Special Education Programs
Tumwater School District Special Services is committed to providing a continuum of services within the district that are reflective of the needs of each student with disabilities. The following is a brief summary of our K-12 programs. The use of a specific program for a student is an IEP team decision based on data and student need.
RESOURCE (includes pull-out classes, push-in, co-teaching model or consult model)
- Most common type of programming used for students with disabilities.
- Available at every elementary, middle and high school.
- Students participate primarily in general education classes for least restrictive environment access.
- Special education services may be delivered in the general education environment or in a special education class, dependent on student need.
- Primarily for "high incidence" disabilities such as Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impairment or Communication Disorder but services are not dependent on a specific category of qualification.
EBD PROGRAM (Emotional Behavioral Disabilities)
- Needed for only a small percentage of students exhibiting intensive externalizing or internalizing behaviors that have not improved through prior interventions.
- Available at Tumwater Hill Elementary, Tumwater Middle School and Tumwater High School.
- Best for students needing explicit social/emotional/behavioral instruction in a more restrictive setting to meet their FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education)
LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM
- Needed for only a small percentage of students with cognitive needs, adaptive needs, and/or other related areas requiring significant support to access their education.
- Available at Black Lake Elementary, Bush Middle School and Black Hills High School.
- Primarily for "low incidence and high delay" disabilities such as Intellectual Disabilities or Multiple Disabilities but not dependent on a specific category of qualification.
RISE PROGRAM (Reaching Independence through Supports and Education)
- Needed for a small percentage of students with intensive needs in communication and social skills associated with autism-like characteristics.
- Available at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary, Michael T. Simmons Elementary, Bush Middle School, Tumwater Middle School and Tumwater High School.
- Primarily for students with a Development Delay or Autism qualification but not dependent on a specific category of qualification.
- Best for students needing explicit instruction in social/emotional/behavioral skills and communication in a more restrictive setting to meet their FAPE.
LINCS PROGRAM (Learning Independence by Networking, Community and School)
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Small special education program for students from age 18 up to age 22 with significantly low adaptive and vocational needs who have not yet graduated.
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Available at one location: LINCS building next to district office.
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Program begins after the student's 12th grade year (or later if more time is needed at their high school setting as determined by the student's IEP team).
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Best for students seeking a job and community access as an adult.
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Best for students who have or will qualify for WA state DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) support.
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Students must have a transition plan designating the need for additional support past high school before entry into the LINCS Program.
Related Services/Therapies
- Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy available at each school.
- Very low incident sensory-based needs such as Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Vision or Mobility services delivered at student's assigned school.
- Other Related Services needed to progress toward specially designed instructional goals may also be available to student's based on individual need.