- Academics
Special Education Information Sheets
2025-26 Academic Communications
Academic Communication (AC) serves the needs of students whose primary challenge is social cognition and pragmatic communication. Social cognitive skills are defined as perspective taking/Gestalt Thinking, personal problem solving, executive function (cognitive and physical organizational skills), and abstract and inferential thinking. Students in the AC Program will learn skills and strategies to help them generalize their social dynamics both in and out of the classroom, have opportunities to apply what they learned, and be supported in their transition to college, career, and adulthood.
We use the ‘7 Essentials’ as a foundation curriculum and Evidence Based Practices (EBP’s) to implement the lessons. The ‘7 Essentials’ are as follows:
- PragmaticCommunication
- Flexible Thinking
- Executive Functioning
- Self-Advocacy
- Independent Living Skills
- Sensory Integration
- Emotional Regulation
2025-26 Algebra (AD)
This is a special day class for students who are in the Exceptional Support Needs (ESN) program
- Students will explore and be exposed to essential algebraic concepts and practical life skills in mathematics. Group and individual activities will focus on applying basic math skills to real-world situations, with an emphasis on money management, budgeting, solving word problems, and telling time.
2025-26 Algebra 1.1 (SAI)
The purpose of this course is to develop math fluency skills to prepare students for the next level of Algebra I. Instructional pace and methods will be designed to meet all needs of students and to incorporate a multi-sensory approach to learning. Skills are reinforced through “real life” applications. Students will be able to:
- Will be able to use their skills to solve operations on whole numbers, positive and negative numbers, fractions and decimals to succeed in the next level of math.
- Understand and explain patterns, graphing, percents, probability, square roots and measurement, angles and triangles.
- Pre-Algebra skills include similar figures, finding and graphing equations of lines, adding like terms and solving simple equations. To use the concepts to model mathematics and problem solve.
2025-26 Algebra 1.2 (SAI)
The purpose of this course is to develop math fluency skills to prepare students for the next level of Algebra I. Instructional pace and methods will be designed to meet all needs of students and to incorporate a multi-sensory approach to learning. Skills are reinforced through “real life” applications.
- Students will be able to:Students will bridge access in preparation for Algebra I in the mainstream.
- Learning focus will be on solving linear equations, solving and graphing quadratic functions, and using basic operations with variable and polynomial functions.
- Students will develop a strong understanding of foundational Algebra skills.
2025-26 Biology (AD)
This is a special day class for students who are in the Exceptional Support Needs (ESN) program
- Students will be exposed to foundational concepts in Life Sciences, including biology and major body systems such as the musculoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous, and reproductive systems. The course will also incorporate life skills by exploring basic cooking techniques, emphasizing the science behind nutrition, food safety, and how the body processes what we eat.
2025-26 Civics (SAI)
The purpose of this course is to develop fluency with core democratic and constitutional concepts and events to guide in decision making and meeting responsibilities as participants in our democratic republic and market economy. Specifically students will be able to:
- identify and analyze the philosophical roots, and constitutional structure, of U.S. democracy including individual rights. (12.1-12.5 & 12.9)
- analyze the essential framework and functions of government in the United States. (12.1, 12.4-12.7, 12.9-12.10)
- analyze forms of civil society that influence participation in U.S. political culture. (12.1-12.3, 12.5-12.6, 12.8 & 12.10)
These three areas of knowledge are divided into content strands which, collectively, make up the content assessment standard. Each content strand, or unit, has a series of essential questions that will form the basis of informal and formal assessment of student mastery of content..
The course also emphasizes the Common Core skills of critical thinking, collaboration and communication. These skills will be practiced using a variety of platforms and in-class activities.
2025-26 Civics/Economics (AD)
This is a special day class for students who are in the Exceptional Support Needs (ESN) program
- Students will be exposed to basic civics and economics concepts. Topics will include government at the federal, state, and local levels, current events, foundations of the US political system, democracy, economics, and how they work in everyday life (goods and services), and how they influence the choices we make.
2025-26 Economics (SAI)
The purpose of this course is to develop fluency with core economic concepts and events to guide in decision making and meeting responsibilities as participants in our market economy and democratic republic. Specifically students will:
- develop a foundational understanding of the principles and dynamics of a market economy. (12.1 & 12.6)
- analyze the relationship between demand and supply and the role of banking, savings and investment in a market economy. (12.2)
- analyze markets, market failures, and regulations in a market economy. (12.2 & 12.4)
- analyze the role of the government in measuring and managing the health of the U.S. economy. (12.3 & 12.5)
These four areas of knowledge are divided into content strands which, collectively, make up the content assessment standard.
The course also emphasizes the Common Core skills of critical thinking, collaboration and communication.
2025-26 English 1, 2, 3 (AD)
This is a special day class for students who are in the Exceptional Support Needs (ESN) program
- With the use of Unique Learning and teacher-made materials, students will work individually, in small groups, and as a whole class to develop functional reading, vocabulary, spelling, and written expression skills. We will use assistive technology and computer-based reading programs to support learning.
2025-26 English I & II (SAI)
- Students will be given the opportunity to build their foundation of basic reading. Students will improve on reading comprehension and understanding of the main ideas and key themes in selected novels based on students reading levels.
- Students will develop their writing skills in order to produce a one-paragraph essay that includes basic transitions that link sections of a text and provide a concluding statement
- Students will demonstrate effective listening and speaking through class presentations and peer to peer feedback
2025-26 English III (SAI)
Development of basic reading and writing skills as outlined in the student’s IEP. SAI English III and IV are the next steps in the SAI English sequence. The classes focus on the development of writing a three to five-paragraph essay with an introduction, body and conclusion. Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension and understanding key themes in selected grade level novels. This literature will parallel and include general education core curriculum. Students will demonstrate effective speaking, writing and listening skills.
2025-26 Ethnic Studies (SAI)
Ethnic Studies is the interdisciplinary study of race and ethnicity, with an emphasis on the experiences and contributions of people of color (Asian Americans, Black and African Americans, Latina/Latino/Latinx, and Native Americans) in the United States. Students develop a deeper understanding of their personal identity, their racial and cultural backgrounds, and the diverse cultures of their peers. Students learn about the root causes and impact of racism and various forms of oppression. Ethnic Studies teaches students about historical and contemporary movements for social change and ways to challenge racism and discrimination and positively transform their communities. Students will strengthen their reading, writing, speaking, researching, and critical thinking skills. Ethnic Studies fosters empathy, community, and solidarity and helps students to develop knowledge and skills to become active participants in our democratic society.
2025-26 English IV (SAI)
Development of basic reading and writing skills as outlined in the student’s IEP. SAI English III and IV are the next steps in the SAI English sequence. The classes focus on the development of writing a three to five-paragraph essay with an introduction, body and conclusion. Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension and understanding key themes in selected grade level novels. This literature will parallel and include general education core curriculum. Students will demonstrate effective speaking, writing and listening skills.
2025-26 Integrated Math (AD)
This is a special day class for students who are in the Exceptional Support Needs (ESN) program
- The course exposes students to essential math concepts and practical life skills in mathematics. Group and individual activities will focus on applying basic math skills to real-world situations, with an emphasis on money management, budgeting, solving word problems, and telling time.
2025-26 Learning Skills
- Learning Skills is a course designed to assist those students who are eligible for special education services.
- Students will receive academic support for their general education classes from the Resource staff in a small group setting.
- Students will be taught to utilize Study Skills strategies with an emphasis on organization, time management, and test-taking skills.
- Students will be supported in their efforts to build essential life skills such as self-advocacy, confidence, responsibility, initiative, and perseverance.
- Students will also utilize the Learning Skills period for pull-out of additional support services.
- Students will be able to explore college and vocational options in preparation for life after high school.
2025-26 Physical Science (AD)
This is a special day class for students who are in the Exceptional Support Needs (ESN) program
- Students will be exposed to foundational concepts in Physical Sciences, including properties of matter, chemical reactions, forces and interactions, energy, waves, and electromagnetic radiation.
2025-26 Study Skills
- Readiness: Students will be able to independently navigate all learning platforms used in their current classes in order to access assignments and curriculum.
- Transferability: Students will utilize self-advocacy skills by learning to make requests, ask questions and share ideas with their teachers virtually and in-person.
- Endurance: Students will be encouraged to take their self-advocacy skills and apply what they learned to the workplace environment and other areas of their lives.
2025-26 U.S. History (AD)
This is a special day class for students who are in the Exceptional Support Needs (ESN) program
- Students will explore and be exposed to key themes in U.S. History, including political, social, cultural, and economic developments that have shaped the nation.
