Special Programs

The Autistic Spectrum Disorders Program provides Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for planning and implementing educational objectives.  Goals include the development of the following: social skills to enhance participation in family, school, and community activities; expressive verbal language, receptive language, and non-verbal communication skills; a functional symbolic communication system; increased engagement and flexibility in developmentally appropriate tasks and play, including the ability to attend to the environment and respond to an appropriate motivational system; fine and gross motor skills needed for age appropriate functional activities; cognitive skills, including symbolic play and concept development as well as academic skills; replacement of dysfunctional behaviors with more appropriate behaviors; and, independent organizational skills and other behaviors that underlie success in general education classrooms.

Ongoing measurement of educational objectives is documented in order to determine effectiveness of a particular intervention.  Every child’s response to the educational program is assessed after a short period of time.  Progress is monitored frequently and objectives are adjusted accordingly. Intensive intervention is provided in Special Day Classes for students from Kindergarten through High School.  The program emphasizes multi-disciplinary team assessment, program planning, and intervention with ongoing data collection, which may include the following personnel, based on the individual need of each student: Special Day Class Teacher, Speech Language Specialist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist and Principal. Additional Behavioral Support is added to the team when needed which includes a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Coordinator, and Behavior Specialists to assist the school program and implement a home program, as needed. The core curriculum includes developmentally appropriate practice for each age level. 

MCOE operates an itinerant program for students with a visual impairment that even with correction, adversely affects their educational performance.  When assessment determines that a student has educational needs that cannot be met without special education and related services, this student is provided with instruction, specialized services and materials and equipment in accordance with his or her IEP. The term visually impaired includes both functionally blind students and low vision students.  While students with visual impairments require instruction in all areas of the California Common Core Curriculum, they may also need specialized instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum which includes: compensatory skills, orientation and mobility, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, sensory efficiency skills and self determination. Services are provided by a credentialed teacher of the visually impaired to students with a qualifying visual impairment from birth to high school graduation or age 22, whichever comes first. Students are served in their general or special education classroom and orientation and mobility services are provided on the school campus and in the community. 

The Monterey County Office of Education provides leadership, support, and educational services for our region’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. We understand that it is the inability to access language that may interfere with progress toward the Common Core State Standards, thus our programs emphasize building a strong language foundation that meets the unique needs of our students.

Currently, Deaf and Hard of Hearing classrooms for preschool through twelfth grade students are located at elementary, middle, and high school campuses in the city of Salinas. Our instructional teams provide ongoing assessment of language development, as well as exposure to natural languages, which may include instruction in American Sign Language, spoken English, Signing Exact English, and other manual-gestural communication tools.

We recognize and respect the rights of parents and guardians of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children to receive information regarding the educational options available for their children. Parent-to-staff and parent-to-parent connections are facilitated through regular meetings, during which staff provide information to families regarding instructional strategies, sign language skill development, Deaf and Hard of Hearing role models, and community involvement.

MCOE operates an itinerant program for students with hearing impairment that even with correction, adversely affects their educational performance.  When assessment determines that a student has educational needs that cannot be met without special education and related services, this student is provided with instruction, specialized services and materials and equipment in accordance with his or her IEP. The term hearing impaired includes both deaf students and hard of hearing students.  While students with hearing impairments require instruction in all areas of the California Common Core Curriculum, they may also need specialized instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum which includes : compensatory skills, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, sensory efficiency skills and self determination. Services are provided by a credentialed teacher of the hearing impaired to students with a qualifying hearing impairment from birth to high school graduation or age 22, whichever comes first. Students are served in their general or special education classroom and services are provided on the school campus and in the community. 

The Monterey County Office of Education provides developmentally appropriate educational intervention and parent/care giver training to infants and toddlers ages 0 – 3 who are:

1. Blind or visually impaired
2. Deaf or hard of hearing
3. Orthopedically impaired
4. Have global developmental delays

Our skilled professional staff ensures appropriate provision of services through interdisciplinary credentialed teams of providers for the child and his/her family. A team may include one or more of the following:

1. Service coordinator
2. Deaf and hard of hearing teacher (D/HH)
3. Occupational therapist (OT)
4. Speech and language pathologist (SLP)
5. Teacher of the visually impaired (TVI)

An individualized family service plan (IFSP) is prepared in conjunction with the family. It is based on appropriate evaluations that incorporate the team approach to best reflect the child’s needs. The intent of the program is to support families to acquire developmentally appropriate skills necessary to promote the child’s development.

To make a referral, please contact Elizabeth Swain, Principal, at eswain@montereycoe.org or Daniela Solorzano, School Secretary, dsolorzano@montereycoe.org, 831.484.9897.

Monterey County Office of Education operates regional programs for students ages 3 to 22 years with moderate to severe disabilities.  These programs, which area located throughout Monterey County, provide a standards based curriculum and address the unique needs of students who require alternate achievement standards and who participate in the alternate assessment. The emphasis in these programs is on the acquisition of skills aligned to the grade level state standards that have real life meaning for our students.  Additionally, these programs support the functional academic and life skill needs of our students.  Some of the students served in these programs have profound, multiple disabilities and may also require a variety of specialized physical health care services provided by our trained health care aides and overseen by our credentialed school nurse.  The highly qualified special education teachers support the unique needs of all students and additional special education and related services are provided based on assessed need.

The Program for the Orthopedically Impaired provides interventions and related services to eligible students ages three through 21 years. Credentialed teachers of the orthopedically impaired provide services to students with severe orthopedic impairment that affects educational performance.  Student’s instructional program infuses mobility skills and communication skills within their daily routine.  Adaptive technologies are used as appropriate to assist students in communicating and accessing core curriculum.

The Therapeutic Intervention Program (TIP) serves students who are experiencing significant emotional issues. The students’ IEP teams have determined the need for an intensive therapeutic environment so that the students may derive maximum benefit from their educational program. The focus of the TIP is on using positive interventions to help each student develop and maintain appropriate emotional and social behavior. Each student receives ongoing proactive therapeutic interventions such as individual and group therapy to address emotional needs. TIP personnel include a lead academic teacher, a therapist from Monterey County Behavioral Health (MCBH), and three Instructional Paraprofessionals. Students participate in academics appropriate to their grade level and IEP goals, using general and modified curriculum materials. Students also access general education activities and academics using appropriate accommodations and modifications.