Special Education Services At Cascade Virtual Option
Special Education Services At Cascade Virtual Option
Virtual Option is open to all students within Seattle Public Schools regardless of ability. To best serve the unique needs of our students, we have 2 Special education pathways.
Resource Pathway is for students who would be served primarily within the general education setting if served in a brick-and-mortar school. Within SPS this includes Resource and Extended Resource level students.
Intensive Pathway is for students who would be served primarily within the special education setting if served in a brick-and-mortar school. Within SPS this includes Focused, Distinct, DHH, Medically Fragile, and Mod-Intensive.
What types of groups does each pathway receive?
Resource Pathway Students
- Weekly Synchronous support sessions to accommodate, modify, and support student progress in Asynchronous General Education Content.
- Asynchronous skill building to support IEP goal progress.
- Weekly Synchronous small group instruction based on areas of IEP Specially Designed instruction. These groups may include:
- Book Club: interest-based reading work focused on increasing student enjoyment of reading and overall comprehension skills.
- Leveled Math groups: ability and goal based small group lessons.
- Social Group: interest and compatibility based small groups working on social skills through play (Minecraft/D&D/Other) and discussion of movies.
- Adaptive and Life Skills: IEP driven group focused on teaching real world skills such as cooking, cleaning, safety, and community access.
- Social Studies: Rotating exploration of Indigenous, World, and US history in an accessible and interactive small group.
- Science: Student interest driven exploration of science in an accessible and interactive way.
Intensive Pathway Students
- Daily synchronous small group instruction tailored to student interest and IEP goals. These may include:
- Book Club: interest-based reading work focused on increasing student enjoyment of reading and overall comprehension skills.
- Leveled Math groups: ability and goal based small group lessons.
- Social Group: interest and compatibility based small groups working on social skills through play (Minecraft/D&D/Other) and discussion of movies.
- Adaptive and Life Skills: IEP driven group focused on teaching real world skills such as cooking, cleaning, safety, and community access.
- Social Studies: Rotating exploration of Indigenous, World, and US history in an accessible and interactive small group.
- Science: Student interest driven exploration of science in an accessible and interactive way.
- Weekly Asynchronous skill building and assessments to support skill development and guide synchronous lessons.
There are also differences in how general education content is provided per age bracket
Kindergarten -5th grade
Daily live synchronous* instruction in the areas of Reading and Math.
Daily asynchronous* independent work for all other classwork.
6th grade -12th grade
All general education instruction delivered asynchronously* through Edgenuity.
Support given through scheduled synchronous* support groups.
*Synchronous means an SPS teacher is present and supporting the group
*Asynchronous means the student is independently navigating an online curriculum or teacher assigned work
What skills and/or homebased supports will enable students to thrive within Cascade Virtual Option?
| Support | Intensive Pathway | Resource Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Independently utilize the mouse pad for navigation | X | X |
| Utilize TEAMS Calendar for Synchronous meetings | X | X |
| Navigate to web-based curriculum | X | X |
| Find and utilize the chat feature in TEAMS | X | X |
| Find and utilize the mute and unmute feature in TEAMS | X | X |
| Find and utilize the camera feature in TEAMS | X | X |
| Complete Asynchronous Assigned Work | 20-45 minutes daily | 3-5 hours daily |
| Manage Multiple Asynchronous General Education Classes | N/A | X |
| Time management and pacing of independent work | X | X |
| Typing and/or use of Speech to text devices | X | X |
| Engage in synchronous groups (via chat, voice, video, or completed work) | X | X |
How will you as the parent know how your student is doing?
| Communication Method | Intensive Pathway | Resource Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Method | Intensive Pathway | Resource Pathway |
| Email update of synchronous attendance and engagement | Bi-Weekly | Bi-Weekly |
| Email update of engagement/completion of asynchronous work. | Bi-Weekly | Bi-Weekly |
| Progress Reports on IEP goals | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Office Hours available to meet with Case Manager | As needed | As Needed |
I still have questions, who can I ask?
- Beth Williams: VO Intensive Special Education Teacher brwilliams@seattleschools.org
- Dianne Espinosa: VO Resource Special Education Teacher dcespinosa@seattleschools.org
- Owen Gonder: VO Principal oigonder@seattleschools.org