SPECIAL EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT COURSES
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
SEMESTER COURSE, GRADES
49-00-11/SOC COMM SKLS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this course is to develop an awareness and practice of social behavior when interacting with others. Focus is on appropriate behavior in various postures and situations, such as: asking for help, obeying rules, greeting people, initiating conversions, compromising, reacting to rejection, participating in a dialogue, etc. The approach in this course comes from the assumption that the student has limited practice or experience in a variety of social interactions typical to their age-level peers. The students, therefore, need opportunities to interact and receive feedback and instruction about the natural consequences of their behavior. Students will be coached and advised on techniques and strategies to improve social and communication skills.
BUDGET MAINTENANCE
SEMESTER COURSE, GRADES 9-12. MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT.
49-01-13/BUDGET MAINT
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The competency course is an introduction to fundamental personal finance skills. This course develops the skills needed to plan and maintain a simple personal budget. Budget Maintenance is designed to prepare students to meet alternate standards found in the Curriculum Guide for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities. Students enter into and move through the standards at an individual pace.
CAREER EXPLORATION
SEMESTER COURSE GRADES 9-12. MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT.
49-00-13/CAREER EXPLOR
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The emphasis of this course is to explore a variety of careers and professions. Students will become aware of jobs available at school and in the community and the requirements for obtaining those jobs. Students will choose careers of interest based on their individual strengths and their ability to perform the work and meet job requirements. This course exposes students to various careers and focuses on appropriate workplace behavior.
The following special education courses are aligned to the district general education courses and are adapted to meet the needs of special education students. They do NOT meet UC A-G eligibility requirements.
COURSE: ESSENTIAL ENGLISH
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Special Education Placement per IEP
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This course follows grade level district curriculum. Instructional materials are modified and/or adapted to meet individual needs. Students are encouraged to improve their writing and reading skills. Students read novels from the school's core literature list.
COURSE: ESSENTIAL MATH
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Special Education Placement per IEP
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
Essential Math is designed for students who will benefit from additional instruction in basic operations. The course offers basic fundamentals for the preparation of algebra, geometry, statistics and probability, logic, measurement, and consumer applications. Additional instruction is offered in basic operations through individual and small group approaches.
COURSE: ESSENTIAL ALGEBRA
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Special Education Placement per IEP
GRADES: 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This course meets state standards in Algebra content and PCHS requirements for graduation. The course offers instruction in the fundamental Algebra concepts and prepares students with the skills needed to be successful on the high school exit exam. Instructional materials are modified and/or adapted to meet individual needs.
COURSE: TRANSITION 101
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Enrollment in the Transition Partnership Project
GRADES: 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This course is designed to facilitate the transition from high school to the adult world. Linkages to advanced training, education and employment opportunities after high school will be explored. Four major areas will be covered: personal life, job education and training, and living on your own. Self-knowledge and self-determination will also be part of the curriculum.
COURSE: ESSENTIAL ENGLISH 9 A/B, 10 A/B, 11 A/B, 12 A/B
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Designed for Special Education students who spend the majority of their day in a self-contained classroom. Placement is per IEP team decision.
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This course is an individualized structured course designed to teach language skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and writing skills using the district core curriculum modified and adapted to meet the needs of Special Education students. The course can fulfill the A-G English requirements for each grade level (English 9 A/B, English 10 A/B, English 11 A/B, and English 12 A/B) and standards, based upon the support needs of the students.
COURSE: ESSENTIAL MATH
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Designed for Special Education students who spend the majority of their day in a self-contained classroom. Placement is per IEP team decision.
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This class is an individualized structured course designed to teach basic mathematical skills and applications to a variety of life skill situations. The basic fundamentals of probability, logic, and measurement are also covered.
COURSE: ESSENTIAL SCIENCE
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Designed for Special Education students who spend the majority of their day in a self-contained classroom. Placement is per IEP team decision.
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
Essential Science is offered to satisfy the high school graduation requirement of a physical science. PCHS core curriculum is utilized, and instruction and materials are modified as needed. The Life Science course is a practical study of the features and functions of living things. This course meets the high school graduation requirements.
COURSE: ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SCIENCE
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Designed for Special Education students who spend the majority of their day in a self-contained classroom. Placement is per IEP team decision.
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This course covers the basic elements of PCHS core curriculum in Social Science. Practical applications to real-life situations are stressed. Materials and instruction are modified and adapted to meet individual student needs.
COURSE: ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION
SEMESTER COURSE: 5 credits
PREREQUISITE: The student must have an IEP for placement in Adaptive PE.
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This course is available to students who have been assessed with special needs in order to participate in physical education with modifications and accommodations.
COURSE: PRACTICAL LIVING
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Special Education Placement per IEP
GRADES: 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
This course is a community-based instructional class.
COURSE: COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
SEMESTER COURSE: 10 credits
PREREQUISITE: Special Education Placement per IEP
GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12
GRADING: A – F
The goal of the Communication Strategies course is to help students acquire, perform and generalize age appropriate classroom and social behaviors. Individually tailored interventions based on the student’s needs as indicated by the IEP are a key component of the curriculum to foster student independence. Students will be given instruction and monitored in material organization, assignment completion, note-taking skills, test preparation and social interactions.