Special Education

All schools have some special education and related services; however, not all specialized services are available at every school. Cherokee Heights Elementary School offers resources for Learning Disability (LD), Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The following is a list of specialized services that are available in every elementary, middle and senior high school in SPPS:

• Specific Learning Disabilities
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH)
• Visually Impaired (VI)
• Classroom support for students with less severe Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
• Speech and languages services
• Consultation for Other Health Disability/Traumatic Brain Injury/Physical Impairment (special and general education teachers work with district-wide staff to provide appropriate services for individual students)

Emotional Behavioral Disorder (EBD) program

Emotional behavioral disorder program is designed to help students who are withdrawn, have anxiety, have aggression or disordered thought patterns. 

This program features:

• Trained staff that work with students on building consistent routine by using positive behavior reinforcements and support as well as individualized behavior plans.
• Nurture Heart, an adopted framework, is used to work with the students when they have emotional reactions.

EBD Resource Room Programs:

Designed for students that need additional support in their General Education classroom. Students receive indirect consultation from a specially licensed Special Education teacher, paraprofessional or in a co-taught instructional model. 

EBD Specialized Programs

 

Students are taught in structured environment to help reduce high levels of withdrawal, anxiety, and/or aggression. Students spend 60% of their school day in a separate Special Education classroom with a teacher trained to work with students that have significant emotional and/or behavioral responses and academic needs. Students continuously work toward accessing General Education.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) program

The Autism program is designed for students who need support social interaction, communication and the presence of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviors, interests and activities.

ASD Resource Room Programs

Students are in General Education classroom with their peers and receive additional support from teachers trained to use ASD researched-based strategies to adapt/modify academics, increase independence, learn social/communication skills, and address other educational needs.

ASD Specialized Programs

Students spend 60% of the school day in a separate Special Education classroom with a teacher trained to use ASD researched-based strategies to teach students who have significant academic, functional, social, communication, motor, and/or health needs.

Note: Every student who meets state eligibility criteria for special education is entitled to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004).

For more information about more SPPS programs, visit Special Education Programs.