Rationale For the Heritage Landing Alternative Program:
The Heritage program was created by the Francis Howell School District to provide a supportive educational environment for students who have been diagnosed with significant emotional disturbances and have not been successful in their local high schools and middle schools. Historically, these students have been served in private agencies. The students that attend Heritage range from grades 6-12. The program has expanded and has begun to accept students from other districts on a contractual basis.
Goals for the Program:
- To provide a positive, supportive environment in which students are directly taught replacement behaviors relating to their areas of concern.
- To teach students techniques to process their anger and deal appropriately with conflict.
- To provide a systematic, structured behavior management system in which all staff participates, and students are taught.
Heritage Landing Alternative Program Components:
- School wide behavior management system
- All students follow the Francis Howell Academic Curriculum and are required to take district and state assessments
- Classroom rules and routines posted and taught by staff
- Secure observation rooms to process behaviors with students
- On going staff training regarding issues such as behavior management strategies, IEP development, functional assessments and behavior plans.
- Provide training to local schools regarding behavior management strategies, student discipline, appropriate IEP writing for students with behavior concerns, functional assessments and behavior plans, and appropriate instructional strategies for students with behavioral issues
- Hourly data collection regarding students’ lagging skills and academic progress
- Specific pro-active behavior strategies that teachers implement within each classroom
- A school wide process that all staff and students participate in when addressing behavior, which is taught and tested
- Individual therapy for all students on an as needed basis