Education Services
Education Services, located in classrooms in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), is offered to children with intellectual (formerly referred to as mental retardation), developmental and other disabilities between the ages of 4 to 22. Highly trained SJCS staff support children with autism, learning disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, emotional disturbance, cerebral palsy and other disabilities. We provide a safe and nurturing environment that fosters cognitive, social and psychological growth with maximum opportunities for learning and interaction with peers without disabilities.
Each student is taught utilizing a functional and community-based curriculum that stresses practical life and vocational skills along with traditional academic subjects such as writing, reading and mathematics.
- Students are assessed and individualized education plans (IEP) are developed with the families and students to best meet each student’s abilities. The plans are aligned as much as possible to DCPS standards and curriculum.
- Developmentally appropriate activities and materials are used to promote academic and cognitive growth, as well as to foster social, emotional, behavioral, communication, vocational, perceptual-motor, community-survival and daily living skills.
- SJCS strives for students to receive academic instruction and vocational training in classes with students without disabilities.
Each summer, SJCS-DC holds an Extended School Year (ESY) session for SJCS students. ESY was established after extensive research showed that children with disabilities lost significant skills and abilities during the summer months. ESY helps children maintain and even enhance their skill set year-round.
To better equip students to succeed in life, classroom and school-based instruction is supplemented with learning activities conducted in the community. All students learn how to access and use local stores, banks, libraries, and other community resources. Additionally, older students participate in a work study program with local businesses to gain employment skills and develop work habits that will enable them to secure and retain paid jobs, as well as pursue careers of their choosing.
Contact Education Services in the District of Columbia
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Visit our Links/Resources page to check eligibility requirements set by your state agency. Private pay also accepted.
