Programs & Services
Please review our brief summary of the special educational programs and related services. You may refer to the New Jersey Administrative Code and the Parental Rights in Special Education Booklet for additional information.
Special Education Programs
If your child has been determined to be eligible for special educational services, a full continuum of services is available to assist him/her. To the maximum extent appropriate, a student with a disability is educated with children who are not disabled. Documentation will be given to you at various times during the evaluation process.
These services from least restrictive to most restrictive include the following:
Preschool
Berlin Borough School District maintains two programs for preschool aged children who have been identified as having developmental delays in the areas of speech and language development cognitive ability, fine or gross motor skills, and social or emotional maturity.
General Education Preschool Class (PM)
This program is designed for students 3-5 years of age. This class will consist of approximately 6 students who have been determined to be eligible for special education services and 8-10 students who were chosen through a district wide lottery system. The goal in this classroom is to provide academic instruction that prepares students for kindergarten.
Primary and Preschool Disabilities Classroom (AM)
This program is designed for students 3-5 years of age who have been identified as having an educational disability whose nature and severity is such that education in general education class with the use of appropriate supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. The class size is eight students with a teacher and a classroom assistant and can increase to 12 students with two classroom assistants.
For Students K-8
In-Class Resource
In this program, collaborative teaching is utilized through different parts of the day. Collaborative teaching (co-teaching, team teaching, and cooperative teaching) is a joint teaching model in which the general and special education teachers share planning, teaching, and evaluation within the general education classroom. Support and/or replacement can be provided in this setting.
Pull-out Support
In this program, your child is pulled out for a brief period of time to receive extra reinforcement in a subject in which he/she needs assistance.
Pull-out Replacement
In this program, your child will receive instructiomn in a subject he/she has difficulty with in a small group setting. Your child will be taught according to his/her ability and skill level in the subject.
Special classes
When your child has difficulties in many settings or subjects and they cannot be addressed using the programming explained above, then classes will be taught in a small setting according to his/her skill level and ability.
Related Services
Counseling Services for Students
A School Counselor can assist students with a concern that may be impacting school for a child.
Individual, group and class sessions are provided when parent consent is received, services are mandated through an IEP, or in rare situations, such as student crisis.
Training Services for Parents
Berlin Borough School District offers support through our Special Education Advisory Group (SEPAG) on topics recommended by the Group. Parents of students in our preschool classes are also provided training/consulting on topics including, but not limited to: parenting, discipline, and building communication skills. In addition, Berlin Borough School District also offers resources for parents on specific areas of need.
Speech/Language Therapy
A Speech Therapist helps students to pronounce difficult words/sounds better (Articulation); to learn to express himself/herself better (Express skills) and/or to understand language better (Receptive Skills). A Speech Therapist utilizes activities or routines designed to increase and improve communication skills.
Occupational Therapy
An Occupational Therapist can help your child develop better fine motor (small muscle) skills that may be impacting education. This may cover areas such as handwriting, drawing, cutting, and assembling objects. An Occuaptional Therapist can also assist students with sensory needs.
Physical Therapy
A Physical Therapist is trained to treat gross motor (large muscle) disorders pertaining to movement and posture (ability to maintain body positions), that may be impacting a child's education/school day through the use of activities or routines designed to increase movement skills.
Adaptive Physical Education
This service is a physical education program that has been modified to meet the specific needs of a disabled student; e.g., inclusion of activities to develop upper body strength in a student with limited arm movement.
Transportation
Required transportation services may include special transportation, equipment, transportation aides and special provisions.