Denville Township Schools
Special Education Program Offerings
Preschool Programs
Bridges to Learning
Bridges to Learning is our inclusion preschool which includes general education preschoolers and preschool students with disabilities. There is one teacher and one aide. This is a faster paced class for 3 hours daily. Students in the inclusion class have the skills needed to participate in whole group and small group instruction. Less emphasis is needed for daily living skills and there are less related services needs.
Pathways and Pathways Too
Pathways and Pathways Too are preschool disabilities classes with one teacher and one aide. When the class size increases to 9, there are 2 aides in the class. Students in these classes have the skills needed to participate in whole group and small group instruction. The class is 5 hours and 15 minutes daily allowing for slower pacing of instruction, increased emphasis on daily living skills, and more related services needs.
Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones is a preschool disabilities class for students who need a smaller student to staff ratio, generally a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio. The class follows the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and includes 1:1 discrete trial instruction. The Behaviorist (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) provides ongoing consultation to the class to support the staff and students. The class is 5 hours and 15 minutes daily allowing for slower pacing of instruction, increased emphasis on daily living skills, and more related services needs.
School Age Programs
In-class Resource
The In-Class Resource program is provided to students with disabilities within the general education classroom setting. The class is co-taught by a certified General Education teacher and a certified Special Education Teacher. Students receive instruction within this program following the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). Instructional pacing follows the general education curriculum pacing. The student may be provided modifications to instructional strategies or testing procedures or other specialized instruction to access the general education curriculum in accordance with the student’s IEP.
Pull-Out Resource Replacement
The Pull-out Resource Replacement program provides students with small group instruction. The class is taught by a certified Special Education Teacher and the instruction replaces the general education instruction for the designated subject matter. Students will receive instruction within this program following the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). The class pacing may be slower than the pacing within the general education setting. Specialized instructional methods are employed to meet the unique learning needs of the students. The general education curriculum and instructional strategies may be modified based on the student’s IEP.
Learning and Language Disabilities (LLD) Mild/Moderate
The Learning and Language Disabilities special class program is for students who have a need for greater academic and social support in accordance with their Individualized Education Programs (IEP)s. Instruction follows the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) with modifications as needed to provide a successful educational experience for each student. Students often function below their chronological age peers in the specified curriculum area or evidence significant motivational weaknesses requiring a substantially greater degree of individualization and small group instruction. Specialized materials and instructional methods are incorporated to specifically meet the individual student’s needs. Students in the LLD program often require a reduced pacing and a substantial amount of repetition to progress towards their academic goals. Students receive social skills instruction within the program and have opportunities for mainstreaming in general education settings according to their IEPs. Positive behavior supports are incorporated through classroom management systems and can be individualized based on specific student needs.
Multiple Disabilities (MD)
The Multiple Disabilities program is a special class program which may utilize the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) serves as a consultant to the classroom. Students receive a modified grade level curriculum according to the student’s individually assessed level. The class maintains a lower staff to student ratio to provide more intensive individualized instruction, including discrete trial training (DTT) when appropriate. This program focuses on both academic and functional-based life skills programming for students to assist them in developing independence in the educational setting. The program includes ongoing data collection, analysis of learning-readiness, and academic and functional skills to guide all programming and ensure our students are generalizing acquired skills across settings. Scaffolding toward grade level standards and curriculum and skills is ongoing according to a student’s individual ability levels. Students have opportunities for mainstreaming in general education settings according to their IEPs. Individual motivation is assessed and incorporated to support adaptive behavior and teach functional replacement skills. Social skills instruction is provided for all students.