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|  | | | What is a Learning Center?
Learning Center programs are specifically designed for students with emotional and/or behavioral disturbances.
*Members of a multidisciplinary team work together to provide a
positive and safe environment where children feel successful by
building on their strengths.
*Staff
receive extensive training in the program behavior management system:
Behaviorally Effective Skills Training (BEST) and in Nonviolent Crisis
Intervention (NCVI) to ensure the use of best practices.
*Children
spend time in general education classes when they have made sufficient
progress such that the parent(s) and school team believe they will be
successful.
*Our goal is to help
children develop toward a more age-appropriate level so that they may
return to the general education setting as quickly as possible. |
What Services Do We Provide?
We provide a wide range of services to all children in our programs.
Additional services are provided when requested or appropriate.
All children receive:
*Small group academic instruction by a qualified teacher with the support of trained paraprofessionals.
*Social skills instruction to help children learn positive ways to get along with others and how to handle conflicts peacefully.
*Mental health support by a school social worker.
Additional services your child might receive:
*Individual Therapy
- that provides a safe place for a child to express overwhelming
feelings in a trusted and nurturing environment. The social worker
helps the child learn appropriate ways to ahndle these feelings, learn
new coping skills, and build on his/her strengths to increase
self-esteem.
*Group Therapy
- that provides a place for children at different developmental levels
to teach each other ways to manage their feelings and behaviors more
appropriately. As children practice these new skills with one another,
they begin to gain more positive approaches for developing friendships. |
Who Provides These Services?
Learning Center Programs are composed of a multi-disciplinary team,
which consists of a team leader, classroom teachers, educational
assitants (EAs), teaching assistants (TAs), social workers,
speech/communication therapists, occupational therapists, and
specialists (prep).
Team Leader: Trained either as a
special educator or social worker, this person is hired to oversee the
day-to-day operationof individual Learning Center programs. Specific
responsibilities include maintaining open communication between
parents, staff and community organizations; creating and maintaining an
inclusive, bias-free school climate; and supporting and directing staff
to enhance program quality.
Social Workers: These
individuals are licensed or completing licensure in the field of social
work. Their responsibilities might include providing individual or
group therapy, providing mental health services to students or
consultation to staff, and assisting teaching staff with daily student
problems. Social workers work together with teachers to ensure that
students are receiving complete and appropriate services that meet
their individual mental health needs.
EBD Teachers:
These individuals are trained and are licensed or completing licensure
to teach children in special education. They are experienced in working
with the variety of learning, emotional and behavioral difficulties
that Learning Center students experience. Teachers work together with
their team leader and scoial workers to design appropriate,
individualized programs for students.
Education Assistants:
These individuals are experienced in behavior management techniques and
supportive intervention that help students manage and process their
emotions. In many learning center sites, EAs manage the intervention
room. They meet regularly with the team leader, teachers and social
workers to create individual plans for students that will be used in
the classroom and intervention room.
Teaching Assistants:
These individuals are the staff members who spend the most time with
the students as they accompany students to class, groups, meals, recess
and bus. TAs are primarily responsible for behavior management and
academic support in the classroom, and in assisting staff with group
activities. |
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