How will my student be supported at high school?

In August, you and your child will hear from your child’s new Case Manager for high school. While there are so many people at Royal to support your child, the Case Manager will be “your person”, so to speak. The Case Manager fulfills the primary role that oversees the entire IEP process, including working closely with all IEP support providers. The Case Manager and counselor work together to ensure that students are getting the appropriate classes that meet their needs. In addition, it is the role of the Case Manager to facilitate the IEP meeting, including the discussion where the team creates the goals and accommodations. Typically, Case Managers keep the same students on their caseload all 4 years and create long lasting relationships with students in order to help them find their voice and advocate for themselves.

How are you preparing my child for life after high school?

Our students engage in various activities all through high school to help them explore their strengths, interests and needs as learners. We build upon this in order to help them explore possible plans for college or vocational programs, ultimately leading them to finding a career path that matches their strengths and interests. Transition to Adult Life becomes an official part of the IEP process and we often include various outside agencies to support students with their plans as well. Our goal is to help our students feel prepared for life after high school, no matter which path they choose.

Autism Success Academy Mild/Moderate

The goal of the Success Academy is to provide the appropriate physical and psychological environment to establish and reinforce growth in academic skills, social interaction skills, communication skills and behavior. The case manager provides an individualized daily program for each pupil based on an educational plan created as a team through the IEP process, including the coordination of adjunct services in support of each pupil’s Individualized Educational Plan. Families are continually informed of pupil progress.

Contact: Mr. Rod Rounke

Autism Success Academy Moderate/Severe

The focus of the Success Academy is on meeting the academic, linguistic, behavioral, social and emotional needs of each student, to help them increase their independence and develop interpersonal and educational skills to the fullest extent possible. Instruction is focused on the individual needs of each student, and includes both standards based academic content and functional life-skills curriculum with an emphasis on communication, social skills, self-regulation, and academics. Communication between school and home is key in the success of this program.

Contact: Ms.Brennan Mize

Emotionally Disturbed (ED Program)

Our ED Program offers all core academics required for graduation with diploma and students are placed in classes according to their needs. When possible, students are encouraged to participate in electives, sports, extracurricular activities, and AP/IB classes. Instruction also includes life skills, social skills, and vocational goals. In our classes, we offer a behavior management system based on positive reinforcement. We also enjoy a partnership with Ventura County Behavioral Health liaison for individual and group therapy for students who qualify for services. Close communication with parents is key, and we nurture this relationship by offering weekly summaries of student progress.

Contact: Mr. Robert Sherden

Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI)

In our academic special education classes (also known as Specialized Academic Instruction: SAI), our teachers teach from the California State Common Core Standards (English, Math, History, Science) and use the same curricular materials (textbooks, novels, etc) as used in general education. The use of supplementary materials as appropriate for the subject matter are used in conjunction with the core curriculum. It should be noted that while our SAI classes do meet the requirement to earn a diploma to graduate high school, SAI classes do not meet the A-G requirements necessary for going straight to a California public college, like a CSU or UC. Private colleges and out of state colleges have their own requirements. We strongly encourage our students to consider Moorpark College as a fantastic alternative, if a college degree is the goal. Ultimately, we are always pushing our students to reach their full potential, and if they are highly successful in SAI classes, it is often recommended to the IEP team that students consider General Education with support (see info on STUDY SKILLS).

Contact: Mrs. Penny Templeton

Study Skills

​In the study skills class (SAI elective course), in addition to supporting students with their core academic courses, we focus on executive functioning to help the students be more appropriately prepared for high school and the transition after.

The curriculum and specific areas of focus:

• becoming familiar with their particular learning style

• developing critical thinking skills

• planning and being organized

• time management skills

• motivation strategies

• proper note-taking

• how to write professional emails

• ways to avoid procrastination

• techniques for stress management

• successful test-taking strategies

• methods for staying focused

• setting appropriate goals