Service Continuum
Service Delivery Models
AACPS is committed to educational excellence by "Elevating all Students, Eliminating all Gaps." To that end, AACPS offers a full continuum of specialized instruction and related services, as determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, to meet the unique needs of each student in the least restrictive environment. All special education services are provided keeping our mission of "preparing each child (Birth to 21) to contribute to their communities in meaningful and positive ways, by providing specially designed instruction, allowing for individual differences and learning styles, and developing independence," as the priority for our students. Decisions regarding which service delivery model is appropriate to meet the individual needs of each student is made by the IEP team, including the student’s parents or guardian.
Consultative Services
Consultative services provide the classroom teacher and other staff working with the student with strategies for instruction, implementation of accommodations and supplementary aids and services, behavior and/or social emotional supports, data collection. These services can be provided by the special educator and/or related service providers, using observation, evaluation and feedback in the student's classroom environment. Consultative services involve ongoing and regular communication between service providers and observation of students.
Direct Services
In the General Education Setting
AACPS is committed to providing specially designed instruction in the least restrictive environment through the use of high leverage practices, evidence based strategies, flexible grouping and co-teaching strategies. Direct services may be provided by the special education teacher, general education teacher, related services providers, and/or teaching assistant in the general education setting.
Outside of the General Education Setting
In cases where the student requires a more restrictive learning environment in order to make progress, AACPS provides a full continuum of options. The decision about the appropriate learning environment for a student is made by the IEP team based on individual student needs. Specially designed instruction and/or related services may be provided outside the general education classroom for a part of the day or for the full school day, as determined by the IEP team. Services outside of the general education classroom may be provided by AACPS staff members in AACPS school buildings or through partnerships with nonpublic schools co-located in some AACPS schools. Specialty sites, such as Alternate Academic Curriculum classes, Regional Programs serving students with emotional and/or behavioral needs, or Autism Classes, offer services both in and outside of the general education setting, and are located at specific schools throughout AACPS. AACPS also provides specially designed instruction in separate special education centers for our students with the most intensive needs.
Services Description
Preschool Services
Services may be provided in a variety of settings. The goals of the IEP and where the child spends the day are the determining factors in where services are provided. The following is the continuum of options for preschoolers:
Community-Based Services (CBS): Services are provided to children with mild to moderate delays in general education, community-based settings. Such settings can include: private preschool; child care; Head Start; and other site-based locations. The idea is for children with delays to be integrated in typical environments and for services to be provided on-site to them and to their teachers. Special educators and therapists (speech, occupational, physical) come to the school or site and provide intervention. For more information the Community-Based Services lead teacher at 410-222-0922.
Single services: Children with only motor or speech delays or disorders [generally for articulation issues] may be seen at their local elementary school by a school system speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, or physical therapist; typically this is done in a small group setting.
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Classes: There are elementary schools throughout the county that have an ECI class. The goal of an ECI program is to provide intensive instruction in relatively small classes with a special education teacher, teacher assistant and speech language pathologist. Children have moderate and severe delays and need to focus on basic language and cognitive concepts as building blocks for academic success. The program is 2.5 hours per day and children can attend for as little as two half days per week or as many as five half days. Sessions are held in the morning and afternoon. The parents and educators determine the amount of time that is needed to achieve developmental goals through an Individual Educational Program (IEP). Bus transportation is provided to and from school. Many schools with an ECI class also have a pre-K class; these co-located classes provide opportunity for integration of children between ECI and pre-K. For more information contact the Early Childhood Intervention Specialists.
Services for School Aged Students Outside of the General Education Classroom
When students’ educational needs cannot be met in their home school, the IEP team meets to discuss the needs of the student, When the student requires more supports and services than the home school can provide, the team may determine that the student needs to be moved to a school environment where more supports and services are available within the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
Mary Moss @ J. Albert Adams Academy
The Mary Moss @ J. Albert Adams Academy serves as a model for multi-agency collaboration and cooperation in bringing quality educational, social-emotional, and family support services to students and their families. The Moss @J. Albert Adams Academy, as a public separate day school, is designed to support students with emotional disabilities, grades 6-12 through specially designed instruction and integrated relates services and therapeutic services.
Partnerships
AACPS partners with several nonpublic schools by co-locating nonpublic classrooms in AACPS comprehensive schools throughout the county. Partnerships with nonpublic schools provide specialized instruction for elementary, middle, and high school students, as determined appropriate by the central IEP team.
Nonpublic and Residential Schools
Students who an IEP team has determined do not benefit from receiving instruction with their non-disabled peers are referred to a central IEP team, where an appropriate placement is determined. All referrals to nonpublic schools, including residential schools, must be made by the central IEP team.