Launch Program

Vision

The vision of the Launch program is to model and teach students lifelong communication skills, social skills, behavioral regulation skills, and independent living skills to be productive members of their school and community. Students will be provided exceptional, personalized learning with structured and supportive specialized education services to meet individual student needs. In the Launch program, students feel a sense of safety, comfort, and belonging in order to practice lagging skills in a quiet, calm environment surrounded by supportive staff before venturing out into the general education setting.

Program Description

The Launch program provides each student with the individualized instruction, support, and services needed to access the general education setting to increase independence, provide social interaction, and when appropriate, academic opportunities with peers. All district center-based programs are multi-categorical based on student needs. This program primarily serves students having needs identified and qualified for special education services under the categories of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Other Health Disabilities, or Developmental Delay.

The Launch program uses a systematic approach which incorporates evidenced based instruction, along with the use of dynamic instructional strategies and methodologies. The Launch program utilizes natural environments for instruction, positive behavioral programming, educationally based sensory activities, and inclusion into the general education classroom with mainstream peers and activities as determined by the Individualized Education Plan team. The Launch program focuses on highly structured, individualized programming in:

Intensive communication and language development, particularly in the areas of building conversational skills and increasing flexibility with language use
Emotional, sensory, and behavioral development and regulation
Pre-academic to academic skills
Social-emotional reciprocity and social skills
Self-help in personal care needs
Functional skills and routines

Students in the program have unique needs that may or may not include cognitive impairments and most have significant needs in the areas of communication, sensory, and behavioral development and regulation. Students typically receive specialized educational services for more than 60% of their school day. Staff focus on individual students’ positive attributes and strengths to assist in developing proficiency in the above skill areas.

Students will be provided instruction and participation in the classroom at the grade level of their non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible. Students’ Individualized Education Plan goals and objectives are continuously monitored to guide all specialized educational services and curriculum decisions.

Service Delivery Model and Staffing

A full continuum of services are available and provided as indicated on a student’s IEP. Services may be delivered in a variety of ways including individual and small group instruction in the center based classroom for all or part of the school day, as well as specialized educational supports being provided within the general education setting.

Each Launch center-based program classroom consists of approximately 6-8 students with one licensed special education teacher and paraprofessional support. Additional services and supports are available based upon the student’s Individualized Education Plan goals and needs. Related services staff and supports that may be provided as determined by student need include but are not limited to: occupational therapist, speech/language pathologist, school psychologist, social worker, developmental/adapted physical education teacher, physical therapist, vision specialist, teacher of the physically impaired, behavioral specialist, job coach, work experience coordinator, and school nurse.

Placement

For placement in a center-based program, such as Launch, students must be eligible to receive

special education services. Prior to program referral, school teams must consult with the building facilitator and special education team, and attempt specialized educational interventions in the student’s current environment. The district referral process, utilizing the Elementary Review Team, Middle School Review Team, and Secondary Review Team, needs to be closely followed as outlined to ensure that each student is educated in his or her least restrictive environment (LRE). A person knowledgeable in the student’s primary disability category must be on the student’s Individualized Education Plan team. Program placement is an Individualized Education Plan team decision based on student needs and supported by the current evaluation and intervention results.