Middle School

Spectra School’s Middle School Program encourages students to “Make time; be present.” By knowing what is going on within your own self, you can be successful in your environment – be it at home, school, or in the community. Learning the fundamentals of one’s own triggers and having time and space to practice new coping skills helps with decreasing maladaptive behaviors. The eventual goal is being able to return to a less restrictive environment. Self-advocacy is encouraged to the extent an individual has the ability to do so. Explicit instruction is taught in the areas of asking to take a break, how to advocate for one’s needs in the moment, using individualized support, and learning to work with different personalities.

Spectra School’s Middle School classrooms focus on core curriculum with an emphasis on how to incorporate learning into everyday life. All classes at Spectra School use Student Friendly Objectives, Academic Vocabulary, different levels of thinking and evidence outcomes. Electives are identified and selected by the Spectra School education staff on an annual basis, depending on needs and / or interests. Students are placed in classrooms based upon their ages, ability levels and the intensity of their behaviors.

A group of students sit and talk at a table.

Why Spectra?

Spectra Schools’ Middle School Program stresses the importance of generalization of appropriate behaviors in all environments. As students get older and grow in size, they need to be more aware of their own behaviors and the impact they have on others. The Spectra School staff are masters of collaboration – with each other and with parents / caregivers to develop a support system for each student. Communication within the school is based upon Spectra’s II Model. It is here that Teachers, Behavior Analysts, Technicians, Speech-Language Pathologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Coordinators, and Directors all bring their own emphasis to the table when effectively reviewing each student.

Our Academics

Spectra School is an Approved Facility School by the Colorado Department of Education. Established by Colorado Academic Standards and our own Interdisciplinary Intervention Model, Spectra School's academics are tailored to the student through an individualized curriculum based on the student's IEP. We offer the required Colorado Academic Standards-aligned curriculum for Reading, Writing, Communicating (English Language Arts), Mathematics, and Science to assist our students in transitioning back to public schools. Spectra School utilizes Extended Evidence Outcomes, if they are identified on an individual student's IEP. The curriculum and Safety Net Standards inform instruction and coursework while providing a scope and sequence for all ages, grade levels, and ability levels represented in our classes. We also embed strategies and research-based curricula to better structure instruction for our students and fill in any academic gaps. For Social Studies, information from Learning Keys and curriculum guides from a Colorado Public School will be used. These curriculum guides address government, social studies, civics, US history, and world history.

On August 3, 2011, the State Board of Education unanimously adopted the Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEOs). EEOs implement the alternate standards in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Reading, Writing and Communicating for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the alternate assessment. These alternate expectations are directly aligned to the grade level expectations for all students.

If applicable, all students complete i-Ready diagnostics for math and reading. They also participate in state required assessments, depending on a student’s grade level. Alternatively, those who are appropriate use ABLLS and / or the alternative state assessments.

Special education students are provided services as identified in the Education Policies and Procedures. Spectra School follows all applicable state and federal laws.