California Department of Education
Taking Center Stage – Act II

Teaching Students with Special Needs

Differentiated instruction is important for all learners but is essential to help English learners, gifted and talented students, special education students, and those who have behavioral and social problems. These students need grade-level curriculum but may need additional supports or challenges to make learning meaningful. The following sections discuss teaching students in special education, the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, and educational options for students whose behavior or special needs require an alternative educational setting. For more on teaching English learners, see the previous sections on Bilingual instruction and on English language development.

In the Spotlight

Bernice Ayer Middle School (Outside Source), a Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage 2005 model, Capistrano Unified School District and Richard Henry Dana Middle School (Outside Source), a Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage 2006 model, Wiseburn Elementary School District. Like many other schools, these two schools pair resource teachers with mathematics teachers to help students with individualized education programs (IEPs) achieve proficiency in mathematics.

McKinleyville Middle School (Outside Source), a Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage 2006 model, McKinleyville Union Elementary School District. The school schedules a three-period core class in which two periods focus on English language arts and one period focuses on history/social studies. Resource teachers team with English language arts and social studies teachers to support special education students in heterogeneous classes.

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