Program Descriptions

Academic Bridging Class (ABC)
Program Summary

The Academic Bridging Class (ABC) is designed for elementary students identified as having autism in conjunction with cognitive scores above the intellectually disabled range. The primary goals of the program are to increase academic independence, develop appropriate classroom participation skills, and acquire age-appropriate social skills. Students are instructed on grade-level content and required accommodations are provided to ensure access to the general education curriculum. The IEP should focus on behavioral and academic skills to facilitate a successful transition back into the general education setting.    

Academic Bridging Classes are centrally located throughout the district.

Applied Academics – Secondary
Program Summary 

The Applied Academics classes are designed for students identified as having an intellectual disability, other health impairment (OHI) and/or autism, and who require a specialized curriculum. Goals and objectives are targeted to enable students to increase their functional independence and help them transition successfully to post-secondary environments.

Applied Academic classes are centrally located throughout the district.

Communication Skills
Program Summary

The Communication Skills Class is designed to address the unique needs of eligible students with autism and/or intellectual disabilities 3 years of age through fifth grade who have no functional means of communication. The primary focus of the program is to increase communication and language skills. Direct teaching emphasizes individual language and communication skills, as well as fine and gross motor, cognitive (pre-requisite academic skills), self-help, and social/emotional skills. Students participate in general education classrooms and activities to the maximum
extent appropriate to meet their educational needs.

Elementary Communication Skills classes are located on various elementary campuses throughout the district.

Co-Teach Secondary
Program Summary 

The Co-Teach Support program at the secondary level provides content modification support in the science and social  studies general education classroom. The Co-Teacher works with the general education teacher to modify student assignments, implement appropriate accommodations, reinforce concepts presented in the general education classroom, differentiate instruction, and provide additional strategies and support materials for students.

Co-Teach Support is offered on all middle and high school campuses. 

Developmental Center
Program Summary

The Developmental Class is designed for students eligible for special education due to a significant intellectual disability and who require a specialized curriculum and a self-contained program for most of the regular school day. The program is developed to meet the individual educational needs of students starting at three years of age. Students participate in general education activities to the maximum extent appropriate to meet their educational needs.

The Developmental Classes are located on various campuses throughout the district.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
Program Summary

The Early Childhood Special Education Program (ECSE) is designed to meet the unique needs of young children ages 3 through 5 years who meet eligibility criteria identified by the Texas Education Agency.

Students who demonstrate a need for specially designed instruction may qualify for special education services as having a speech/language impairment (SI), intellectual disability (ID), autism (AU), orthopedic impairment (OI), visual impairment (VI), auditory impairment (AI), other health impairment (OHI), or non –categorical early childhood (NCEC).

The ECSE program provides children with developmentally appropriate experiences to facilitate learning and improve skills in the following areas: communication, social/emotional, fine and gross motor, cognition, and self-help.

ECSE classes are centrally located at various elementary campuses throughout the district.

Functional Skills Workshop
Program Summary

Functional Skills Workshop (FSW) is designed for students in special education, ages 18-21, who require continued IEP support in order to gain daily living and vocational training experiences. The goal of FSW is to prepare students to be as independent as possible in supervised post-secondary environments.

FSW is available at the Mary Grimes Educational Center.

Fundamentals
Program Summary 

Fundamental classes are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills embedded in the general education curriculum in reading, language arts, and mathematics. They are designed to provide individual and small group instruction for students who need modified grade level content and require more intensive support than can be provided through In Class Support. 

Fundamental classes are available on all campuses.

Homebound

Homebound placement provides instruction in the home to students who are unable to attend school for an extended period of time (four weeks or more during a school year) due to a serious accident, chronic illness, or a non-contagious disease as documented by a licensed physician. Extracurricular activities and/or employment shall cease until the student returns to school.

In Class Support
Program Summary

In-Class Support provides academic support in the general education classroom to students receiving special education services at elementary, middle, and high school. The In-Class Support staff works with general education teachers to
implement appropriate accommodations, assist in differentiating instruction, and provide additional strategies and support materials for students.

In-Class Support is offered on all campuses.

Learning Lab
Program Summary 

The Learning Lab provides academic support to students receiving special education services in elementary, middle, and high school and is available on all campuses. The special education teacher, in cooperation with the general education teacher, supports use of appropriate accommodations, reinforces concepts presented in the general education classroom, and provides prescriptive intervention and/or support in the areas of math, writing, and/or reading. Students receive all Tier 1 instruction in the general education classroom.

Learning Lab is offered on all campuses. 

Modified Academics Class (MAC)
Program Summary 

Modified Academic Class (MAC) is a structured program based on a modified version of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) general curriculum in all academic areas.  The MAC class is designed for students with mild to moderate intellectual disability or autism. MAC’s modified programs are developed to meet the individual educational needs of students with disabilities with an emphasis on socialization, vocational / pre-vocational, and functional academic skills that will facilitate independent living as the student matures into adulthood.

Modified Academics Class (MAC) are centrally located throughout the district

Moving On Up (MOU)
Program Summary

Moving On Up is designed for students in special education, ages 18-21, who have demonstrated pre-vocational skills and will benefit from community experiences. Students participate in age appropriate activities, which may include volunteer work sampling and supported employment. Students utilize district and public transportation for their daily activities. They learn to access the communities safely and effectively, purchase items that meet their needs, interact in the community with friends, and intermingle with age appropriate non-disabled peers.

MOU is available at the Mary Grimes Educational Center.

On the Job Training (OJT)
Program Summary 

On the Job Training (OJT) is a program for students receiving special education services and who are placed on a job with regularly scheduled direct involvement by special education. This instructional arrangement/setting shall be used in conjunction with the student’s individual transition plan only after the school district’s Career and Technology Education (CTE) classes have been considered and determined to not be appropriate.

OJT classes are centrally located on high school campuses.

Positive Attitude for Success (PAS)
Program Summary

The Positive Attitude for Success Program (PAS) is a structured behavior intervention program for students who meet special education eligibility criteria and have severe emotional and/or behavioral challenges. The curriculum for the program is two-fold with academic skills based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills embedded in the general education curriculum in all areas and with social and behavior management skills directly instructed and integrated within the academic curriculum. The program utilizes small group and individualized instruction. Students are also taught specific social and behavior management skills to ensure success as they are transitioned back into the general education setting. When required, the IEP addresses both academic and behavior skills to be monitored by the special education teacher and the Behavior Resource Specialist.

PAS programs are on specific campuses according to need and geographical location.

Special Transition Educational Program (STEP)
Program Summary 

The Special Transition Educational Program (STEP) is designed to provide early intervention focused on specific needs of children with autism, 3-5 years of age. Areas to be addressed include communication and language skills, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive (pre-requisite academic) skills, self-help, and social/emotional skills. Students participate in general education classrooms and activities to the maximum extent appropriate to meet their educational needs.

STEP classes are centrally located on an elementary campus.

Support Center
Program Summary 

The Support Center is a structured program based on alternate academic achievement standards in all academic areas. The Support Center class is designed for students in grades first through fifth who are eligible for Special Education services due to mild to moderate intellectual disability (ID), autism (AU) with cognitive deficit, or other health impairment (OHI) whose IEP requires special education services more than 50% of the regular school day.

The alternate curriculum is developed to meet the individual educational needs of students with disabilities with an emphasis on functional academics, communication, pre-vocational, and social skills that will facilitate independent living as the student matures into adulthood. Students participate with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate to meet their individual educational needs.

Support Center classes are available on various elementary campuses throughout the district.

Vocational Experience (VE)
Program Summary 

Vocational Experience is a community-based training program designed to prepare and teach students in special education, 16 years of age and older, the skills needed to lead an active, independent, and productive life upon graduation. Students acquire meaningful work experiences, learn to access the community safely and effectively, purchase items that meet their needs, and practice appropriate social behaviors in a workplace setting. The community becomes the classroom. The students will have opportunities to participate in vocational training at various locations throughout the year.

Vocational Experience is available at Creekview, Smith, Ranchview, and Turner high schools.