeting requirements for graduation.