Inclusive Education at Launch

Launch will complete the Multilingual Learner (MLL) identification process within the first 30 days of each new school year so that every student begins their academic year with the appropriate focus and support they need.

Students’ academic goals are aligned with their Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and are monitored and adjusted (as needed) quarterly.

Our highly qualified special educators create, adapt, and modify content in order to meet each students’ academic & developmental needs in an engaging and supportive learning environment.

Our multi-subject students (self-contained 12:1:1 classroom) receive a standards-aligned curriculum that is more closely tailored to each child’s individual learning style. We have both a Humanities and a STEM teacher to split the content.

Teachers will provide daily IEP mandated academic services to students with IEPs. Formative assessments, such as the STAR and MAP Assessments, will be administered remotely.

Teachers will also administer the Fountas & Pinnell reading level diagnostic with students. Varied supplemental online educational software (Ex. Dreambox) will be accessible to students. Families will be provided instructions on how to access these resources as a way to support their students’ academic progress.

Special Education programs and services will be documented in the following way: 

• Student academic goals will continue to be monitored and adjusted (as-needed) quarterly, utilizing a Progress Monitoring Tool. 
• A Teacher Report captures a student's present levels of performance in both academic and social development. This data is used to build out IEPs with the CSE. 
• Academic and counseling Progress Reports, as well as lesson plans will also be used as tools for documentation of services provided.
  • Small group instruction plans indicating the specific types of modifications and accommodations special education teachers will be employ for students with IEPs
• Every lessons will be live and recorded. They will be accessible for students and families to review at any point following the live lesson. The recordings also allow students to review lessons at a pace that works best for their learning style and families have an opportunity to view the delivery of special education services for students with IEPs.

The Fountas & Pinnell reading level system, Levelled Literacy Interventions (LLI), and guided reading are some of the ways Launch MLL students will be supported academically. Teachers and administrators will also be provided opportunities to attend professional learning related to serving MLL students.

Students with assistive technology mandates in their IEPs will be fully accommodated. Launch will ensure that ALL students will have access to laptops.

Returning students with IEPs are well-versed in how to use technology to access both their academic work and related services sessions (when applicable) and incoming students will be fully trained and supported in how to do the same.

Launch's Speech & Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, School Counselor and Social Worker support and work with students both in the classroom and in small group or 1-on-1 settings.

They also collaborate regularly with teachers, families and one another to consistently and effectively deliver support and success to our Launch students.

Additionally, Launch School continues to work closely with external-related service providers including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

Launch currently has 2 mental health providers working with students who have mandated counseling as a part of their IEPs, as well as students who benefit from the added socio-emotional support.

The supports for students throughout the school year will include:
    •    Advisory Circles w/Social Emotional Learning component
    •    Needs Assessment (Pre/Post Assessment)
    •    Rotating Small Groups 6-8 weeks
    •    CPI Crisis Model for De-escalation

For students requiring additional targeted support:
    •    Anxiety, Coping with Change and Grief
    •    Use of visual aids for psycho-education
    •    Creation of calming space in each classroom
    •    Promoting mind/body breaks in classrooms
    •    Mindful Mondays
    •    Music therapy at arrival
    •    Counseling based web page with resources

All communication with families of ALL Launch students will be in their preferred language and mode of communication. MLLs will be provided with daily targeted support from their classroom teachers, as well as, from our Reading Intervention/MLL Specialist.

Additionally, we will partner with families to share strategies on how they can continue to support their child at home both academically and social/emotionally during this remote-hybrid learning period.

Families will also have an opportunity to provide feedback on the delivery of special education and ELL services through digital quarterly surveys, which are currently offered in both English and Spanish, but can also be translated into additional languages as needed.

If the school and/or a parent is interested in a student getting evaluated for special education services, a case manager will advise the parent to submit a letter to request an initial special education evaluation to the CSE.

Once the letter has been submitted, the SST rep will work with the grade team to submit all the required data and documentation requested in the mandatory initial referral document provided by the DOE.

Please note that while we will continue to utilize this formalized process for referrals, we will also take into consideration that there could be other factors that influence a student’s academic progress during remote learning.

For all families who speak a language other than English, please note that you can click on the small flag at the bottom of the page to translate our entire website to your preferred language.