Pioneer Special School Program

Pioneer Special School Program

Pioneer Special Schools serves Portland’s special-education students, kindergarten to 21 years old, who are unable to be successful in less restrictive school placements. With four school sites and a year-round calendar, the program helps students with social/emotional needs, fragile mental health, developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, life skills, or GED preparation needs or who require vocational training and community transition services.

Specially designed instruction and related services are provided to meet each student's individual needs. School wide positive behavioral supports and daily social skills lessons in the classroom provide the structure and framework by which we address pro-social school skills and work with students and families to ameliorate negative behaviors which impede their ability to access less restrictive educational environments.

Delivery of services in the classroom is provided by a certified teacher and two para-educators, as well as a Masters level therapist at least half time to address mental health issues. Behavior coaches are available to assist with positive reinforcement of pro-social behavior and to facilitate the de-escalation of students who have become a danger to themselves or others. Related services may include professionals such as a speech-language pathologist, educational assistants, school psychologist, adapted physical education teacher, occupational therapist, and psychiatric consultations as needed.

Work experience coordination, transition specialists, and PLATO credit recovery services are provided to students at the high school level.

Evaluation / Stabilization placements are available at all sites. The Special School Program provides a safe and therapeutic environment as well as Mental Health Assessments and data collection in order to assist the sending school team in their evaluation of students for special education services.

Interim Alternative (Located at Pioneer 9-12 Columbia)

This program is for middle and high school special education students who have been expelled for behavior NOT related to the student’s disability; behavioral removals for up to 45 school days for violations involving weapons, drugs and/or the infliction of serious bodily injury or are attending DESCC. This is an IEP service time model, which permits students to continue to make progress on their IEP goals. Currently, a morning and afternoon session is offered for students.

COMMUNITY TRANSITION PROGRAM (Located at Pioneer 9-12 Columbia)

This class is for students 18-21 years of age who demonstrate a significant need for behavioral support, while meeting post-secondary IEP vocational/transition goals. To qualify for placement in this program, students must have graduated with a modified diploma or be a fifth year senior in need of a program with an emphasis on employment readiness, rather than academic instruction.

Off Site/ Home Instruction

Off site instruction is for special education students who attend Holladay Annex for the implementation of their IEP’s.

Home instruction is for special education students who cannot attend offsite instruction. Tutors provide instruction for implementation of their IEP’s in the home, public library or other neutral setting.