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ACCESS Program

ACCESS Program

The ACCESS Program is a centralized special education service for students with a variety of emotional and behavioral disabilities. Elementary and middle school aged students referred by their local school districts are eligible for placement in the program. This program is an academically focused classroom within the therapeutic environment. Students are individually supported both academically and emotionally.

The goal is to improve a students overall educational, emotional and social functioning, and return the student to a school placement within their own school district as early as possible. Length of enrollment varies as a function of the student’s individual needs and circumstances.

The ACCESS program is based on a therapeutic model and provides individual and group counseling services according to each student’s IEP. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum is infused into the program in each classroom to support all students. Staff have been trained in Trauma-Informed Practices and strive to provide a program where healing and increased resilience are a primary focus.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Highly favorable student to staff ratios
A consistent, predictable, and highly structured classroom environment
Considerable emphasis on social skills instruction, and positive student/staff
relationships
High rates of positive reinforcement in response to prosocial behavior
A robust and cohesive approach to delivering reinforcement to students
which is clear, consistent, and meaningful
A comprehensive and flexible approach to behavior management
Highly individualized academic programming
Individual and small group instruction
Social work services to support parent and outside agency collaboration
Individual and group counseling
Frequent parent communication
Itinerant Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Adapted PE, and Nursing Services
Inclusion opportunities into general education courses

WHO WE SERVE

The program enrolls students who present with a wide range of difficulties in the educational environment including areas of emotional, behavioral, social and academic functioning. Included in this population are students who exhibit internalizing symptom profiles as well as students who are prone to engage in more externalizing symptoms.

The ACCESS classrooms are specially designed for students with a special education eligibility of Emotional Disability. Students exhibiting social emotional challenges with other special education eligibility may also be appropriate candidates for the ACCESS classroom, and may be considered for the program on a case-by-case basis.

STEPS FOR ACCESS REFERRAL

District has conducted a psychoeducational assessment that identified a qualifying disability and
implemented an IEP intended to meet the student’s educational and behavioral needs.
All LRE options (e.g., SDC, RSP, etc.) have been considered and appropriately implemented.
A Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) has been developed and implemented for a minimum of two months. Data has been collected and BIP modified as appropriate.
The student has been referred by the IEP team to appropriate counseling, including ERMHS, and the team has determined that these services do not fully meet the needs of the student.
The referring team has consulted with the ACCESS Liaison, ERMHS Coordinator, Clinical Supervisor, Behavioral Specialist, and/or Program Specialist regarding student behavior and needs via SELPA Collaboration.

Referral form for ACCESS can also be found in the SEIS Document Library.

Please be aware that The ACCESS Program is one of the most restrictive placements in the public-school continuum. Therefore, the likelihood of a referral resulting in an ACCESS placement will be contingent on prior intervention and outcomes.

CAMPUS LOCATIONS

Elementary Program

Mesa Vista School

2265 6th St, Oroville, CA 95965

Middle School Program
Nelson Ave Middle School
2255 6th Street, Oroville 95965

WHAT GRADES ARE SERVICED THROUGH ACCESS?

This program provides an intensive school based therapeutic program and is offered for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Classrooms are staffed with a credentialed teacher, licensed therapeutic staff, and instructional paraprofessionals.