Special Education
Approximately 44% of children attending Camden Street Elementary School have special needs. The children are classified from the following list:
- Learning Disabled
- Multiple Disabled
- Cognitive Disabled
- Behavior Disabled
- Autism/PDD
- Preschool Disabled
The class size ranges from 5-6, so as to allow for closer supervision in the education of the "whole" child. The special needs children are expected to adhere to the core curriculum content standards just as their counterparts in the regular school division. Many special needs classrooms are combined with regular classrooms in subjects such as art, music, gym, and library. There are some special needs children that are instructed in certain subjects in the regular classroom component. These children are beginning to be mainstreamed back into the regular component.
The PDD/Autism Program
This program for students who are experiencing PDD and Autism is a new component of the special services provided by the Newark Public Schools. This is a full day, extended school year program consisting of 210 days. The program currently provides for the education of children 3-11 years of age and will continue to expand in time. All children’s educational programs are determined by an individualized education plan developed by appropriate school personnel and the student’s family. The curriculum of the program emphasizes skill acquisition and development in the following areas:
- Pre-readiness
- Speech and Language
- Cognition
- Self Help
- Sensory Integration
- Socialization and Play