STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Student Support Services Department comprises highly qualified staff dedicated to educating and including students with learning differences found eligible for services under Massachusetts and federal regulations as outlined by IDEA 2004. In all programs, students access services as determined appropriate and necessary by the Team and outlined in the Individualized Education Program (IEP), working toward a successful transition to appropriate post-secondary opportunities.

The mission of the Department is to provide a safe, supportive, and equitable learning environment that meets the individual student's educational needs in the least restrictive environment. In addition, staff provides individualized support and assistance to students with learning differences by focusing on students' unique strengths as they become competent, self-determined, and curious learners. By heightening students’ perspective, introspective, and critical thinking abilities, their self-advocacy, and independence will also increase.

Inclusion Support:

Co-Teaching at Ipswich High School is an instructional delivery approach in which two teachers, a General and Special Education Teacher, share responsibility for planning, delivering, and evaluating instruction for a diverse group of learners. General and Special Educators work in a dynamic and organized fashion that involves the cooperative teaching of academically, emotionally, and socially mixed groups of students in inclusion settings (e.g., English 9, Algebra 1, Biology, etc). The goal is to decrease pulling out Special Education students from their classroom setting while increasing their ability to access their curriculum with peers independently.

Small Group Classes (Math, English, Applied Strategic Learning):

Enrollment in the following classes is determined by the student’s IEP.

Potential Course Sequence:

SAIL/YACHT Programming:

Specialized programming is also available to students through the SAIL (Students Achieving Independent Living) program and YACHT Academy (Young Adult Career/Community Home Management Training), which provide more intense academic support to students with cognitive and transition programming needs. Students enrolled in these programs will take a combination of small group, self-contained Special Education classes (e.g., English, STEM, and Humanities) as well as supported inclusion courses. Opportunities for community awareness, independent living, and/or vocational training courses.