| The goal of the Special Services Department is to ensure that
each child with a learning disability receives an
education designed to meet his/her particular needs.
The department services students between the ages of 3 and 21 years.
A continuum of services is available to meet the needs of all disabilities
including programs for Autistic and Preschool Disabled students as
well as classes for Learning and/or Language Disabilities, students
with behavior and multiple disabilities. Resource programs are available
throughout the district and include replacement and supported
instruction both in-class and pull-out. The Bayonne
School District encourages and supports maintaining
classified students in their neighborhood schools and in
regular classes whenever possible providing the necessary supplementary aides
and services. There are numerous "team taught" classes
both at the elementary and secondary levels.
Because of the district's commitment to inclusive education,
it has
received a federally funded state grant for $500,000. over a
period of three years to support practices and
programs which allow I.E.P. students to remain in
their neighborhood schools in regular classes.
Child Study Teams are available to each school for identification, evaluation,
and to determine eligibility of students for special education and
related services. Additional supports are provided through a
system of related services: speech, occupational
therapy, physical therapy, and counseling all of which are provided by district staff.
Bayonne has five Child Student Teams which serve the school
district. In addition to Child Study Teams, there
is a district wide school psychologist and a behavior
management specialist. Project Support provides in-school
counseling services to classified students as per the student's Individual
Education Plan.
Realizing the importance of post school outcomes, the department provides
a comprehensive transition program which addresses the needs
of students ages 14 and older. The Student Self
Advocacy Team which promotes student empowerment
and advocacy issues, has been recognized by the State of New
Jersey as a "Best Practice" award recipient, 2001. Many high
school students with disabilities participate
in a supervised internship program at
a variety of regional corporations. Another part of the transition
program includes the Project Independence Center
at Bayonne High School, which serves the needs
of students with severe cognitive and physical disabilities.
The program incorporates experiences in our culinary program as well as internships under the supervision of a job coach at
a major
department store. These students also participate in an entrepreneur
project that includes operating a kiosk.
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