Potentially Successful Secondary Special Education Programs.

Overview & Synopsis

The paper highlights four successful instructional/programing strategies for secondary level handicapped students in rural Wyoming. The Vocational Education/Special Education Project (VESEP) I provides a vocational/special education curriculum which encourages cooperative teaching between vocational and special education staff while addressing vocational needs of students. VESEPII complements VESEPI by addressing prevocational enabling skills and student occupational interest. Project STILE (Strategies to Increase Learning Efficiency) is designed to improve the academic functioning and life long learning skills of the learning disabled adolescent while stressing cooperation between the special and general educators. The Career Education Resources for Teaching Students (CERTS) program incorporates a 4 year curriculum addressing prevocational/self awareness, limited inhouse career exploration, expanded onsite exploration, and vocational skill building. Students are encouraged to remain in regular classes as much as possible; however, the CERTS program offers some options through cooperation, between the content and special education teachers, when a student's individualized education program calls for modification within an academic area. Finally, a cooperative strategy between the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Johnson County (Wyoming) Public Schools benefits the student by a shared assessment results (therefore no duplication of effort) and continuation of services. (SB)