Bergen County Special Services School District 540 Farview Avenue Paramus, New Jersey 07652 http://bcss.bergen.org 2015–2016 The mission of the Bergen County Special Services School District is to effectively address the unique social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and career needs of students by creating positive, stimulating, and encouraging learning environments in schools, homes, and communities. Through dynamic collaborations with families and artnershipsp with community resources, the District will enable each learner to realize his or her highest potential and to become a self-directed and contributing member of society. Programs and Services ergen County Special Services is a unique AUTISM CONTINUUM S county-wide public school district that B The Autism Continuum is designed to meet the academic, social, was established through an act passed by the behavioral, and vocational needs of students who are classified New Jersey Legislature in 1971. Distinguished as with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive the first Special Services school district in New Developmental Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Jersey, Bergen County is now one of eight such Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. Learners attending our districts funded by county, state, and sending programs range in age from three to twenty-one. We offer our schools. The District offers a broad spectrum students highly individualized instructional formats based ROGRAM of special education programs and services for upon the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). children and adults with disabilities. These empirically-based teaching methodologies, according P to ongoing research efforts, are the most effective educational Students are placed in the least restrictive interventions for students with autism. Our school services environment according to developmental include occupational, physical, and speech therapies; family and chronological levels. Flexible and highly training; home program coordination; and augmentative individualized learning environments are communication assessment. Programs include language, designed to meet individual needs. BCSS offers social, behavioral, and academic development. Students enrolled CHOOL local school districts a wide range of programs in these programs are usually authorized to substitute the state’s S incorporating the most effective and up-to- DLM and Alternative Proficiency Assessment for state-required date technology available to meet the needs of standardized tests. The secondary program utilizes the support services of a job coach and an industrial arts teacher to assist students with diverse learning disabilities. The students with internships at local businesses and employment district also offers an extensive array of services in local communities. to facilitate the transition from school to adult life, including employment and/or postsecondary Bergen County Special Services holds membership in Autism education. A team of qualified professionals New Jersey, Inc. conducts individual assessments to develop personalized, holistic plans ensuring each student’s successful integration into full community living. BEHAVIORAL CONTINUUM The school programs at Bergen County Special Services are Programs within this continuum are designed for students with organized into five separate divisions known as continuums. emotional and/or learning disabilities who require educational, Each continuum includes a broad range of special education supportive, and/or ongoing counseling to develop positive classifications, and is designed for pre-Kindergarten through social and emotional interactions and, ultimately, the ability to secondary students. self-monitor their personal growth and development. Students learn to assume responsibility for their actions by understanding consequences of behavior, predicting outcomes of behavior, and SERVICES FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS exercising control of behavior. New Jersey’s Chapter 192 and Chapter 193 programs are offered The Behavioral Skills Continuum is firmly rooted in the to eligible students enrolled full-time in nonpublic elementary commitment to provide an environment where all students and secondary schools in New Jersey. Chapter 192 programs can experience success and ultimately transition to become provide auxiliary services such as compensatory education, productive, self-supporting citizens. Each site provides a full English as a second language, and home instruction. Chapter array of traditional and functional academic courses, as well 193 programs provide remedial services such as evaluation and as personal, social, career and employment experiences. These determination of eligibility for special education and related supportive settings are designed to facilitate student learning services, supplementary instruction, speech-language services, potential and, simultaneously, to equip students with the skills and home instruction from certified teachers employed by BCSS. they need to effectively make decisions, solve problems, and assume responsibility. Curriculum in these programs is aligned The 192/193 Program is staffed by approximately 64 professionals to New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards; students who provide services to classified and general education students in participate in all state-mandated testing. non-public schools throughout Bergen County. Forty-two highly qualified teachers provide Comp Ed (basic skills) to students who fall below the minimum levels of proficiency on standardized tests, as well as Supplemental Instruction (SI) to classified students. Two ESL teachers instruct students for whom English is a second DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CONTINUUM language, to ensure their success both academically and socially. Additionally, twenty certified speech/language specialists in the The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Continuum offers programs in Program evaluate and provide treatment for children with speech Midland Park and Hackensack, and is one of the largest and and language needs. most comprehensive of its kind in New Jersey. Students, who range in age from three to twenty-one, are educated either through an Auditory-Oral approach or a Total Communication approach. The Auditory-Oral track focuses on the development of listening and oral speech skills, while the Total VOCATIONAL SHARED-TIME PROGRAMS Communication track incorporates sign language and finger spelling in addition to speech, speech-reading, and auditory The Bergen County Special Services School District amplification. Both approaches emphasize the development of offers shared-time vocational programs at its Paramus communication skills through intensive speech and language campus for students in grades eleven, twelve, and twelve training in conjunction with the use of residual hearing. plus. Students are currently enrolled in Sales & Customer Since the programs are located in public schools, students have Service, Hospitality & Food Service, and Child Care the opportunity to interact with age-appropriate peers who Assistant training programs. Additional research regarding are not hearing impaired. A complete array of placements is the employment outlook for various occupations will available, from self-contained to full inclusion (mainstreamed). determine additional programs that BCSS will develop and Collaborative teaching, participation in lunch and recreation implement over the next two years. periods, and a full spectrum of academic and extracurricular activities are among the inclusion options offered. All students are eligible to participate in general education, physical Sales & Customer Service education, sports, music, art, and library classes. A variety of Designed to prepare participants for entry-level retail sales and cultural enrichment activities, such as performances by the customer service-related positions, this comprehensive pro- National Theatre of the Deaf, are offered throughout the year. gram provides support for successful entry and advancement Curriculum in these programs is aligned to the New Jersey Core in service-related careers. Customer service, sales, and literacy Curriculum Content Standards, with students participating standards have been integrated into a fully-developed Sales and in all state-mandated testing. Additional support, including Service Curriculum based on the National Retail Federation audiological services, ongoing case management services, and Foundation (NRFF)’s Sales and Service Learning Program. sign language classes for families and staff, is provided. A unique component of the program, the new Crossroads Gift Shop, will allow students to work in a retail setting, and provide opportunities for hands-on experience in marketing, LIFE SKILLS CONTINUUM merchandising, inventory, and customer service. Programs within the Life Skills Continuum offer education and related services to students who exhibit cognitive and/or physical Hospitality & Food Service disabilities. Emphasis is placed upon intensive instruction in This comprehensive program is designed to prepare participants age-appropriate independent living skills, generalization of for entry-level hospitality and food-service related positions, skills across multiple environments, and community-based and provide support for successful entry and advancement functional instruction. Career education and development of in food service and hospitality-related careers. Food service, social skills enable students to become contributing members of preparation, and hospitality