Our Programs

Special education programs are designed to ensure that students with diverse learning needs gain access to instruction, supports, and services that promote academic progress, independence, and positive school experiences. Inclusion focuses on granting students access to the general education classroom and grade‑level curriculum through co‑teaching, differentiated instruction, and carefully selected accommodations and modifications. The aim is to maximize participation, social integration, and access to standards while monitoring individual progress and adjusting supports as needed.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) provides essential supports for children aged 3 to 5 who experience developmental delays or disabilities during the critical formative years. ECSE supports are offered across settings, including general education pre-kindergarten classrooms, HeadStart programs, and special education settings. These services often include early intervention therapy such as speech, occupational, physical, along with parent supports and collaborative planning with preschool educators to prepare students for kindergarten.

The KISD Behavior Intervention Programs deliver comprehensive support for students to prevent and address behaviors that may disrupt learning. These services are offered in both general education and special education classrooms, tailored to the student’s specific needs and level of required support. The Behavior Intervention Programs utilize data‑driven strategies to teach replacement skills, reduce problem behaviors, and foster academic success.

Academic support encompasses educational services designed to enhance students' academic performance. It is important to note that academic support does not replace the general education curriculum; rather, it serves as a supplementary intervention. The primary goal of academic support is to assist students in acquiring skills in specific areas, thereby addressing and closing existing academic gaps.

The Autism Program is designed to offer specialized supports and services tailored to the unique needs of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It encompasses a continuum of services ranging from an inclusion-based model that equips students with essential tools, strategies, and social skills instruction to succeed in the general education classroom, to self-contained classrooms that are equipped with comprehensive communication and behavioral resources. Key components of the autism program include: highly structured instruction, visual supports, social skills groups, communication systems and sensory/environmental accommodations.

Functional academic classes are designed for students who require a specialized curriculum and instruction by a special educator. The classes include a variety of instructional arrangements to support students with unique behavioral and academic requirements. The focus is on practical literacy, numeracy, and life skills that promote independence and community involvement. The curriculum is tailored to target daily living skills and post-school success.

Vocational training is offered in the functional academic program to prepare students for life after school. Each campus provides vocational training specifically tailored to the students' age and developmental stages. These initiatives aim to equip students with practical skills while fostering their growth and development for professional employment and independent living. Campus vocational programs include:

• Cactus Star at Daniels Elementary
• Bird Wreath Production and Sales at Nimitz Elementary
• Spike Shack at Hal Peterson Middle School
• Tivy Treasures at Tivy High School

Related services play a crucial role in eliminating barriers to learning by addressing students’ communication, motor, social-emotional health, and environmental needs. Related services include speech-language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, school psychology, counseling, assistive technology, and transportation. These therapies and supports are coordinated with instructional goals, enabling students to access instruction and fully engage in all educational activities.

Speech therapy evaluates and addresses speech, language, fluency, voice, and communication that impact educational performance. Services may be provided through individual or group therapy, classroom consultation, language modeling, articulation or phonological therapy, and pragmatic or social communication interventions. KISD speech language pathologists deliver a range of speech services, including pull-out, push-in, consultative approaches, and collaboration with teachers on classroom strategies.

Services for students with visual impairments are designed to ensure access to both the curriculum and school environment. These services may include instruction from a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), orientation and mobility (O&M) training, Braille instruction, and the provision of large print or accessible materials, along with assistive technology such as screen readers or magnifiers. Environmental supports may involve high-contrast materials, preferential seating, enhanced lighting, and controlling glare.

Services for deaf and hard of hearing students ensure they have full access to communication, language development, and the curriculum. This is facilitated through consult or direct instruction from a teacher certified in deaf and hard of hearing education. These services prioritize each student’s preferred and most effective mode of communication, which may include spoken language, sign language, or a total communication approach to enhance language and literacy skills across contexts. Classroom accommodations and supports may include FM systems, sign language interpreters or instruction (ASL), closed captioning, and coordination of hearing aid or cochlear implant management.