Course Expectations
MCS/DD Program
Instructor: Tara Ezell
LVHS Room: 616
Phone: (702) 799-0180 ext. 4038
Email:
I Program Scope and Goals
The MCS/DD Program at Las Vegas High School is designed to address the individual needs of each student as they pertain to functional academic skills, vocational skills, communication skills, social/emotional skills, and independent living skills. Students are placed in the self-contained program as per Clark County School District IEP regulations. The program assists students in preparing for their future by increasing their current skills and developing new skills in all areas listed above.
One of the main goals of the program is to assist students through the transition from the school setting to the community setting. Their classes are designed to maintain, develop, and enhance the skills essential and necessary for productive participation in a supported employment environment, assisted living, and becoming an active member of society. Students will be expected to participate in Community Based Instruction on a regular basis throughout the school year. They will learn appropriate social and communication skills.
Students will become involved in training through CCSD Transition Services. The Transition Department will assess students to obtain their individual abilities needed to obtain employment. To increase the opportunity of employment students will receive training in functional reading (survival words, sight words, and recognition of words in the community), functional math, social living, and communication for job related situations.
II Assessments
Students will be assessed using ongoing teacher observations, student work
samples and teacher made tests. Progress on the Goals and Benchmarks from the IEP will be used to assess student performance. An alternative state test, the Nevada Alternative Assessment, will be taken during the student’s junior year. This is a replacement for the high school proficiency exams.
III Performance Objectives
The Performance Objectives will be based on student’s individual educational plans.
IV Activities
The school day is divided into 6 instructional periods, which students are enrolled based on graduation requirements and the skills and objectives outlined in their individualized education plan (IEP).
A. Assignments
Assignments will be given daily and may require written or oral responses. The majority of assignments will consist of independent practice and small group
B. Community Based Instruction(CBI)
Students will participate regularly in community-based experiences to give them opportunities to transfer their knowledge from classroom studies to the real world situation. Parents will be informed of planned trips in advance, and will be asked to sign a permission slip provided by the MCS program teacher. In addition to the teacher issued permission slip the school district requires one off campus permission slip to be signed and kept on record at the school. In order to provide experiences in the community students may be required to fund their own lunches and admission into establishments. Parents will be notified in advance when monies will be required for participation. Students with financial difficulties will not be excluded from CBI activities.
V Evaluations
A. Criteria for grades
Students will be graded based on their performance/participation during classroom instruction and community based instruction. Grades will be assigned weekly using a 20 point per day grading system for a total of 100 points possible for the week. The 20 points will be assigned to the students based on participation and citizenship/behavior (specifically targeted behaviors).
The points are based on a grading rubric to ensure fair grading procedures. The following is a break down of the grading scale/rubric: 10 points possible for participation and 10 points possible for citizenship. Participation points will be awarded for such things as completion of assignments and staying on task. Students who demonstrate appropriate behavior according to the school and classroom rules will receive the points available for citizenship. Points will be revoked for lack of assignment completion, off task behaviors, and disobeying school and/or classroom rules. CCSD appointed no-school days will be computed as an automatic 20 points per day.
B. Grading Scales:
Level of Mastery: 90% - 100% Accuracy = A
80% - 89% Accuracy = B
70% - 79% Accuracy = C
60% - 69% Accuracy = D
Below 60% Accuracy = F
Please complete this page, remove from packet and return to the teacher by October 30, 2011.
Acknowledgement of Course Expectations
MCS Program
We have read and discussed the course description and expectations.
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Student’s Name [last, first] Student’s Signature
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Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature
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Home phone Work/Cell phone
Email Address: ______