Essentials Classes
Program Description
Essentials is a self-contained special education class per content area, designed for students whose academic needs are significantly below grade-level benchmarks, despite multiple years of service of a redacted rate of improvement towards IEP goals with increasing restrictive and direct interventions. . Students in Essentials often benefit from smaller class sizes, modified or alternative curriculum in specific subject areas, and support in the development of executive functioning skills.
Program Goals and Approach to Student Support
The goal of Essentials is to provide academically-based special education instruction within a self-contained environment, specifically designed to address each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals by focusing on essential, grade-level Common Core standards. Essentials works to develop executive functioning skills alongside academic growth. Instruction is highly structured and provides explicit teacher direction to help students grasp specific academic language and concepts. This approach often involves a higher intensity of intervention, carefully defined by a student’s IEP. With smaller class sizes, the program utilizes district-approved resources and interventions, modified as needed, to meet diverse learning needs. As students reach high school age, IEP teams work together to consider high school courses that ensure the completion of required credits for graduation.
Students
Essentials supports students with academic days in one or more content areas. Students in this program typically require direct support to develop an understanding of specific academic language and benefit from explicit teacher direction. They often have a history of needing intensive interventions to meet their learning goals. While some students may have communication or social-emotional and behavioral needs that require related services, these are typically not the primary reason for participation in Essentials classes.
Partnering with Parents
Parent involvement is highly valued and actively encouraged by teachers and case managers. A strong home-school partnership is key to your child’s success in this academic-based special education environment. Collaboration between home and school helps to ensure that the school based instruction is in alignment with your child’s academic success. We encourage open communication and active participation to ensure your child receives the most effective and supportive learning experience.