- Academics
Special Education
Eligibility for special education is based on a thorough assessment consisting of both academic and psychological testing. Placement in special education is determined at an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting.
Participation in Special Education programs is based on a multi-disciplinary and thorough psycho-educational assessment, in order to determine if a student meets the criteria for one of the 13 categories of eligibility for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The eligibility for special education services is to support equitable access to learning, based on a student’s qualifications for learning challenges.
The Special Education Department provides services to students with learning and other disabilities. There are two primary programs available: the Resource Specialist Program (RSP) and the Special Day Class (SDC) program. In an on-going effort to better serve students’ needs and meet state and federal mandates for least restrictive environment, students often see more than one teacher within the department.
MVHS Special Education Department provides services to students with learning, emotional, behavioral and/or cognitive learning challenges that impact their ability to access learning equitably. MVHS Special Education Programs include:
Resource Specialist Program (RSP)
Specialized Academic Program (SAI)
Academic Communications Program (AC)
Therapeutic Support Program (TP)
Life Skills Moderate/Severe Program
Medically Fragile Program
In an on-going effort to better serve students’ needs and meet state and federal mandates for a least restrictive environment, students are placed based on academic need, IEP team decision and within the level of program best suited for their educational challenges.
*Students within MVLA district, with an IEP, are enrolled into a Special Education Support class to help evaluate IEP goal progress, implement accommodations and/or modifications and to provide a non-academic period for any additional service provider pull-outs.
Resource Specialist Program
Resource students who need additional academic support receive assistance with their mainstream class work for one period daily in a learning skills class. These students may also be enrolled in an academic subject area special education class per their IEP.
The Resource Specialist (RSP) Program serves students requiring minimal academic support to students who have more specific learning needs. Students requiring minimal academic support, in three or less periods per day, participate in the RSP level program. Students receive additional assistance with their mainstream class work through one class period, Learning Skills.
Special Day Class program
Special Day Class Program: Special education modified classes are available for students who need more intensive support in academic areas, generally for three to four periods per day. Students are mainstreamed for electives and physical education.
SDC/Functional Life Skills program: This SDC program focuses life skills for students with cognitive deficits. The class is a self-contained class for 4-5 periods a day with opportunities for community-based learning plus an off-campus vocational /work experience component through ROP.
Specialized Academic Instruction Program
Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI) Program: Modified core academic classes, within the special education program, are available for students who need more intensive support in academic areas. In addition to these SAI classes, students also receive academic support through a Study Skills period. SAI Program is for students who need intensive support generally for three or more periods per day. Students are mainstreamed for electives and physical education.
Specialized Academic Instruction “Life Skills Program”: This SAI program focuses on real life and adaptive daily living skills for students with cognitive deficits. This program is a self-contained class for 3-5 periods a day with opportunities for weekly community-based instruction. In addition we offer both on and off-campus vocational /work experience components that help students find their strengths in the vocational world.
Specialized Academic Instruction “Medically Fragile Program”: This program is designed to meet the needs for the students with the most significant disabilities. The high staff to student ratio provides intensive personal attention and the opportunity for students to develop skills and enhance independence, per the requirements and services designed in the IEP.
Special Day Class/Severely Handicapped program
SDC/Severely Handicapped program: This program is designed to meet the needs for the students with the most significant disabilities. The high staff to student ratio provides intensive personal attention and the opportunity for students to develop skills and enhance independence.
Crossroads: This program offers academic, vocational and career/job training for special education students who do not fit the traditional academic six period day schedule. Special education students who have life and/or family issues which preclude them from full participation within a typical high school setting may be considered for this program at their IEP.
Workability I is available to all special education students for work opportunities and vocational exploration.
Speech/Language Services which address identified communication challenges are available per students’ IEPs.
Crossroads: This program offers academic, vocational and career/job training for special education students who do not fit the traditional academic six period day schedule. Special education students who have life and/or family issues which preclude them from full participation within a typical high school setting may be considered for this program at their IEP.
Speech/Language Services which address identified communication challenges are available per students’ IEPs.
Additional Special Education Program Components & Services
Crossroads Independent Study: This program component offers academic credit recovery for special education students who are challenged with the traditional academic setting and expectations. Special education students who have issues which preclude them from full participation within a typical high school day setting may be considered for this program, per the IEP team decision.
Work Experience: This program component allows for students to receive elective credit toward graduation through work experience and job participation, outside of the school day. Special education students may work in an outside work setting, with all required documentation, work permit and grade point average, to receive this elective credit, per the IEP team decision.
Workability I: Workability and Transition Support is available to all special education students for work opportunities and job training/vocational exploration, as well as post secondary enrollment support as needed.
Speech/Language Services: These special education services may address identified communication challenges, and are relevant to the student’s IEP.
External Resources