Division of Specialized Instruction
DCPS Self-Contained Classrooms: How are Students Assigned to a School?
Behavior Learning Support (BLS) Classroom
The BLS classroom helps students who learn differently from others. Some students need help with reading, writing, or math. Some students have learning disabilities, autism, or other health problems that make learning hard. Some students have strong emotions or behaviors that get in the way of learning. The BLS classroom gives these students extra support and attention.
The BLS classroom teaches the same things as other DCPS classes but in an easier way for the students to understand. The teachers use the Common Core State Standards and make changes to help the students learn better. The students in the BLS classroom stay in their classroom most of the time. They have IEPs that tell what kind of help they need and how much.
Students in the BLS classroom graduate with a High School Diploma
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Behavior and Education Support (BES) Classroom
The BES classroom helps students with moderate to severe emotional and behavioral disorders. Students in the program have behaviors that impact their learning and require intensive behavioral support and interventions.
The BES classroom staff uses many ways of teaching, like reading programs that are proven to work, math lessons that are based on research, and ways to help students change their negative or harmful behavior.
Students who need the BES classroom have trouble learning because of their behavior. They need help to manage their emotions and actions. The BES classroom staff uses tools like:
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Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs),
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Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs),
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Behavior Support Services.
Before putting a student in the BES classroom, the IEP team should consider whether there are other ways to help them in their general classroom. The IEP team should also have information about what kind of behavior help, support, or intervention the student has gotten, and whether the student has or needs an FBA and a current BIP.
Students in the BES classroom graduate with a High School Diploma.
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Communication and Education Support (CES) Classroom
The CES classroom staff uses helpful methods for teaching literacy and math skills to students with significant cognitive impairments. The classroom adapts the core ELA and Math curriculum to match the Core Content Connectors, grade-level standards.
Placement Considerations
The CES classroom is for students whose academic, social, and adaptive needs cannot be met in a general classroom. Most students in the CES classroom need help with everyday things like taking care of themselves, talking to others, and having fun.
Student Profile
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The students need help with life skills, talking, making friends, and behavior.
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They need changes to their schoolwork, extra help, and teacher support.
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They need help with communication skills, including social language.
Students in the CES classroom graduate with a High School Achievement Certificate (HSAC). However, some students who start out in the CES classroom may leave the classroom and go on to receive a high school diploma.
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Early Learning Supports (ELS) Classroom
The ELS classroom helps students with different learning delays and behavior problems. Some students in ELS have problems in many areas, and they may not talk or walk or need a special tool or device for their health. The ELS classroom teaches the same things as the DCPS general education classrooms, but it changes them to fit the students' needs. The ELS classroom uses different ways of teaching, like reading lessons that work well for students who have trouble with words and math lessons that are based on research.
Placement Considerations
The ELS classroom is good for students with difficulties understanding information, following instructions, staying organized, and learning basic things. Before putting a student in the ELS classroom, the IEP team should try different ways of teaching in the general classroom. The IEP team should also have data about the student's skills and needs from tests and interventions.
Student Profile
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Can learn from the general classroom curriculum with changes and easier texts.
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Disability Classification:
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Developmental Delay (DD),
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Specific Learning Disability (SLD),
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Mild Intellectual Disability (ID),
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Other Health Impairment (OHI),
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Multiple Disabilities (MD),
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
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Academic Skills are; much lower than other students their age.
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Short attention span, bad memory, hard time following instructions with more than one step
Students in the ELS classroom will move to a different classroom in 3rd grade. The new classroom could be BES, CES, ILS, or SLS. The IEP team will decide which classroom is best for the student. Some students in the ELS classroom may not need a self-contained classroom anymore. They may be able to learn the same things as other students and do well in school. If that is the case, they will receive IEP services and support in inclusion or a resource room.
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Independence and Learning Support (ILS) Classroom
The ILS classroom is a special program for students who need extra help with learning because they have Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and other challenges. Classroom lessons teach students important skills in reading and math that are based on the same standards as other students, but in a way that is easier for them to understand. Students also learn how to read better, how to use math in real life, and how to use different strategies to solve problems.
Placement Considerations
The ILS classroom is for students with cognitive challenges and difficulties learning in general education classes or other special education settings. The ILS classroom lessons are based on what kind of help students need to do everyday things like taking care of themselves, getting along with others, and working. Students learn these skills by using real-life situations and activities.
Student Profile
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Students have very low cognitive scores and have difficulties in all areas (reading, math, life skills, talking, and making friends).
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Needs a different kind of classroom and a lot of help with learning.
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May need pictures or other things to show them what to do or what is happening.
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May need assistance in social situations.
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Needs help with taking care of themselves or may not be able to live on their own once the student is an adult.
Students in the ILS classroom graduate with a High School Achievement Certificate (HSAC).
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Medical and Education Support (MES) Classroom
The MES classroom helps students with serious health problems and learning challenges. The MES classroom changes the regular lessons to fit the students' needs. The lessons are based on Core Content Connectors and teach students English and Math at their grade level. The MES classroom also helps students learn how to read better, do math problems, and use different ways to communicate.
Placement Considerations
The MES classroom is for students with serious health problems who need a lot of help with learning, socializing, and basic living skills. The MES classroom is different from other classrooms for students with intellectual disabilities or autism. The MES classroom thinks about the medical needs of the student, and the help they need with moving their body. The MES classroom also teaches students how to do things like talk, make friends, have fun, and take care of themselves
Student Profile
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They usually have a disability or more than one disability that affects their health.
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Students need a lot of changes to their classwork, extra help with learning, and support.
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May not live by themselves or may not be able to live on their own once the student is an adult. ; they need a lot of help with using the bathroom, eating, and moving around.
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They need someone to watch them all the time and take care of them.
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They may need medical care at school.
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They may not be able to talk and need a special device to communicate.
The MES ECE and K-5 classroom is located at Turner and School-Within-School @Goding elementary schools. At the end of 5th grade, students in the MES classrooms move to either a CES or ILS classrooms for middle school. They will go to their neighborhood middle school.
If a student still needs a lot of medical care and nursing support at the end of 5th grade, the IEP team will change their IEP to “Separate Day School”. River Terrace is a separate day school. When a student's IEP is changed to a separate day school, they will receive a location of services to River Terrace Education Campus for middle school.
Students in the MES classroom graduate with a High School Achievement Certificate.
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Specific Learning Support (SLS) Classroom
The Specific Learning Support (SLS) classroom helps students who learn differently from others. Some of these students have Specific Learning Disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other health impairments. The SLS classroom teaches them the same things as other students, but in different ways. The teachers use special methods to help them with reading, writing, and math. They also make sure the lessons are not too hard or too easy for them.
Placement Considerations
The SLS classroom is for students who have trouble with learning new things, following instructions, staying organized, and understanding basic ideas. Before joining the SLS classroom, the students should try other ways of learning in their general classrooms. The teachers and parents should work together to find out what works best for them. They should also do some tests to see what skills the student needs to improve.
Student Profile
The students in the SLS classroom are smart, but they learn differently. They can learn with some help from the teachers. They have one or more of these disabilities:
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Specific Learning Disability (SLD),
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Mild Intellectual Disability (ID),
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Other Health Impairment (OHI),
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Multiple Disabilities (MD),
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Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
They are behind their classmates in reading, writing, and/or math by two or more grades. They have a hard time paying attention, remembering things, following directions with many steps. They need a lot of support to do well in school. They have problems with math, such as solving problems or using concepts. They read slowly and have trouble understanding what they read. They find it hard to write clearly, spell correctly, or express their thoughts.
Students in the SLS classroom graduate with a High School Diploma.
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