Special Education Courses
Special Education
Placement in any Special Education class is dependent on eligibility and the decision of the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee. Placement and course selections are reviewed, at a minimum, on an annual basis. Specific goals and objectives are developed based on the student’s present levels of academic and functional performance
Modified Courses
Modified courses are aligned with general education curriculum in the corresponding grade levels. Students are exposed to the same Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) as their general education peers with changes to student expectations and levels of mastery. Modified coursework differs from non-modified coursework in instructional delivery, pacing, and assessment. It is the responsibility of the ARD committee to determine student placement in modified coursework, as well as determination of the appropriate state assessment in each specific subject area. Some modified coursework may not be used to satisfy course requirements towards an Endorsement.
Alternate Courses
Alternate courses are locally developed courses that reflect the prerequisite skills appropriate to the student’s current academic functioning along with alignment to grade level standards in each subject area. Coursework within the alternate class reflects individual student needs. Alternate coursework differs from non-modified and modified coursework in instructional delivery and focuses on prerequisite skill content based on the student’s goals and objectives within the IEP. It is the responsibility of the ARD committee to determine student placement in alternate coursework, as well as determination of the appropriate state assessment for the student. Some alternate coursework may not be used to satisfy course requirements towards an Endorsement.
Locally Developed Courses
Locally developed courses are approved by the Richardson Independent School District in those situations where substantial alterations of authorized courses, or new offerings, are required to more appropriately meet the educational needs of students served in special education. Locally developed courses are developed to effectively support the intent of the designated course of instruction but may or may not retain the original integrity of the course assigned TEKS. The Special Education Department supports locally developed courses to further develop and cultivate the unique talents, interests, needs and abilities of students with disabilities and to foster educational improvement and excellence through innovative course development at the local level.
Locally developed course credits may not be used to satisfy 22 traditional credits required for graduation.
Recreation and Leisure
Grade: 9-12 Credit: .5 – one semester
RISD: PE5052 A-9th PEIMS: PES00052
PE5053 B-9th
PE5054 A-10th PES00053
PE5055 B-10th
PE5056 A-11th PES00054
PE5057 B-11th
PE5058 A-12th PES00055
PE5059 B-12th
Prerequisite: None
Endorsement: None
The Recreation and Leisure course is designed to help the student recognize a variety of individual interests, hobbies, and abilities. Students will develop leisure activities that foster continued personal growth.
General Employability Skills - ALT
Grade: 9-12 Credit: 1 - full year
RISD: 7360 PEIMS: N1270153
Prerequisite: None
This Special Education course provides students with knowledge of the prerequisite skills for general employment as well as the means of obtaining those skills. Employability skills include fundamentals of maintenance of personal appearance and grooming. The course also includes the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that allow employees to get along with their co-workers, make important work-related decisions, and become strong members of the work team. Discovering job possibilities that link skills, abilities, interests, values, needs, and work environment preferences is a part of the process of obtaining employability skills and abilities and is experiential learning that takes place over time.
Fundamentals of Reading 1
Grade: 9-12 Credit: 1 – full year
RISD: 1550 PEIMS: 03270700
Prerequisite: None
Endorsement: B&I
This course offers intensive intervention for students who have severe reading weaknesses. Coursework addresses both word recognition and language comprehension through explicit instruction in phonological awareness, decoding, sight recognition, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge. Students identified for participation in the course have demonstrated deficits in foundational literacy skills and require specialized instruction and targeted interventions for skill development.
Fundamentals of Reading 2
Grade: 9-12 Credit: 1 – full year
RISD: 1559 PEIMS: 03270800
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Reading 1
Endorsement: B&I
This course offers intensive intervention for students who have severe reading weaknesses. Coursework addresses both word recognition and language comprehension through explicit instruction in phonological awareness, decoding, sight recognition, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge. Students identified for participation in the course have demonstrated deficits in foundational literacy skills and require specialized instruction and targeted interventions for skill development.
Fundamentals of Reading 3
Grade: 9-12 Credit: 1 – full year
RISD: 1650 PEIMS: 03270900
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Reading 2
Endorsement: B&I
This course offers intensive intervention for students who have severe reading weaknesses. Coursework addresses both word recognition and language comprehension through explicit instruction in phonological awareness, decoding, sight recognition, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge. Students identified for participation in the course have demonstrated deficits in foundational literacy skills and require specialized instruction and targeted interventions for skill development.
Student to Industry Connections - ALT
Grade: 11, 12 Credit: 1 - full year
RISD: 7361 PEIMS: N1270153
Prerequisite: None
The central focus of this Special Education course is to prepare students to be 21st century career ready through interaction with a seasoned workplace mentor. The course may include a work-based learning component. Instruction will support students with marketable skills attainment. The course is recommended for students 16 years of age or older.
Making Connections I-IV - ALT
Grade: 9-12 Credit: .5 - one semester
RISD: 7362 (1) PEIMS: N1290332
7363 (2) N1290333
7364 (3) N1290334
7365 (4) N1290335
Prerequisite: None
The Making Connections course sequence serves students who have an autism spectrum disorder or a related disorder such as social (pragmatic) communication disorder which causes them to have difficulty with social skills. The courses also assist the students with developing and generalizing appropriate and beneficial social skills and in turn increases that student’s postsecondary outcome.