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This program (CoSer 207-4220) is offered at the middle and high school levels. PEP is designed primarily to meet the academic and social needs of students with a variety of disabilities including, but not limited to, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) such as Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and related disabilities. The PEP program offers resource room support along with curriculum adaptations and modifications in the mainstream setting. Speech and other therapies are available for students who require these services. Teachers and support staff use a team approach to support students in their academic programs in general education courses. All staff members have a level of expertise in working with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The student/teacher/aide ratio is 12:1:2. MIDDLE SCHOOL The middle school PEP program is designed for students in grades 6 to 8. The emphasis of this program is on academic preparation, as well as social communication and pragmatics—what to say, to whom, when, how and where, as well as interpreting the social cues that “typical” students innately know. The goal throughout is to prepare middle school students with the strategies and skills needed to successfully move into their high school careers. In general, students at this level have average or above-average cognitive abilities, although some may experience challenges in writing and math. Academics are aligned with the New York State standards for middle school education. Students' days are spent in both the PEP classroom, with self-contained instruction and resource room opportunities, as well as in the mainstream. Mainstreaming opportunities for some academic and non-academic classes (e.g. art, music, foreign language, technology, home and careers) allow students, with the help of teachers and other staff, to learn along with "typical" peers in district classes. In addition to content area studies, students work on personal and academic planning, organization and study skills through the use of tools and strategies such as graphic organizers, outlines, note-taking, visual schedules and cues. During the 2009-10 school year, the middle school-level PEP class is
located at Schalmont Middle School. The high school PEP program is designed for students in grades 9 to 12. As with the middle school program, the emphasis of high school PEP is on academic preparation (many students pursue Regents diplomas), as well as social communication and pragmatics, social skills development, personal and academic planning, organization, study skills and self-advocacy. Teachers and support staff possess a high level of proficiency in the content areas in order to support students in mainstream classes and to reinforce concepts taught in various levels of coursework, including advanced courses at the 11th and 12th grade levels (e.g., chemistry, physics, history, technology, and related advanced placement (AP) subjects.) Teachers, teaching assistants and social workers assist students to interpret classroom situations and to successfully navigate through unstructured school settings such as the cafeteria, buses and hallways. At the high school level, PEP students work to educate general education students to the challenges of ASD students through the creation and implementation of a Peer Network Program (create hyperlink) run jointly by PEP and Mohonasen CSD staff.
During the 2009-10 school year, the high school-level PEP class is
located at Mohonasen High School. For more information about the PEP program contact: Barbara Gabriel-Catalano, bgabriel@gw.neric.org, middle school regular assessment principal, (518) 374-7564, ext. 7023; or
Carol d'Estienne, high school regular assessment principal,
cdestienne@gw.neric.org
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Performance
Expectancy Preparation