The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough

Middle School Locations: Melican Middle School and Trottier Middle School

High School Location: Algonquin Regional High School

The Language-Based Learning Disabilities Program follows the core values and beliefs of the District. The program promotes high expectations and excellence for all in a dynamic learning environment that inspires opportunities for thinking critically, solving problems, and engaging intellectual curiosity. It supports diversity, inclusion, discovery, resiliency, and effective communication in a safe learning environment. This is an intensive instructional program designed for students with a specific learning disability who require small group instruction with special education staff or a combination of general education and special education staff. These students struggle with meeting their potential in more than one of the following skill areas: Reading Skills (inclusive of decoding, fluency, and comprehension), Spelling Skills (encoding), Written Language, Mathematics, Executive Function Skills and/or Expressive Language. Instruction is delivered using a direct, systematic, multisensory, structured language teaching approach with instruction focused on the attainment of decoding/encoding skills, oral reading fluency, comprehension skills, writing skills, and vocabulary development.

Middle School Location: Melican Middle School

High School Location: Algonquin Regional High School

The Transitional Learning Center is an individualized program designed for students needing more intensive academic, social and communication support. The TLC offers a variety of courses to address the full range of needs and skill levels of students with varying disabilities including but not limited to Intellectual, Autism, Neurological and Communication. Students’ individual needs are addressed in their IEPs with the focus of participating in general education classes to the maximum extent possible. The TLC teachers focus on teaching the core content areas of Reading, English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies at the student’s instructional level through a variety of instructional models.

Communication, Access, Socialization, Transactional Supports, Learning, Emotional Regulation (C.A.S.T.L.E.)

Elementary Locations: Proctor School, Peaslee School, Finn School, Woodward School

Middle School Location: Trottier Middle School

The CASTLE Program is designed for students who require intensive specialized instruction across the school day to support their learning challenges. The CASTLE Program is individualized to meet the specific needs of the individual student. The program is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Instruction may be provided in the general education classroom or in the sub separate classroom for small group instruction and/or one-to-one instruction. One-to-one instruction is heavily based on the principles and procedures of ABA with embedded systematic teaching to help students generalize learned skills across settings.

Additionally, an individualized curriculum is developed and implemented for each student as needed using the highly specialized web based ACE Curriculum. Areas of focus for the program include functional communication, activities of daily living, academics, Augmentative Assistive Communication (AAC), vocational, communication skills, and social pragmatic skills. The program uses a Team approach to deliver services. Staff include a lead special education teacher, educational support professionals, speech and language therapist, physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. The program is also supported by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Assistive Technology Specialist, AAC consultant, and School Psychologist.

High School Location: Algonquin Regional High School

The TLC 2 Program is designed for students who require intensive specialized instruction across the school day to support their learning challenges. The TLC 2 Program is individualized to meet the specific needs of the individual student. The program is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Instruction may be provided in the general education classroom or in the sub separate classroom for small group instruction and/or one-to-one instruction. One to one instruction is heavily based on the principles and procedures of ABA with embedded systematic teaching to help students generalize learned skills across settings. Additionally, an individualized curriculum is developed and implemented for each student as needed using the highly specialized web based ACE Curriculum. Areas of focus for the program include functional communication, activities of daily living, academics, Augmentative Assistive Communication (AAC), vocational, communication skills, and social pragmatic skills. The program uses a Team approach to deliver services. Staff include a lead special education teacher, educational support professionals, speech and language therapist, physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. The program is also supported by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Assistive Technology Specialist, AAC consultant, School Psychologist and Transition Coordinator.