The Scituate Public Schools provided services for students with special needs in accordance with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and state (603 CMR 28.00) regulations.
Scituate Public Schools provides a continuum of special education services for students based on individual needs and Team recommendations.
Teachers and specialists work collaboratively with parents/guardians of students identified as requiring special education services. We always welcome teacher and parent questions and input.
For parents wanting to learn more about the special education process, you should feel free to contact the Team Chairperson assigned to your child's school.
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Related Services
For students with special education needs who also require related services, the district will provide or arrange for the provision of support services, which have been determined to be developmental or corrective in nature. The IEP Team has agreed that these services are required to assist the student in benefiting from special education support and /or to assist the student in accessing the general curriculum. Related services provided in the Scituate Public Schools include the following, but are not limited to:
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Psychological Consultation – to the Team
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Paraprofessional supports
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Early Identification/Intervention for Children with Disabilities
• Orientation and Mobility Training
• Teacher of the Visually Impaired consultation
• Parent Training
• Special Transportation
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• BCBA Consultation
• Assistive Technology consultation and devices as required
• Adapted Physical Education
Learning Centers
Each elementary school has a Learning Center staffed with special education certified teachers and paraprofessionals. Specialized instruction is provided to eligible students and these services may take place in a regular education classroom and/or in a Learning Center. Many students work with special education staff in small groups where they receive support and strategies that enable them to access and progress in the regular education curriculum. These centers provide services to students with a wide range of special education needs and varying disabilities.
PLC and ILC
The Primary Learning Center and the Intermediate Learning Center. These two programs service students within the district, grades K-5, who present with severe special education needs. The program consists of one special education teacher and paraprofessionals to create 1:2 ratio of adult to students. Should a student require more intensive 1:1 supports, the IEP Team will make that recommendation. These programs are housed in the Hatherly Elementary School.
Elementary Therapeutic Program (JEMS)
The program staffing is one Special Educator, one School Adjustment Counselor and paraprofessional supports. The students require supports in the area of social and emotional skills. Students will work on individual academic and social/ emotional IEP goals. Academics will be based off the elementary curriculum. The use of the natural setting in the elementary school and activities to reinforce the social and emotional skills of the students is implemented. The program will be for students in grades K-5 who receive special education services related to an emotional disability. This program is housed in the Jenkins Elementary School.
Academic Strategies
The Academic Strategies program in the Gates Middle and Scituate High Schools provide specialized instruction to eligible students who require varying degrees of skill development and academic support. The goal of Academic Strategies is to assist students to become independent learners in the regular education setting. Students are fully enrolled in mainstream classes and attend Academic Strategy sessions as a component of their schedule.
Students attending Academic Strategy sessions receive small group remedial instruction. The time spent in Academic Strategy sessions varies for each student. Areas of emphasis are reading comprehension, written expression, mathematics, and study skills such as note taking, outlining, report writing and test preparation.
As part of the Academic Strategy program special education staff offers support in many regular education classrooms. By participating in mainstream classrooms, Academic Strategy staff is better able to provide specific curriculum support in the Academic Strategy sessions.
Gates Learning Center Program (GLC)
The Gates Learning Center services students within the district, grades 7-8, who present with severe special education needs. The program consists of one special education teacher and paraprofessionals to create 1:2 ratio of adult to students. Should a student require more intensive 1:1 supports, the IEP Team will make that recommendation. Typically the ILC program feeds into the Gates Learning Center program.
iExcel Program
The Scituate High School iExcel Program enrolls a population of special education students from Scituate and neighboring South Shore school systems whose intellectual and autism spectrum disabilities present them with unique challenges in preparing for adult life. The program curriculum includes; functional academics, pre-vocational experiences that are specific to the vocational training in the community and job placements, and social skills. Students move gradually to increasingly independent vocational opportunities in the community beginning with job coaches and moving to more independence on the job site. Link to our Program Presentation Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iDNQNCH5Y
High School Therapeutic Program
Students will work on individual academic and social/ emotional IEP goals. Academics will be based off the high school curriculum. The use of the natural setting in the high school and activities to reinforce the social and emotional skills of the students is implemented. The program staffing includes one special education teacher, one paraprofessional and one Therapeutic School Psychologist. The program will be for students in grades 9-12 who receive special education services related to an emotional disability.
iAchieve Program
This program is staffed with one special education teacher. The students enrolled within this program are students for whom a possible Fifth Year of studies may be necessary to support them in receiving their high school diploma. Some of the students may be considered by the Team as vocationally bound along with receiving their academic classes with supports. This program is offered at both the Gates Middle and Scituate High Schools.
Co-Teaching
Co-teaching is offered in all six school buildings. In this program children on IEPs who need support are integrated with children who are not on IEPs. Two classroom teachers, a general educator and a special educator, instruct the class. In this program students are provided with additional scaffolding and increased individualization due to the support of two teachers.
Language-Based Classroom (LBC)
This classroom is designed for a small cohort of children with language-based learning disabilities who require a substantially separate language-based program to maximize learning. This highly structured, language-based program provides intensive specially designed instruction that is individualized based on student needs.
In addition to providing instruction to maximize learning, the development of a positive attitude, and the enhancement of self-esteem and self-confidence are major goals for each child. Providing each child with many opportunities for success academically, socially and emotionally are essential components to this developmental program. In order to ensure this success, students are grouped academically according to their strengths and areas of need as well as their learning levels. This program is housed in the Jenkins Elementary School and the Gates Middle School.