This program is provided throughout the district to students who require modifications to the presentation of curriculum in the general education classroom in particular subjects. Students are expected to meet the curriculum requirements for the grade and/or subject being taught. A special education teacher and general education teacher collaborate to develop lessons that include modifications to the presentation of the curriculum and instructional strategies in accordance with each student’s individualized education plan.

This program is provided throughout the district to students who are unable to meet the requirements of the general education curriculum in particular subjects. A special education teacher provides instruction in a specific content area that parallels the district’s curriculum, but the content is modified and presented in accordance with each student’s individualized education plan.

The LIFT team is composed of Social Workers, Psychologists, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants (LDTC), Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), Certified Special Education Teachers, Related Services Providers, and highly trained Paraprofessionals. The Preschool through Grade 5 program is rooted in educating the “whole child”. LIFT offers highly structured and supportive classrooms for students with academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs. Our full day LIFT preschool disability (PSD) and multiple disability (MD) classes are located within 2 of the district’s elementary schools, and are very much a part of the elementary school community. To provide individual educational and behavioral support assessments are multi-dimensional, with a strong focus on learning-readiness skills (often at the preschool level), academic skills, and functional living skills. Student motivation is considered of utmost importance when teaching new skills. The LIFT program utilizes positive reinforcement strategies based on students’ individual motivations, to create a supportive and nurturing learning environment, address problem behaviors and teach functional replacement skills. We strive toward ongoing collaboration between classroom staff members, related service providers and parents/guardians. The academic instruction is data driven and based on the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA), ongoing data collection, analysis of learning-readiness, and academic and functional skills to guide all programming and ensure our students are acquiring the skills taught.

The self-contained Language and Learning Disabilities classes are academically focused programs that utilize general education texts and materials whenever possible, supplemented or replaced by appropriate resources as deemed appropriate for the educational needs of the individual students. All curricular areas, math, reading/language arts, social studies, science, and health, are taught in the self-contained setting using the principles of differentiated instruction, a multi-sensory approach, and teaching to the multiple intelligences by teachers and paraprofessionals. Additionally, constant reinforcement and modeling of appropriate social and pragmatic behavior takes place.

The self-contained Structured Integrated Learning (SIL) program is an Emotional Regulation Impairment (ERI) classroom which offers an alternative setting to the traditional classroom environment. The program maintains a highly structured environment and utilizes an innovative, interactive online curriculum called Apex Learning to deliver instruction, practice and assessment. Apex offers each student an individualized learning experience that is commensurate with their ability level. The rigorous Apex curriculum is aligned with the NJ State Learning Standards. Our educational team is composed of Psychologists, Learning Disabilities Consultants, Social Workers, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), Certified Special Education Teachers, Related Services Providers, and Paraprofessionals. The SIL program is ideal for students who are academically capable, but who may be unable to access their performance potential due to social, emotional, behavioral, and/or motivational difficulties.

The focus of the self-contained ACCE and Advanced ACCE Life Skills MD programs is independence in a post-secondary setting for students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities. Four component areas are integrated to provide maximum opportunity for mastery, transfer and retention of information and skills. The component areas are: Academics & Literacy Development; Pre-vocational and Career Skill Development; Social Skill Development and Independent Living Skill Development. Additionally, community based experiences will be incorporated to help the students transfer classroom learning to “real life” settings. Opportunities for integration with typical peers occur during the school day as well as during employment experiences in the community.