Special Education - STEPS Department
WELCOME TO NEWHART MIDDLE SCHOOL'S STEPS PROGRAM
WELCOME TO NEWHART MIDDLE SCHOOL'S STEPS PROGRAM![]()
WELCOME TO NEWHART MIDDLE SCHOOL'S STEPS PROGRAM
Structured, Teaching, Educating, Prepared, Students
(Click on the Teachers' name to send an email)
Kathleen Lewis - STEPS Teacher
Katie Montgomery - STEPS Teacher
Annie Pelayo - STEPS Teacher
Tamra Searle - STEPS Teacher
STEPS
The Capistrano Unified District’s Secondary STEPS program is designed to meet the needs of special education students in grades six through twelve who have unique needs requiring social skills and a more functional/life skills academic program. The program focuses on the development of skills that will assist students in their post-secondary lives and careers. Support for students in this program is provided by highly qualified, certificated special education teachers, itinerant staff and instructional support staff members. This program is designed to meet the individual needs of each student according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP) within a secondary public education setting.
Elementary to Secondary Transitions
Based on Individual IEP team discussions, we typically serve students coming from elementary STEPS, STARS and SAC programs in the CUSD district.
Mission Statement:
CUSD’s mission is to challenge each student to reach their highest potential. Meaningful instruction should always be individually appropriate and have real-life application. In secondary education, autonomy is key in the areas of life skills, social skills and job skills. At CUSD, we embrace collaborative partnerships with the student, parents, community and IEP team.
Vision Statement of the Program
In addition to academic rigor, students will also be provided with:
- Life Skills Training
- Social Skills Development
- Job Skills Acquisition/Training
Small Class Structure
Classes are designed to provide specialized academic instruction to individuals with moderate to severe needs. Students are integrated within the general education program to the maximum degree appropriate to their individual needs.
Special Related Services
These are services that may be required to help students access their education. These services are determined by the student’s IEP team and may include:
- Transportation
- Speech/Language Therapy
- Adapted Physical Education
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Assistive Technology
- Counseling Services
- Health Services
- Vision
- DHH
- VM - Visual Motor
Curriculum and Additional Components
- Comprehensive ULS Curriculum
- iReady
- Functional academics
- Comprehensive life-skills curriculum
- Structured teaching strategies
- Positive behavioral interventions
- Instruction in vocational skills
- Instruction in independent living/daily living skills
- Community Based Instruction (CBI) to provide application and generalization of skills learned in the classroom
- Social and communication skills embedded throughout the day
School wide Facilities
- Garden
- Sensory room
- Kitchen
Inclusion
Student Aides, PE/Gen Ed, Blended programs
Future nearby High Schools with STEPS and Adult Transition (ATP)
A collaborative partnership of parents, educators, and community members.