All students do not enter school with the exact same abilities, but they do all deserve access to the same general education curriculum.
According to Project MAX:
At least one to three percent of Pennsylvania’s students have what is considered complex instructional needs. These students may need instructional adaptations, modifications, or assistive technology. They may have significant difficulty reading; difficulty expressing what they do know; and limited means of verbal and written communication.
As a result of Project MAX educators will know and be able to effectively teach to the Pennsylvania Core Standards, plan instruction that meets the diverse needs of all learners, students with complex instructional needs will engage in standards-aligned instruction using communication supports and assistive technology when needed. The goal of Project MAX is for students with complex instructional needs to demonstrate growth and achievement in academic content.
Intermediate Unit 1 is participating in this new special education initiative. Currently, IU1 has two classrooms participating: the Autistic Support classroom at California Area Elementary in the California Area School District, and the Autistic Support classroom at Hatfield Elementary in the Laurel Highlands School District.
Project MAX is a federally funded grant project designed to maximize access for students with complex instructional needs to Pennsylvania core standards and the general education curriculum. IU1 is one of 14 Intermediate Units in Pennsylvania participating in Project MAX.