Special Education

At Hempstead High School, students with Individualized Education Plans have classes at different program levels, according to their academic and or management needs. These classes are 12:1:1, Integrated Co-Teaching, and Resource Room.

• Life Skills (12:1:1)– This class has twelve students, one Special Education teacher and one teaching assistant. The 12:1:1 class serves students whose academic management needs require additional adult support to assist students to engage in learning. Students receive specially designed instruction, which is best accomplished in a self-contained setting. Students in this class participate in the New York State Alternate Assessment.

• Self Contained (15:1)– This class has fifteen students and one Special Education teacher. The 15:1 class serves students whose academic needs require specially designed instruction in a self-contained setting. Students in this class participate in all district and state assessments.

• Integrated Co-Teaching– This class is co-taught by two teachers, a general educator in the content area and a special educator. Instruction is provided jointly to a class that includes both students with and students without disabilities, to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. The maximum number of students with disabilities receiving integrated co-teaching services in a class is twelve students. Students in this class participate in all district and state assessments.

• Resource Room – This class is for students with a disability registered in either a special education class or general education class, who need specialized supplementary instruction in an individual or small group setting. The instruction group size in Resource Room cannot exceed five students. Students receive instruction five times over a ten-day cycle. Students are provided with individualized study skills, organizational skills and supplemental instruction related to their content classes. Students in this class participate in all district and state assessments.

The district provides related and support services as stated on the student’s Individualized Education Plan. These services include counseling, occupational and physical therapy, speech and language services, hearing services, visual services, and social worker services. Any or all the above support services may be recommended by the school’s Instructional Support Team as a pre-referral strategy, prior to referral to the Committee on Special Education.