K-12 Special Education Academic Services Models

K–12 Special Education Academic Programs

Ridgefield Public Schools is committed to providing high-quality, individualized academic supports that allow students with disabilities to meaningfully access the general education curriculum. We offer a continuum of special education services and instructional models designed to meet each student’s unique learning needs while promoting participation in the least restrictive environment.

Our special education academic programs span kindergarten through 12th grade and include the following models:

Consultation Models (elementary, middle and high school levels)

Consultation is the least restrictive form of special education support and plays an important role in ensuring student success across all settings. In this model, special education teachers and related service providers work collaboratively with general education staff to:

• Adapt instruction and materials to meet the needs of students with disabilities
  
  

• Recommend and support implementation of accommodations and modifications
  
  

• Monitor progress and provide feedback on student performance
  
  

• Share strategies to address behavioral, academic, or executive functioning needs
  
  

Consultation services ensure that students benefit from specialized expertise even when they are not receiving direct services in a given setting.

Co-Taught Classrooms (middle and high school levels)

In co-taught classes, a general education teacher and a special education teacher share responsibility for planning, instruction, and assessment in the same classroom. This inclusive model allows students with and without disabilities to learn side-by-side with differentiated instruction and support from two educators working together to meet diverse learning needs.

Push-In Services (elementary level)

Push-in services provide targeted support within the general education classroom. A special education teacher or related service provider joins the class to work directly with students during instruction, helping to scaffold content, reinforce skills, and promote access to grade-level curriculum without removing the student from the learning environment.

Specialized Instructional Classes (elementary, middle, and high school levels)

Some students benefit from instruction in specialized content area classes to address more intensive academic needs. These small-group settings are designed to provide explicit, evidence-based instruction in areas such as:

• Reading (decoding, fluency, comprehension, phonemic awareness)
  
  

• Written Expression
  
  

• Mathematics
  
  

• Study Skills and Social-Emotional Skills (executive functioning, organization, time management, self-advocacy)
  
  

• Language-based instruction for students with expressive/receptive language processing challenges
  
  

Specialized classes are taught by special education teachers using targeted curricula aligned with each student’s IEP goals.

Specialized Instruction for Students with Dyslexia (elementary, middle, and high school levels)

For students who have been identified with characteristics of dyslexia or a specific learning disability in reading, Ridgefield Public Schools provides structured literacy instruction delivered by trained special education teachers. These services include systematic, explicit, and multisensory approaches to develop foundational skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Instruction is tailored to each student’s individual learning profile and aligned with Connecticut’s guidelines for addressing dyslexia. Our goal is to build confident, independent readers by targeting the root of their reading difficulties and providing consistent, research-based support.

Resource Center / Learning Center Support (elementary and middle school levels)

Students may receive services in a pull-out model within a dedicated Resource Center or Learning Center. These services are typically provided in small groups and focus on remediating specific skill areas, reinforcing classroom learning, and supporting the development of IEP goals. Resource Center services may address academic, executive functioning, and behavioral needs, and often include time for reteaching or pre-teaching key concepts.

Across all models, Ridgefield Public Schools is dedicated to collaborative, flexible, and student-centered practices. Special education teams partner closely with classroom teachers, interventionists, related service providers, and families to ensure that each student receives the support they need to succeed and grow throughout their K–12 journey.

If you would like more information about the special education services available at your child’s school, please contact your school team or reach out to the Office of Special Services.