Special Education

Special Education at Gateway: Our Commitment

The Gateway Regional School District provides Special Education services to support students with disabilities, aged 3 through 22. Our goal is to provide specialized teaching so every student can fully access and learn from the general school curriculum.

We offer many types of support to fit each student's needs. We always try to have students learn in the regular classroom first while giving them the help they need to receive a challenging education. Everything we do follows federal law (IDEA) and state law.

The Supports We Provide

Our services are delivered across all schools to help students succeed academically, emotionally, and socially:

Specialized Teaching

• Specially Designed Instruction:  This is targeted, individualized teaching that adapts how the material is taught and delivered to match your child’s unique learning needs.

Therapy and Support

• Therapeutic Services: This includes counseling, speech therapy, occupational therapy (OT), and physical therapy (PT).

• Sensory Support: Specialized assistance for students with vision and hearing needs.

Wellness

• Social and Emotional Wellness: Support to help students with social skills, managing feelings, and overall mental health in the school environment.

Our Core Belief: Inclusion (LRE)

Inclusion is the main philosophy of our district. This commitment is guided by the law of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

LRE means that your child has the right to a challenging education and the opportunity to learn alongside their peers (students without disabilities) as much as possible.

To make this happen, we prioritize:

1. General Education: Starting with the regular classroom as the best option.

2. In-Class Help: Providing specialized instruction and therapy directly within the general education classroom whenever it is appropriate.

3. Accommodations: Using extra aids and support services to help your child succeed.

Working Together for Success

We believe every student can learn, and success is a shared effort among all educators.

General education teachers and special education teachers work collaboratively across the district. Together, we maintain high expectations for every student while changing the teaching methods and materials to fit individual needs. The excellent teaching methods we use for students with disabilities end up improving the quality of education for the entire student body.