Dept. of Special Programs & Services

The Department of Special Programs & Services (DSPS) at Orange Lutheran High School is designed to meet the unique educational needs of our diverse student body. This Program serves the needs of students with a variety of educational disabilities.

Students are admitted to the DSPS Program by the approval of the program director and in coordination with all procedures established by the admissions team. Each prospective student will be evaluated to determine the appropriate level of support needed. The decision regarding a student’s placement, made by the program director, the admissions team, and administration, is final.
 
In order to best serve our students, we require current educational/psychological assessments. Identification of needs will be based on an educational psychological evaluation. These evaluations must be current within three years and are required for initial and continued enrollment in the program.  Recommendations from the evaluations, past educational information, placement exams, and input from the student, parents, and the teachers will be used to determine appropriate course placement and guidance for post-secondary options.

The DSPS program is divided into two levels of academic support. 

• Level One - Comprehensive Student Services
  This level of support is for a student who has an identified disability that requires additional support outside of the regular classroom setting, in an environment with a reduced teacher/student ratio. Classes include Resource Lab, English RSP or Social Studies RSP. These services carry an additional fee.
• Level Two - Supportive Student Services
  This level of support is for a student who has an identified disability that can be supported within the regular classroom environment through limited/reasonable accommodations. These students are not enrolled in a Resource Lab or any English RSP or Social Studies RSP class. There is no additional fee for these students.

English DSPS and Social Studies DSPS Courses - These classes are designed to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities and satisfy Orange Lutheran High School’s graduation requirements. These courses correlate directly with the curriculum that is used in the regular classroom but utilize modifications and accommodations as are appropriate for DSPS students. Teachers who are experts in their respective fields of English and Social Studies teach these DSPS classes. Collaboratively, regular education teachers and DSPS instructors design specific strategies and teaching techniques that enable students to academically thrive.

DSPS Lab Courses - Our Lab classes are yearlong courses designed for students in grades 9-12 who are in need of educational support for the regular course curriculum. Students will build study skills, extend time on tests, complete a daily assignment book, follow their grades on LancerLink, break down lengthy assignments into manageable chunks, and receive overall assistance with homework as is necessary. Additionally, students in the program are encouraged to advocate for themselves and recognize their learning style.

Reasonable accommodations are made within the curriculum, as well as in classroom expectations, that promote academic growth and foster student success.

Reasonable Accomodations

• Tests/Quizzes
  • Extra time extended to Lab
  • Oral testing extended to Lab
  • Check for understanding of directions
  • Supply word bank for fill-in-the-blank
  • Study buides prior to test/quiz
  • Provide course calendar or test dates
• Instructional Strategies
  • Preferential seating
  • Provide peer notetaker or teacher notes
  • Assign positive role model for group work
  • Offer a model of a project or assignment
  • Graphic organizers
  • Maintain an assignment book
  • Assignment board kept current (reference)
• Materials/Books/Equipment
  • Using the assignment book
  • Record lectures
  • Calculator use on tests/assignments
  • Typing homework assignments
  • Using a laptop for notetaking
  • Kurzweil (computer-based text reading)

Admission Requirements

The Department of Special Programs & Services program at Orange Lutheran strives to be the appropriate educational environment for all students who are accepted for enrollment. To help us determine the compatibility between student and school, it is necessary to meet the following criteria:

• Provide documentation of current testing  - within the last 2-3 years - administered by an educational or school psychologist
• Interview with the DSPS director or DSPS program teacher
• Provide documentation of accommodations currently being implemented at the school of attendance. This includes letters from current teachers that reflect any accommodations or modifications being used in the classroom or for homework (sent to the DSPS director)
• Follow the admission procedures of LHSOC
• Take the placement examination (freshmen only)

Enrollment in the DSPS program is an ongoing process. If your son/daughter demonstrates a need for educational support, please contact the DSPS program director.