Special Education

• The program replicates a traditional high school experience with classroom rotations. Applied Core classes (Applied Biology, Applied Algebra) taught by special education teachers with a modified curriculum.
• Community-Based Instruction focuses on domains of transition including employability, independent living and leisure. (grocery shopping, restaurants, Carmel Public Library)
• Students participate in electives of choice within the general education programs often supported by the peer tutoring program. 

The Carmel Transition Program provides opportunities, education, and guidance to prepare young adults for a meaningful and engaged life after high school. 

The Carmel Transition Program is for young adults who have finished four years of high school and have completed the 40 units required to obtain their alternate diploma.

Young adults will increase their life skills by participating in opportunities related to cooking, art, music, wellness, and philanthropy. Participants will focus on learning and practicing the skills needed to living more independently, communicate effectively, and participate in their community to the fullest extent possible. Employment training, both paid and volunteer, will be provided based on individual needs. 

The Early Childhood (EC) program provides special education and related services at no cost for children ages 3-5 with identified special needs.

Eligible students participate in the EC program alongside typical peers from the community and the district’s Edu-Care program. Eligibility for early childhood special education services is determined by the Carmel Early Childhood Assessment Team using a multidisciplinary approach.

Students in our developmental preschool program have access to speech, occupational, and physical therapists as deemed necessary in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Therapists are able to push in to the early childhood classroom to work with students in their natural environment and ensure they are able to access all areas of the classroom and playground. In addition, the therapists work closely with the classroom staff to ensure areas of fine motor, gross motor, speech, and language are embedded throughout the week.

The Early Childhood Speech and Language Pathologists offer a "speech only" evaluation for those families that are only concerned with their child's speech development. Students who qualify receive walk-in speech therapy as determined by the IEP.

If you feel the Early Childhood program may be right for your student, please contact the EC Coordinator, Mary Podany.

Early Education Site

• Self-contained program for students in grades K-2 only housed at 2 elementary schools
• Designed for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders who have significant communication and sensory regulation needs that result in emotional dysregulation 
• Goal is to integrate into general education by 3rd grade with resource support 

• Classes support students in grades K-8 with an intensive level of academic need who require a modified curriculum

• Students access general education for some parts of their day based upon student need
• Located at 6 elementary schools and 3 middle schools

• Grades K-12 

• Designed for students with mental health diagnoses and/or lagging social emotional skills that result in emotional dysregulation

• Students in IBSP need a greater amount of support and services than resource programming provides

• The program provides students a safe environment to receive therapeutic services and work on the skills and strategies to be successful

• Housed at 4 elementary schools,  1  middle school , and Carmel High School

Lifeskills

• Classes that supports students in grades K-8 who require an intensive level of life skill and functional academic development
• Students demonstrate significant deficits that require they utilize alternative academic standards and an alternative curriculum
• Located at 2 elementary schools and 3 middle schools

• Push-in, pull-out or a combination to address goals and grade level access (elementary)
• Co-taught classes (high school)
• Basic skills blocks (secondary)
• Address individual needs
  • Academic
  • Behavioral
  • Social-emotional
  • Language
  • Fine motor
  • Gross motor
  • Speech
  • Hearing
  • Vision

CCS provides special education services to students with identified disabilities under Article 7 who attend private schools within CCS boundaries. Currently, CCS partners with the following private schools:

• Midwest Academy
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
• University High School
• Transitions Academy
• Coram Deo Academy
• Carmel Latin School
• International Montessori School
• Springwood Academy

If your child attends one of the above schools and you suspect your child has a disability, please contact Stephanie Fairchild, Director of Special Services.