Special Education

In White Plains, we offer a broad continuum of service in order to meet student’s needs in the least restrictive environment. We have a variety of inclusive and self contained options so that a student’s program can be tailored based on their individual needs. Not all services are available in all buildings, so please contact the special education office at 422-2037 and we can answer any questions. Below is a list of programs and services that are available should your child require specialized services.

Building Level Services

Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, counseling or social skills support can be provided at the building level for identified and non- identified students. These services are provided when the student has an identified need that does not require intensive intervention. Eligibility for building level services is determined by the building.

Related Services

When a student has an IEP or a 504 Accommodation plan, related services can be recommended to meet the speech and language, motor, vision, hearing or counseling needs of a student. Based on the needs of the student, related services can be provided in a group or individually, in the classroom or in a special location. Related services are available to eligible students grades K-12.

Consultant Teacher Services

Consultant teacher services provide direct and/or indirect services to students with learning differences within the general education classroom. Consultant teacher services are considered indirect when the support is provided to the students’ general education teacher.  The IEP must indicate the subject areas in which the student will receive consultant teacher services.  Consultant teacher services are available grades K-8.

Integrated Co-Teaching

Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) is the provision of specially designed academic instruction provided to students with learning differences alongside non-disabled peers. In an ICT classroom, the general education and special education teachers share responsibility for classroom instruction. Curriculum, materials, assignments, and assessments may be modified to meet the individual learning needs of all students. White Plains offers integrated co-teaching classes in grades K, 1, 7-11. Over the next 5 years, the district will be expanding ICT services to include grades K-11.

Resource Room Program

 Resource room program is a special education service that supports a student with a learning difference with specialized supplementary instruction, in a small group setting, for a portion of the school day. Resource room programs are for the purpose of supplementing the general education or special education classroom instruction. White Plains offers Resource Room, at the White Plains High School, grades 9-12.

Special Class

Special Class is a class consisting of students with learning differences who have been grouped together because of similarity of individual needs for the purpose of receiving specially designed instruction in a self-contained setting. Students in a special class are receiving their primary instruction separate from their non-disabled peers. In White Plains we offer self-contained classes grades K-12. At the elementary level we have classes to support students with intensive language and learning needs, emotional challenges and developmental delays. At the middle school level, White Plains provides self-contained classes in each of the content areas along with a continuation of classes for students with developmental delays and intensive language needs. The White Plains High School provides a program which supports the Regents curriculum (15:1) within a smaller setting. Classes are provided in math, English, social studies and science, grades 9-12. Students can access all or some of the classes as necessary to meet their needs. In addition, WPHS offers a Therapeutic Support Program for students whose emotional needs impede their progress in the general education setting.