Specialized Services - Mastery Schools

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 and independence. We include families in each step of their child’s programming.

Mastery leads the way in supporting students with disabilities

As proud participants in the Charter Students with Disabilities Pilot Community, a collective funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastery Schools and nine other high-performing charter districts worked over three years to develop evidence-based practices aimed at improving learning experiences, environments, and outcomes for Black and Latine students with disabilities experiencing poverty. As of May 1, these Research-to-Impact Practices are available for use. The practices are sorted into five collections by content area. Each collection summarizes relevant research and provides step-by-step instructions, templates, and case studies for educators to use in their classrooms. Topics include the following and The Mastery team’s work is included in Igniting Post Secondary Aspirations and Anchoring Emotions.: 

All staff are encouraged to review these invaluable resources and consider how they can be utilized in school year 2024-2025. Many thanks to Mastery’s Simon Gratz Specialized Services and Post Secondary Teams, and the NST Specialized Services Team and Post Secondary Teams for leading this groundbreaking work to support student success. 

214

Specialized Services Teachers Across 24 Schools

Specialized Services Programming

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

  • Comprehensive Special Education Services
  • Comprehensive Multilingual Programs
  • Academic Interventions
  • Social Work Services
  • 504 Accommodations & Supports
  • Special Education

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

Individualized Education Plans

In accordance with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Mastery Schools offer 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).   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.

Autistic Support provides aligned services to students with autism spectrum disorder as a primary diagnosis. We serve students with a wide variety of needs who cannot meaningfully participate without accommodation and/or modifications to the general education curriculum or setting, as appropriate for the individual student.

Blind-Visually Impaired support provides aligned services to  students with varying degrees of visual impairment.  These services are designed to support a student to access the curriculum, the school building, and the world around them, as appropriate for the individual student.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support provides aligned services to students with varying degrees of hearing loss.  These services are designed to support a student with access to the curriculum, and the ability to communicate with the world around them, as appropriate for the individual student.

Emotional Support offers a comprehensive therapeutic system of support for students with varying degrees of emotional and behavioral disabilities. The emotional support services are developed around positive behavior support that work to proactively address challenging behaviors and teach prosocial behaviors, as appropriate for the individual student.

Learning Support offers comprehensive academic support for students with varying degrees of learning differences.  The services are based on providing individualized accommodations and/or modifications and targeted interventions to support students in accessing the curriculum, as appropriate for the individual student.

Life Skills Supports provides aligned supports to students with moderate to significant intellectual disabilities who also require direct instruction in functional skills and have low adaptive functioning.  The services are based on academic, social and behavioral support, as appropriate for the individual student.

Multiple Disabilities Support provides aligned supports students who have two or more impairments or disabilities. A key consideration is that the combination of disabilities causes the student to have severe educational needs. Many students require use of more individualized support, feeding, toileting support, etc., as appropriate for the individual student.

Physical Support provides services to students with varying degrees of physical impairment.  These services are designed to support a student in accessing the curriculum, school building and the world around them, as appropriate for the individual student. 

Speech and Language Impairment support provides services to students with varying degrees of speech and/or language needs.  These services are designed to support a student in accessing the curriculum, and communicating in the world around them, as appropriate for the individual student.

Related Services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, mobility therapy, vision services, and augmented and alternative communications, etc. are also provided, as appropriate for the individual student.

Social and academic proficiency in English is the aim of all multilingual programming at Mastery Schools. This goal lives alongside a belief that our students bring with them the experiences and richness of language necessary to achieve English proficiency. Our asset view of multilingual learners is demonstrated in our inclusive school culture, use of culturally diverse curricula, and multiple pathways to academic success. The pathways are designed to be responsive to students and families, as such; we offer two pathways of instruction, Bilingual and English Immersion.

Learn more about our offerings on our Multilingual Education page.

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.

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 Schools works with students and families to develop 504 plans that eliminate barriers to learning and full participation in the educational environment.

60

Hours of PD Specialized Services Annually

Compensatory Education

If your child has been found eligible to receive compensatory education services by Mastery Charter Schools, please contact the Compensatory Education team at [email protected] with any questions.

"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

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College and Career Prep

Partnering with students for life after graduation.

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