* Not all student needs are best addressed in the local school setting...

Could your student benefit from a Supplementary Content Mastery Program focusing on individual needs and academic levels?

Does your student need a step-up in service intensity before consideration of full-time private day school or residential placement?

Does your student need a step-down in service  intensity from  a private day school or residential placement, before full-time enrollment in the local school setting?

PROGRAM BENEFITS TO STUDENTS, LEA'S AND LOCALITIES:

SPAN the GaP will offer a variety of programs and services; however, one in particular has been specifically designed to benefit at-risk students, the local education agencies (LEA) and the localities. Supplementary Content Mastery services will provide instruction designed to increase the student’s ability to access and function independently in their school and community environment.

Students with behavioral, social, language or educational difficulties, currently served in the LEA or in a private day or residential setting, will be considered for participation. The age group for this program is 6^th thru 9^th grade, with additional students being considered on a case by case basis. The program is offered as part of the continuum of services either as a step-down from private day or residential services or as a step-up between the LEA and consideration of a private day or residential setting. 

SPAN the GaP looks forward to answering your questions and to discussing the details and benefits of Supplementary Content Mastery. Together we have a unique opportunity to offer hope to students and families who often exist in a state of hopelessness.

The proposed benefits to the student and their family are as follows:

Students and their parents/caregivers are offered an additional option on the continuum of services with core curriculum being delivered by the LEA.

Students will receive individualized programming addressing areas of weakness and gaps in skills including behavioral, social, communication, language development, educational content mastery, functional living and transition.

Parents are offered the advantage of weekly consultation regarding their child as well as weekly parenting classes scheduled to accommodate work schedules.

Parents are offered the advantage of information and access to a variety of resources and services available to at-risk students and their families.

The proposed benefits to the LEA are as follows:

Due to the fact that the student will be enrolled in the LEA for core curriculum instruction (2-3 blocks), they will be counted for average daily membership (ADM). When a student is enrolled in private day or residential placement, they are not counted for ADM, a significant funding loss to the LEA. http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Sped/SPEDFUND.html

SPAN the GaP, Inc. is located at 8487-4 Euclid Avenue, Manassas Park, Virginia. This short commute from LEA's will decrease transportation costs when compared to commutes to other more distant private day placements.

This additional option can be offered on the continuum of services between full time placement in the LEA and full time placement in a private day or residential setting.

Discipline and behavioral issues in the LEA classroom will be decreased, thus maximizing instructional time for LEA educators and their students.

The proposed benefits to the Locality are as follows:

The cost for private day or residential placements is significant and is often increased by additional therapies and services provided as a mandatory part of these programs.

The cost for Supplementary Content Mastery Services will be less than a full time day or residential placement with the added benefit of individualized service plans designed to address a student’s behavioral, social, language and educational difficulties in a small group and within their community. 

The program will strive to reintegrate students into their LEA and community environment. Successful reintegration will reduce the cost of long term placement to the locality.

SPAN the GaP’s Supplementary Content Mastery Services will be offered by a team of professionals with years of experience in education, assessment, intervention, behavioral modification, case management, home based services and counseling. Staffing will include a school psychologist, a bilingual qualified mental health professional and a bilingual certified special education teacher.  Our vision for the 2009-2010 school year is to serve a maximum of 6 students in this program with the current staff.

PROGRAM OUTLINE:

Supplementary Content Mastery Services

Purpose: Provide individualized instruction to students designed to increase their educational opportunities and their ability to function independently in their school and community environment. This program is designed to supplement 2-3 blocks/courses of academic instruction delivered in the local school division.

Target Market: Parents, Local Education Agencies, CSA committees, Juvenile Court System

Program Hours: Monday – Friday, 2-4 hours per day. This program is offered September – June. Daily scheduling is flexible based upon the needs of each student. This flexibility will provide a student the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities as deemed appropriate by the local school division and will allow more choices in scheduling local school courses.

Program Focus: Provide engaging instruction based on the individual learning styles of the students that improve the students’ communication, functional behavior, academic skills, prevocational skills, recreation/leisure skills, life skills and self care skills. The ultimate goal of this program is to teach the skills needed for a student to move back into their local school environment on a full time basis.           

Content Mastery Participant Acceptance Process

1. Referral screening conducted
2. Application completed and returned by parent/caregiver with accompanying documentation
3. Student observation Scheduled
4. Participation decision made
5. Student assessment completed
6. Individual Education/Instruction/Service Plan developed by program staff

Still have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.