Specialized Services - Mastery Charter School

We serve all students.

From a strength based mindset, we facilitate targeted supports to accelerate the learning, achievement and personal growth of all students.  We work with our students to develop skills for self-advocacy, self-determination and independence. We include families in each step of their child’s programming.

214

Specialized Services Teachers Across 24 Schools

Specialized Services Programming

We believe all students are individuals who experience a finite set of intellectual, psychological and sociological challenges that can impede their academic and social success. We are committed to doing all that we can to successfully overcome such challenges to ensure every student has an opportunity to learn the academic and personal skills they need to succeed in higher education, compete in the global economy, and pursue their dreams.

Across the network, Mastery offers comprehensive specialized programming to meet the individualized needs of each child, including:

  • Academic Interventions
  • Social Work Services
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • 504 Accommodations & Supports
  • Individualized Education Plans
  • Emotional Support
  • Low Incidence Programs  (Autistic Support, Multiple Disabilities, Life Skills)

For questions or concerns, please contact: [email protected]

Academic Interventions at Mastery Charter Schools are driven by the student’s learning needs OR Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students are provided with appropriate Research Based Interventions using a Response to Instruction & Intervention (RTII) approach. The RTI Action Network describes RTII as “a multi-tier approach to the early identification and support of students with learning needs. Struggling learners are provided with interventions at increasing levels of intensity to accelerate their rate of learning. These services may be provided by a variety of personnel, including general education teachers, special educators, and specialists. Progress is closely monitored to assess both the learning rate and level of performance of individual students. Educational decisions about the intensity and duration of interventions are based on individual student response to instruction. RTII is designed for use when making decisions in both general education and special education, creating a well-integrated system of instruction and intervention guided by child outcome data.”

Mastery School Social Workers are directly responsible for improving the academic performance and behavioral functioning of the school’s at-risk students through counseling, home visits, direct intervention, and teacher consultation.  Mastery School Social Workers are also responsible for providing services for students in need of immediate crisis intervention.  Mastery school social workers also work to partner with neighboring organizations, agencies, etc. to ensure students’ needs are met in the school and their community.

The English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Mastery Charter Schools is built on the belief that native language skills transfer to secondary language learning. Based on this, students are taught social & instructional language in tandem with academic language of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies throughout each stage of English proficiency. As ESL teachers work with our ELLs , to build language capacity, students gain greater and greater levels of access into the curriculum and bridge their prior learning and experiences into the English instructed classroom and school environment. Mastery values the language and cultural diversity that English Language Learners bring into our schools and strives to incorporate the literature and historical perspective of our multilingual students into the curriculum, school, and classroom culture.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 established protections for students with disabilities that do not qualify for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  If a student has a disability that interferes with their ability to learn or otherwise participate in their education, they may be provided accommodations and supports through a 504 plan.  Mastery Charter Schools works with students and families to develop 504 plans that eliminate barriers to learning and full participation in the educational environment.

In accordance with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Mastery Charter Schools offers a continuum of special education services for students in all grade levels.  Following a comprehensive evaluation, a student may be found eligible for an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  Services are available for students with the following disabilities:  Autism, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, intellectual disability (ID), multiple disabilities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), orthopedic impairment, other heath impairment (OHI), emotional disturbance (ED), specific learning disability (SLD), speech and language impairment (SLI) and deaf-blindness.  Students who qualify for special education services can receive these supports through a variety of ways and Mastery makes every effort to provide supports in the least restrictive environment for each student.  Related services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy are also provided.

The Emotional Support Program at Mastery Charter Schools utilizes evidence and school-based therapeutic approaches that have been shown to be effective and maximize the students’ opportunities to achieve academic, social and behavioral success within the school setting. A Functional Behavior Assessment and Positive Behavior Support Plan is developed for each student in order to meet their individualized needs.  Additional supports include, but are not limited to the following: emotional support classroom setting, access to a clinician and classroom counselor, individual therapy, group therapy, and thorough communication with the school social work team and outside mental health service providers.

The Low Incidence Programs at Mastery Charter Schools include Autistic Support, Multiple Disabilities and Life Skills.  Each program focuses on developing academic, social, life, and vocational skills our students will need to be successful now and beyond Mastery Charter. Each program puts emphasis on student strengths and hands-on experiences.  Every student has the opportunity to develop not only within our school walls but through meaningful activities within the community. Our Low Incidence Program is ever-changing to fit each individual students’ need.

60

Hours of PD Specialized Services Annually

"Mastery Schools offer a variety of specialized programming to meet the diverse needs of all students. These programs include K-12, Itinerant through Full-Time, Learning Support, Autistic Support, LIfe Skills Support, Multiple Disabilities Support, and Emotional Support. Each student's strengths and needs are considered when creating an individualized education program."
-Elizabeth Farruggia
Deputy Chief of Specialized Services
Mastery Schools

Academic Program

Engaging and rigorous. Developing independence and critical thinking skills.

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Student Life

Mastery is much more than academics. Get involved!

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College and Career Prep

Partnering with students for life after graduation.

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