Special Needs Classes

List of 8 items.

• Special Needs Classes Overview

  Philosophy

  The Special Needs classes serve students who are deaf and have additional disabilities. Our philosophy is to work with students and their parents to identify and build on students’ strengths.
  
  Communication is the key. Communication skills help our students comprehend and interact with their world. Communication between home and school is vital to the success of the educational program. We partner with families to provide the best possible outcomes for our students.
  
  

  The Classroom

  Students are grouped by age and taught in self-contained classrooms.  This promotes peer-to- peer interaction and socialization. Each student has an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and teachers and instructional assistants work closely with families so that educational, social and behavioral goals are carried over to the home and community.
  
    Students are expected to wear hearing aids/cochlear implants consistently at school and at home. All classrooms have FM amplification systems.
  
  The school day starts at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 2:35 p.m., Monday through Friday, from September through June. There is a six-week, full-day summer school program in July and August.

  • Each classroom is staffed by a certified Master’s level teacher and two assistants
  • Small class size with 6 students per class
  • Free bus transportation
  • Breakfast and lunch provided
  • Tuition-free (funding is provided by the student’s home school district)
  • On-site school nurse

• Assessments

  • Lexington uses the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA), which is an alternate assessment developed as part of the No Child Left Behind Act to ensure that students have access to the general education curriculum.
  • Eligibility for taking the NYSAA is determined by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) for the student’s home district.
  • The NYSAA is a datafolio-style assessment in which students with severe cognitive disabilities demonstrate their performance toward achieving the New York State learning standards.
  • Student performance is recorded through direct observation and documentation (e.g. student work products, photographs, audios, videotapes).
  • The NYSAA requires that students demonstrate achievement in the areas of English language arts, math, social studies and science.
  • Students must be assessed once a year beginning in the school year they become 9 years-old through the school year they become 14 years-old. A secondary level NYSAA is given during the school year they become 17-18 years of age.

• Curriculum

  The curriculum focuses on functional skills in the areas of:

  • English language arts - reading, writing, communication (e.g. focus on using pictures, print, sign or spoken language to maximize the student's ability to understand information and express themselves)
  • Mathematics (e.g. identifying and using numbers in the environment, measurement, time and money skills)
  • Science (e.g. understanding and planning for weather, identifying changes in the environment, using science for cooking, safety)
  • Social studies (e.g. identifying family, friends and school staff; making and following a schedule/routine, social behavior)
  • Health/Family Living (e.g. personal hygiene, planning and creating a healthy diet, simple cleaning and housework, planning and participating in recreational activities)

  Students in the Special Needs classes obtain a Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential (SACC) instead of a high school diploma. They usually enroll in a day habilitation or adult services program upon completion of the high school program.

• Family Resources

  Learning is a collaborative effort between the teacher, the student and the family. Lexington offers a number of resources to help parents support their child’s development.

  • Family Liaison
  • Parent Staff Association
  • Free parent workshops
  • Back-to-School Night, parent-teacher conferences and open houses
  • Free on-line sign language classes

• School Handbook

  School Handbook 2024-2025

• Special Celebrations

  The Special Needs students enjoy participating in special events and celebrations during the school year. These events enhance the academic curriculum and provide an opportunity to practice communication and socialization skills. Examples of events include:
  
  -  Deaf Awareness Week (DAW)
  -  Book Fair
  -  Signing Santa
  -  Pick a Reading Partner (PARP)
  -  Multicultural Celebration
  -  Spirit Days 

• Special Services and Classes

  The Special Needs classes are enriched by the following special services and classes:

  • Art, physical education, library, STEAM and technology classes
  • Speech therapy as needed
  • Occupational and physical therapy as needed
  • Audiology evaluations and consultation as needed 
  • Counseling as needed
  • Positive Behavior Intervention Supports
  • Independent Living Classroom to practice activities of daily living (e.g. setting a table, preparing meals, making beds)

• Thinking Maps

  Each classroom utilizes a research-based approach, Thinking Maps, to support learning. Thinking Maps are visual patterns linked to eight specific thought processes. By visualizing their thinking, students create concrete images that support critical and creative thinking. Thinking Maps are used throughout the entire Special Needs curriculum.