The ISS Department offers students a variety of different instructional programs.  Students within our department work toward one of three possible high school diplomas depending on their individual needs, abilities and programs:

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE:

Academy Program: Coordinated by Ms. G. Maris, this program was created for the purpose of specifically addressing the literacy needs of our special education students entering high school with reading grade levels of 4.5 or below. The Academy provides a self-contained program of instruction in functional academic skills with a vocational emphasis. Students do not take Regents Competency Tests but are expected to complete their Individualized Education Program objectives to the fullest extent possible. Appropriate vocational training/employment experiences are provided as part of our student’s program.

There are several components to the Academy program, including decoding and comprehension, math, writing, life skills, career education and computer skills.  Each component has objectives that are designed to enhance the essential high school and career skills that our students will need.

 The Academy Program was constructed on fundamental principles which:

• Provide teachers with extensive and ongoing training opportunities.
• Encourage a cooperative effort among school staff, parents and students.
• Concentrate on the development of literacy and mathematical skills all geared to pre-vocational and vocational awareness/abilities.
• Offer behavior modification strategies to improve the student’s own sense of responsibility.
• Provide an ongoing assessment of student progress in order for the transition coordinator to assist the student in successful planning for the future.
• Promote an ongoing partnership between the school, businesses and agencies outside the school.

Many of the students participating in our Academy Program are evaluated by the New York State Alternative Assessment (NYSAA), which is a datafolio assessment that documents student achievement in the content areas of English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies.  The datafolio is a collection of student performance data based on the core curriculum for grades 3-8 and high school for ELA and mathematics, grades 4-8 and high school for science, and grades 5-8 and high school for social studies.

Additional information on the NYSAA is available at:

 http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/deputy/Documents/alternassess.htm

Self-contained diploma-bound classes: Within the ISS Department, these classes provide a small controlled setting (usually 15:1 at GCHS) with a special education teacher for academic subjects.  Students generally attend general education classes for art, music and physical education.  The curriculum taught in these classes is parallel to general education classes, but students may work at different academic levels and learn with different instructional techniques.  Self-contained classes offer greater structure, routine and more personalized attention to students’ emotional, social and educational needs.

General education classes with SETSS: (Special Education Teacher Support Services)  Students attend general education classes as well as extra resource room classes where they receive intensive assistance with their academic subjects. 

General education classes with Collaborative Team Teaching (CTT):  In addition, students may attend CTT classes, where a general education and a special education teacher co-teach in order to provide students with more individualized attention.

General education classes with related services:  Students enrolled in this program attend general education classes and also receive related services such as counseling, speech/language therapy, occupational/physical therapy, and hearing therapy, as specified within their IEPs.

DIPLOMAS AVAILABLE:

Regents Diploma: Of the 44 credits needed for graduation for a Regents Diploma, a total of 40 credits must be earned in academic subjects including the arts; 4 credits are earned for a required 7 semesters of gym plus 1 semester of health education. In addition, students must pass five Regents exams, in Math, Global History, U.S. History, and Science, with a score of 65 or more. 90% attendance is also required.

Advanced Regents Diploma:  Students must score 65 or more on all their Regents exams, take additional credits in a language other than English and pass a Regents Comprehensive Assessment in that language, pass an additional Regents exam in science and take an additional set of math courses and pass the associated Regents exam. An advanced Regents Diploma with Honors may be issued to students who take the additional credits for an advanced diploma and achieve an average of 90% or more on all Regents Exams.

Local Diploma:  When rigorous graduation requirements were established a decade ago, New York State gave localities the choice of issuing a local diploma that phases in the 65% minimum passing score. Students must earn the same 44 credits as Regents diploma graduates, and must have 90% attendance, but one or more passing score on the Regents exam may be 55 depending on the year the student entered.  Students with IEPs can get an RCT or Regents Competency Diploma, by passing an easier set of tests called RCTs, or can substitute one or more RCT's for Regents exams and still receive a local diploma.

IEP Diploma:  For a small group of students, an IEP diploma option is also available. Students receiving IEP diplomas generally undergo alternate assessment of a portfolio of their school work before they may graduate.  (For additional information about Alternate Assessment, see above under Academy Program.)  Students with IEP diplomas are entitled to take any civil service examinations for employment and may continue their education in vocational schools.  Students who receive IEP diplomas are also entitled to stay in school to work toward a regular diploma or GED until the age of 21.