ANCHOR 计划

愿景

The vision of the Anchor program is to challenge and support all students in the pursuit of their highest levels of academic and personal achievement. In the Anchor Program, students feel a sense of safety, comfort, and belonging in order to practice lagging skills in a quiet, calm environment surrounded by supportive staff before venturing out into the general education setting.

项目简介

The Anchor program provides each student with the individualized instruction, support, and services needed to access the general education setting to increase independence, provide social interaction, and when appropriate, academic opportunities with peers.

Staff use evidence-based strategies and draw on each student's strengths to guide their growth. Services focus on highly structured, individualized programming in:

Self-care and personal independence: developing skills for daily routines and personal needs
Functional skills: building the practical abilities needed for everyday life at school, home, and in the community
Communication and language: developing ways to express needs, make choices, and connect with others
Social skills and emotional regulation: learning to navigate relationships and manage feelings
Academic skills: accessing learning at each student's individual level
Transition and life skills: preparing for independent living, community participation, employment, and post-secondary opportunities

该项目中的学生具有独特的需求，包括认知和语言能力各异，同时伴有复杂的健康状况，因此需要针对功能性生活和独立生活进行直接指导。学生通常在超过60%的在校时间内接受专项教育服务。教职员工着眼于每位学生的积极特质和优势，协助他们在各项技能领域提升能力，融入社区，为高中毕业后的生活做好准备，并掌握日常生活技能。

服务交付模式与人员配置

A full continuum of services is available and provided as indicated on a student’s IEP. Services may be delivered in a variety of ways, including individual and small-group instruction in the center-based classroom for all or part of the school day, as well as specialized educational supports (paraprofessionals or other licensed providers) provided within the general education setting.

Each Anchor center-based program classroom consists of approximately 8-10 students with one licensed special education teacher and paraprofessional support. Additional services and supports are available based on the student’s individualized education plan goals and needs. Related services staff and supports that may be provided as determined by student need, include but are not limited to: occupational therapist, speech/language pathologist, social worker, developmental/adapted physical education teacher, physical therapist, vision specialist, teacher of the physically impaired, behavioral specialist, job coach, work experience coordinator, and school nurse.

安置

For placement in a center-based program, such as Anchor, students must be eligible to receive special education services. Placement in Anchor is always an IEP team decision, made collaboratively by families, educators, and specialists. All district center-based programs are multi-categorical based on student needs. This program primarily serves students who have qualified for special education services under the categories of Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), or Physical Health Impairment (PI).

Before a referral is made, the school team works to provide additional support and interventions within the student's current environment. If those supports are not sufficient to meet the student's needs, a referral may be initiated. Placement decisions are guided by current evaluation data, the student's IEP goals, and a careful review of the least restrictive environment that will best support the student’s growth and success.