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Lower Merion School District

Off-Canvas

Special Education Support and Services

Special Education supports and services are available to eligible students attending Lower Merion School District High Schools. Eligibility for special education supports and services is determined by a multidisciplinary team that includes the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student, if appropriate, following receipt of signed permission to evaluate from the student's parent(s)/guardian(s). If the student is found to be eligible for Special Education supports and services, the team will next determine his or her need for specially designed instruction and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the student. The student's parent(s)/guardian(s) are then provided with a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) that proposes the appropriate supports and services in the least restrictive environment. Special Education services will begin only when the District receives written consent from the parent(s)/guardian(s) in the form of an approved NOREP.

Subsequent to the creation and implementation of the initial IEP, the IEP team reconvenes on at least an annual basis to review the student's progress and to review and revise the IEP. The District provides a variety of Special Education supports and services for students based upon individual needs, including but not limited to speech/language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, hearing therapy, and vision therapy, as appropriate.

Special Education Courses

Each student must be recommended for these courses by his or her IEP team.

Instructional Support Lab (ISL)

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 0.33 to 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Number: Determined by IEP team.

Course Description: Students may participate in an Instructional Support Lab (ISL) for a prescribed number of class periods per cycle depending upon the program described within their IEPs. Individualized skill remediation is provided as per each student's IEP targeting a student's individual needs. Students receive direct instruction and additional support to ensure meaningful progress, maximize their achievement and assist students in their transition to a variety of postsecondary opportunities, including attending college, technical or vocational schools, participating in career readiness programs or volunteering in the community. Students earn quarterly grades based on the appropriate work completed on their individualized goals. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Academic Literacy

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 0.33 - 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
    • Academic Literacy 1: 15160100
    • Academic Literacy 2: 15160200
    • Academic Literacy 3: 15160300
    • Academic Literacy 4: 15160400

Course Description: This course is designed for students who require significant additional content area instruction and support in the areas of vocabulary, comprehension, and higher order critical reading skills to negotiate various texts, particularly grade level content area textbooks. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Math Literacy

  • Length/credit: 1 year -0.33- 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
    • Math Literacy 1: 15030500
    • Math Literacy 2: 15030700
    • Math Literacy 3: 15030800
    • Math Literacy 4: 15030900

Course Description: This course is designed for students who require significant additional math instruction and support in the areas of computation, concepts, and applications to achieve standards for numbers and operations, algebraic concepts, geometry, and measurement, data, and probability addressed in Integrated Math 1, Integrated Math 2 and Integrated Math 3. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Reading

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 0.33 - 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
    • Reading 1: 15060100
    • Reading 2: 15060200
    • Reading 3: 15060300
    • Reading 4: 15060400

Course Description: Students are provided individualized reading programs determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Adaptive Physical Education

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 0.33 credit -1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Number: 5190100

Course Description: Participation in this course is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Social Language Lab

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 0.33-1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
    • Social Language Lab 1: 15180100
    • Social Language Lab 2: 15180200
    • Social Language Lab 3: 15180300
    • Social Language Lab 4: 15180400

Course Description: This course is specifically designed with a hands-on curriculum to further develop linguistic, strategic, socio-relational, and sociolinguistic competencies. The curriculum focuses on: social interactions with a variety of communication partners; pragmatic language skills; problem-solving in school, vocational and community settings; theory of mind; and individual goals and objectives identified in each student's IEP. Students utilize a variety of strategies that include (but are not limited to) role-playing, video modeling, self-evaluation, and writing analysis to complete practical application assignments and activities and reflect upon their performances on these tasks. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Math Applications

  • Length/credit: 1 year-  0.33- 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP Team
    • Math Applications 1: 15080501
    • Math Applications 2: 15080601
    • Math Applications 3: 15080701
    • Math Applications 4: 15080801

Course Description: Math Applications is a functional math course that is designed to provide students with an understanding and/or review of the essential mathematical concepts necessary for further advancement in mathematics with an emphasis on real-world uses of mathematics.  Instruction is based upon Alternate Eligible content aligned to the PA Core Standards. Technology, including calculators and computer software programs, is incorporated to appropriately supplement instruction. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Basic Math

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
    • Math 1: 15080100
    • Math 2: 15080200
    • Math 3: 15080300
    • Math 4: 15080400

Course Description: This functional, hands-on curriculum supports transition to postsecondary education/training, employment and independent living. Instruction is based upon alternate eligible content aligned to the PA Core Standards. Individualized instruction using currency and debit materials helps students learn to access the community. Students learn skills and strategies to budget and purchase items during the school week. Community-based instructional experiences may be scheduled to help students generalize instruction and practice skills in authentic settings. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Practical English

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
    • Practical English 1: 15070100
    • Practical English 2: 15070200
    • Practical English 3: 15070300
    • Practical English 4: 15070500

Course Description: This practical, hands-on curriculum supports transition to postsecondary education/training, employment and independent living through individualized strategy and skills-based instruction in reading comprehension and written expression. Instruction is based upon alternate eligible content aligned to the PA Core Standards. Community-based instructional experiences may be scheduled to help students generalize instruction and practice skills in authentic settings. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Real World Literacy

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 12
  • Course Number: 15070400

Course Description: Real World Literacy is designed to teach students the functional literacy and math skills necessary to meet their transition goals in the areas of employment and independent living. The program utilizes a simulated apartment setting to address literacy and math skills the students will need to locate and secure apartments and jobs, open and maintain bank accounts, generate, and maintain a budget, manage an apartment/home, etc. This course provides authentic practice for application of literacy and math skills to employment and independent living activities, including but not limited to use of realistic forms (e.g., bills, taxes, applications, etc.), resume writing, etc. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Fundamentals of History

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
  • Fundamentals of History 1: 15090100
  • Fundamentals of History 2: 15090200
  • Fundamentals of History 3: 15090300
  • Fundamentals of History 4: 15090500

Course Description: This practical, hands-on curriculum supports transition to postsecondary education/training, employment and independent living through individualized strategy and skills-based instruction in reading comprehension and written expression. Instruction is based upon alternate eligible content aligned to the PA Core Standards. Community-based instructional experiences may be scheduled to help students generalize instruction and practice skills in authentic settings. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.

Fundamentals of Science/Health

  • Length/credit: 1 year - 1.0 credit
  • Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Course Numbers: Determined by IEP team.
    • Fundamentals of Science/Health 1: 15100100
    • Fundamentals of Science/Health 2: 15100200
    • Fundamentals of Science/Health 3: 15100300
    • Fundamentals of Science/Health 4: 15100400

Course Description: This functional, hands-on curriculum supports transition to postsecondary education/training, employment and independent living and may be linked to community-based instructional experiences. Instruction is based upon alternate eligible content aligned to the PA Core Standards. Course topics include basic hygiene practices, changes in the body, healthy eating behaviors, and when to seek medical attention. Vocabulary and reading comprehension instruction is embedded into instruction and classroom discussions. Participation is determined by a student's IEP team based on individual needs.