A variety of special education courses and programming are offered and will be determined by the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).  Depending on the individual needs of the student, course options may include general education, co-taught, instructional, social emotional (PALS), or life skills (Ultima).  All student schedules are developed to ensure students are educated in their least restrictive environment.

Academic Resource

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.

Occupational Information

Grade Level: IEP Decision
Grade: 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.

PALS Resource

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.

Reading Instruction 1

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

This course is designed to meet the needs of students based on the IEP team’s recommendation. This course will focus on comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. A variety of reading strategies will be introduced and used throughout this course. Students will be able to generalize learned strategies across the curriculum.  The IXL Program will be utilized to assess student abilities and areas needed for growth. Students will be monitored and assessed for fluency and comprehension throughout the course.

Reading Instruction 2

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 include 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.

Reading Instruction 3/4

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.

Social Communication Resource

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 for 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.

ULTIMA Consumer Economics

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 school and community settings.

ULTIMA Daily Living Skills

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.

ULTIMA English

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.

ULTIMA Fine Arts

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.

ULTIMA Government

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

The purpose of this course is to study U.S. Government and its 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 an understanding of American society and its values.

ULTIMA Health

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.

ULTIMA Math

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.

ULTIMA Occupations

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 the 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

ULTIMA Resource

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.

ULTIMA Science 1

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.

ULTIMA Science 2

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.

ULTIMA Social Studies

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.

ULTIMA U.S. History

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 the common characteristics of different cultures and how their contributions have helped change our society over time.

ULTIMA Work Skills

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, and supported training on an individual basis, within the school building in preparation for Community Based employment.

Vocational Work Experience

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

During their Senior year, some special education students enrolled in this course 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.  Students will work with the vocational coordinator to find jobs, complete applications, and set up interviews.

Vocational Work Resource

Grades Level: 10-12

Semesters: 1

Credit: 0.5

Students with an IEP, and who are DRS (Dept of Rehabilitation Services) clients, who secure competitive employment in the community and regularly work part-time can earn a half-credit each semester by reporting their work hours on a monthly basis to the Vocational Coordinator and/or Job Coach. The coordinator does not get the job for the student but can help find job openings and assist with interviews. It is the student who gets the job through the application and interview process.