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Programs and Services

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

If your child is determined to be eligible for special educational services, a full continuum of services is available to assist him/her.  To the maximum extent appropriate,  a student with a disability is educated with children who are not disabled.

These services, from least restrictive to most restrictive, include the following:

 

PRESCHOOL

Preschool Inclusion Classroom: Gibbsboro School District has a free, full-day preschool program, which includes preschool aged children who have been identified with delays in the areas of speech and language development, cognitive ability, fine or gross motor skills, and social or emotional maturity. The program is designed for children who will be three or four by October 1 of each school year. We have three classrooms, and each class will consist of approximately 15 children, including some students who are determined to be eligible for special education services. The goal in this classroom is to provide academic instruction that prepares students for kindergarten.

Preschool Disabilities Classroom:  This program is designed for students 3-5 years of age who have been identified as having an educational disability whose nature and severity is such that education in the general education class with the use of appropriate supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.  The class size is eight students with a teacher and a classroom assistant and can increase to 12 students with two classroom assistants.  

 

STUDENTS K-8

In-Class Resource:  In this program, collaborative teaching is utilized.  Collaborative teaching (co-teaching, team teaching, cooperative teaching) is a joint teaching model in which the general and special education teachers share planning, teaching, and evaluation within the general education classroom.  Support and/or replacement can be provided in this setting.  Various arrangements include complimentary instruction, team teaching, supportive instruction and parallel instruction.

Pull-Out Support:  In this program, your child is pulled out for a brief period of time to receive extra reinforcement in a subject in which he/she needs assistance.

Pull-Out Replacement:  In this program, your child will receive instruction on a subject he/she has difficulty in a small group setting.  Your child will be taught according to his/her ability and skill level in the subject.

Self-Contained Classes:  When your child has difficulties in all of the academic subjects and they cannot be addressed using the programming explained above, then all academic classes will be taught in a small setting according to his/her skill level and ability.

                                                         

RELATED SERVICES

Counseling Services for Students:  A School Counselor can assist students in the following areas with individual, group and/or class sessions:

  • Problem-solving/coping skills
  • Self-esteem
  • Academic/behavior difficulties
  • Interpersonal relationships

Training Services for Parents:  Gibbsboro School District offers support through our Special Education Advisory Group (SEPAG) on topics recommended by the group. Parents of students in our preschool classes are also provided training/consulting on topics including, but not limited to, parenting, discipline, and building communication skills. In addition, Gibbsboro School District also offers resources for parents on specific areas of need.

Speech/Language Therapy:  A Speech Therapist helps students to better pronounce difficult words and sounds (Articulation); to learn to express himself/herself better, and/or to understand the language better (Receptive Skills).  A Speech Therapist utilizes activities or routines designed to increase and improve communication skills.

Occupational Therapy:  An Occupational Therapist helps your child develop better fine motor (small muscle) skills.  This may cover areas such as handwriting, drawing, cutting, and assembling objects.

Physical Therapy:  Physical Therapist is trained to treat gross motor (large muscle) disorders pertaining to movement and posture (ability to maintain body position) through the use of activities or routines designed to increase movement skills. 

Adaptive Physical Education:  This service is a physical education program that has been modified to meet the specific needs of a disabled student, e.g., inclusion of activities to develop upper body strength in a student with limited arm movement. 

Transportation:  Required transportation services may include special transportation, equipment, transportation aides and special provisions.  

Recreation:  This service provides instruction to enable your child to participate in appropriate leisure activities, including involvement in recreation programs. The facilitation of a student's involvement in appropriate community recreation programs will be provided by certified school personnel. 

 

This is a brief summary of the special education services and related services.  For more detailed information about any of the above, please refer to the New Jersey Administrative Code and the Parental Rights In Special Education Booklet.

 

These documents will be given to you at various times during the evaluation process.