Below is an outline and brief description of the types of programs supported in Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 schools. If you have any questions about the programs, please feel free to reach out to the special education contact at that school, listed on the right.

Affective Needs

The Affective Needs program is designed to provide intensive, individualized academic and social-emotional supports for students experiencing significant social, emotional, and/or behavioral difficulties. Placement in the program is dependent on discussion, planning, and frequent communication between the IEP team, which includes parents as the most essential team members. The program provides a smaller adult to student ratio within a highly structured classroom. In addition to academic instruction, students participate in social skills instruction on a daily basis. A main goal of the program is to help students learn and maintain the necessary skills to support their learning in the general education setting alongside their peers. As students demonstrate successful participation in the less restrictive classrooms, they are closer to the ultimate goal of returning to full inclusion in their regular schedule.

Schools providing Affective Needs programming: Aragon Elementary School, Mountainside Elementary School, Carson Middle School, Fountain Middle School, and Fountain-Fort Carson High School

Autism

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 recognizes the unique needs of children with Autism. Although there are many common features of children with Autism, there is great variability in the individual needs of these students. Students who receive support in the center-based autism program, are done so based on a need for a learning environment that will build on their strengths while minimizing factors that most interfere with learning. As with all students, it is the goal of the teachers and support staff to support learning in the general education setting as much as is appropriate for each student.

Schools providing Autism programming: Jordahl Elementary School, Patriot Elementary School, Carson Middle School, Fountain Middle School, and Fountain-Fort Carson High School

Significant Support Needs

Significant Support Needs (SSN) programming is designed to provide targeted academic instruction to students who are working towards alternate state standards, otherwise known as Extended Evidence Outcomes. While exposure to grade level standards and curriculum are expected, students in the SSN program receive the bulk of their instruction from the special education teacher utilizing alternate curriculum.  

Schools providing Significant Support Needs programming: Abrams Elementary School, Mesa Elementary School, Weikel Elementary School, Carson Middle School, Fountain Middle School, and Fountain-Fort Carson High School

Moderate Needs and Speech-Language Programming

All Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 schools provide programming in these areas.