Educational Campus at Colonial
Mission
The mission of the Intermediate Unit 1 Educational Campus at Colonial is to provide all students access to a safe, orderly environment where they can acquire and apply the knowledge and skills to become productive, responsible citizens, able to compete within a high-tech, information-based society.
Program Objectives
The alternative education program for at-risk students strives to:
- Build student's self esteem
- Modify disruptive behavior and improve social skills
- Improve attendance
- Increase graduation rates
- Improve academic skills
- Develop an understanding and awareness of careers
- Provide transition services for students returning to their home schools
Program Description
A consortium of school districts from Fayette and Washington counties make up the Joint Operating Committee of the IU1 Educational Campus at Colonial. The member districts include Brownsville, California, Connellsville, Frazier, Laurel Highlands, and Uniontown. Other districts sending students to the Colonial Campus include Albert Gallatin, Bentworth, Bethlehem-Center, Central Greene, Charleroi, Ringgold, and Southeastern Greene.
The alternative program provides a challenging education and related services to students in grades 7–12 who have experienced both academic and behavior difficulties in the general education setting. Students receive five and one half hours (990 hours per year) of daily instruction in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. Additionally, students receive Physical Education, Health, and Social Skills Development. There are six periods in a day with each period lasting approximately 40 minutes. Blended Schools for credit recovery will be offered during the 2011–2012 school year. The curriculum is aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards and teachers provide individual and group work using differentiated instruction. (Refer to Intermediate Unit 1 Board Policies 102 — Academic Standards and 105 — Curriculum Development.)
Pennsylvania certified secondary education teachers, highly qualified in their assigned curricular areas, provide the core instructional program. Highly Qualified special education teacher assure all special needs students are provided a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) as outlined in their Individualized Education Programs (IEP).
Five full-time social workers provide individual and group counseling. Other support personnel providing services include a full-time certified school psychologist, psychiatrist, school nurse, school police officer, and part-time juvenile probation officer. A majority of the special education classrooms have at least one paraprofessional. A building aide is available to assist staff and students.
Alternative Education Program
This program provides educational services for students in grades 7–12, identified by the administrative, guidance, and teaching staff of the member districts and/or the IEP team, as needing an alternative placement. A student qualifies for placement in the alternative program if he/she meets one or more of the following criteria:
- Disregard for school authority, including persistent violation of school policy and rules
- Display of or use of controlled substances on school property or during school-affiliated activities
- Violent or threatening behavior on school property or during school-related activities
- Possession of a weapon on school property, as defined under 18 Pa. C.S. Section 912 (relating to possession of weapon on school property)
- Commission of a criminal act on school property
- Misconduct that would merit suspension or expulsion under school policy
- Habitual truancy
Note: A student returning from placement or who is on probation resulting from being adjudicated delinquent in a proceeding under 42 Pa. C.S. Chapter 63 (relating to juvenile matters) or who has been judged to have committed a crime under an adult criminal proceeding may also be served through an Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) program.
The program also serves students needing a 45-day interim alternative placement. The alternative school has a proactive educational program that increases the number of graduates with the skills necessary to enter the work force and/or to attend institutions of higher learning.
Therapeutic Emotional Support Programs
The Therapeutic Emotional Support (TES) programs provide academic and emotional support for students, grades 6–12, who are unable to participate in regular educational programs because of severe behavioral, social and personal problems. The students participate in the general education curriculum that is aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. The TES programs offer highly structured classroom environments with emphasis on positive behavior interventions. An individual Positive Behavior Support Plan is created for each student.
In addition, individual and group counseling, medication management, psychiatric consultation, conflict resolution, and character education are provided according to a student's IEP. The goal of the program is to help each student develop the skills and behavior necessary to return to his/her home school district.
Multidisability Support Programs
The Multidisability Support (MDS) Programs provide specially designed instruction to students, grades K–12, who have two or more disabilities of equal severity and whose needs are functional academics, communication, activities of daily living, personal, and social skills. The purpose of this program is to foster independence for daily living. The curriculum is based on seven essential learning domains: Self Advocacy/Self Determination, Social Skills/Behavior, Job Readiness, Human Development, Daily Living Skills, Functional Literacy, and Functional Mathematics. Instruction is referenced to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards and/or Pennsylvania Alternative Academic Standards and is geared towards the student's learning level. In addition, art, music and physical education are offered. A full range of related services are available including nursing, psychological, social work services, speech and language, hearing, vision, physical and occupational therapies and are provided according to the IEP. At the secondary level, a student is provided with opportunities to utilize skills, learned in the classroom, within his/her community. Each student is included with regular peers for many nonacademic programs and activities. A student may remain in this program until he/she reaches the age of 21.
Comprehensive Therapeutic Emotional Support Program
The Comprehensive Therapeutic Emotional Support Program at Colonial is designed for those students who are in need of a therapeutic educational setting to address their mental health or emotional needs. Colonial has one elementary classroom that is equipped to take students in grades 3–5. Students in these classrooms can receive up to three hours of group and individual therapy with master's degree level licensed social workers, as well as medication management on site through a psychiatrist as requested. For more information contact Joseph Mahoney, Program Coordinator at 724-562-0638.
Documents/Downloads
Contact Us
Linda Chernitsky
Acting Principal, IU1 Educational Campus at Colonial
724-938-3241 ext. 516
chernitskyl@iu1.k12.pa.us
