The Penn Yan Central School District offers a continuum of programs to students with disabilities.  Program placements of individual students are always done with the Least Restrictive Environment in mind.  An emphasis is placed upon maintaining students in mainstream classrooms to the maximum extent possible.
 
 

Consulting Teaching Services
Consultant teaching services allow a great deal of flexibility in how services are provided for students.  Services may be indirect in nature or direct in nature. Indirect services consist of consultation between the special education and mainstream teacher(s).  Direct service consists of direct instruction to the student, either individually or in groups by a special education teacher.  Often direct services are delivered in the mainstream classroom. Instructional goals are individualized for each student.
 
At Penn Yan Middle School all students receive consultant teacher service in mainstream classes. At Penn Yan Academy , special education teachers provide direct support within the students’ mainstream study hall.
 
In all cases, students involved in consulting teaching services receive all academic instruction within a mainstream setting.
Each consultant teacher is allowed a maximum legal caseload of 20 students, with a minimum of two hours of service per week per student.
 
Resource Room Support
Resource room support provides remedial instruction and classroom support to a maximum of 5 students per instructional group. Students are grouped according to grade level and similarity of need.  Instruction is individualized for each student and determined by his or her I.E.P. goals. There is a minimum of three hours direct instruction per week. 
 
Resource support can be delivered either as a pull-out program or on a push-in basis.  Pull-out resource services are delivered in a separate location.  Push-in services provide supplemental instruction within a mainstream class setting. 
 
Each Resource Room teacher in grade K-6 is allowed a maximum caseload of 20 students.  In grades 7-12, the maximum student caseload per teacher is 25.
 
Inclusion Classrooms
Inclusion classrooms are mainstream classrooms that contain special education students and are taught by teachers who are certified in both elementary education and special education.  Usually there are no more than 5 special education students in each inclusion classroom.  Generally there is a full time aide assigned to the special education students in the classroom.  In addition a teaching assistant takes over the class for 1/2 hour per day.  This allows the classroom teacher to provide additional individual support for his/her special education students on a daily basis.
 
 

Blended Classrooms

A blended program has been incorporated into grades 2 through 5.  At most grade levels, two classroom teachers share a special education teacher to provide services to approximately 5 special education students in each classroom.  This format provides increased flexibility in grouping students, and provides a full range of differentiated instruction.
 
 
Access Classes
Penn Yan Middle School and Penn Yan Academy each offer Access classes. They are 15:1:1 or 12:1:1 classes.
 
The Access classes are designed to build the skill level of students who are not yet ready to participate in a mainstream classroom. Students are grouped according to ability level.  The emphasis of the program is to provide a hands-on approach for students to attain necessary skills for success in the mainstream classroom, as well as to prepare them for life after High School.  All students are working in the New York State Standards, and are on the road to the Regents. Individual goals and objectives are developed for each student.  Many students also participate in a work-study program, either in the school or at a community site.
 
At Penn Yan Middle School, certified special education teachers teach Access classes.  At Penn Yan Academy, Access classes are team-taught by certified special education teachers and regular education teachers. 
 
Special Classes
Special Classes, taught by a certified special education teacher, are offered in grades K - 5.  These classes provide direct instruction to students who need specialized instruction as determined by their IEPs.  Special Classes vary somewhat from year to year depending upon the needs of the student population, but generally the following courses are offered:
 
·   Special Class Reading
·   Special Class Language Arts
·   Special Class Math
 
All special classes are 12:1:1 classes.  The emphasis of all special classes is to raise skill levels to the point that students can be returned to mainstream classes. 
 
There is a maximum of a three-year chronological age span within each special class.
BOCES Programs
 
For a small minority of students, placement within in-district programs is not possible due to the severe nature of their difficulties.  Almost all students placed in BOCES programs are placed there due to severe emotional or behavioral difficulties. When the behavior of a special education student becomes severe enough that there is consistent disruption to his or her mainstream or special education program, then a BOCES program is considered. In other cases students demonstrate their inability to function within a mainstream environment. A BOCES placement occurs only after attempts to work with the student in-district fail.
 
BOCES programs have psychological, social work, and other support systems that far exceed that which can be offered within a public school setting.
 
Although BOCES offers a variety of programs, the majority of the students from the Penn Yan Central School District are placed in one of the two following programs:
 
 
·   Social Skills Development 1:6:1 and 1:12:1 - This program is for students with severe behavioral difficulties.  Behavioral and academic plans are individualized for each student.
 
·   Functional Skills Development 1:6:1 - when a student has severe academic or cognitive delays, in addition to severe behavioral difficulties, placement in this program is appropriate.
Declassification Support Services
 
When a special education student is found to be no longer eligible for special education services, declassification support services are available for one year from the date of the final CSE meeting.  This allows a level of support through special education while the student transitions out of special education services.  
 
Related Services
 
Related services are offered to students with disabilities when indicated on their I.E.P.  These services are provided in conjunction with the student’s academic program.  Related services are provided in order that the child may benefit educationally from his/her academic program. The determination of the need for related services is made by the C.S.E., and is indicated on each child’s I.E.P.  In addition to working directly with students, all related services providers offer consultation services to mainstream and special education teachers.
 
Speech Therapy
Speech services are offered by certified speech therapists. Sessions may be individual or small group in nature. Speech therapy is for the purpose of improving speech intelligibility and to improve language skills. Good communication skills are obviously essential to be successful in a mainstream classroom.  Speech therapists also provide a social skills group at the elementary and middle school level.
 

Teacher of the Deaf

This service is offered by a certified teacher of the deaf.  Teachers work with deaf and hard of hearing students in large group and small group settings.  They provide support to deaf children who are included in regular education classes.
 
 
Occupational Therapy
  Occupational Therapy services are offered by a licensed occupational therapist. Sessions may be individual or small group in nature.   Occupational therapy services primarily seek to improve fine motor skills, visual motor skills, and visual motor coordination.
 
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy services are offered by a licensed physical therapist. Sessions may be small group or individual in nature. Physical therapy services seek to improve gross motor skills, as well as upper and lower body strength.
 
Counseling Services
Counseling services are offered to students who are having school adjustment difficulties, behavioral difficulties in the classroom, or emotional difficulties functioning within the school environment.  Certified school psychologists offer small group and individual counseling sessions that help students cope with the school environment. 
 
 
Adaptive Physical Education
Adaptive physical education (APE) service is offered to students whose disability precludes the ability to participate in mainstream P.E. classes. Specific APE goals are written into the I.E.P.  APE activities are then tailored to meet the needs of the child.
 

Vision Services

Vision services are provided to students who are blind or visually impaired.  Services include orientation and mobility training, Braille instruction, and adaptation of materials.