Who We Are
UHS Keystone School - Carmichael is a non-public special education school. It is the largest non-public school in Northern California, with over 220 students enrolled from over 36 school districts. UHS Keystone School - Carmichael has been accredited since 1998 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). With an optimal student-to-faculty ratio, UHS Keystone School - Carmichael provides an exceptional learning environment for children with special needs. A team concept is emphasized so that staff members are informed about individual students and their needs. Teachers do quarterly assessments on all students to measure a student’s reading fluency, word recognition, reading comprehension, math computation and writing samples aligned to the state frameworks. UHS Keystone School - Carmichael uses the state-approved curriculum from the San Juan School District. The school’s programs include Why Try and Second Step as well as social skills training. Both PECs and TEACCH are used as teaching and communication methods for autistic and SH students. The school also offers a Special Olympics and athletic program for students as well as re-education curriculum.
Our Services
• State Standards Based Academic Curriculum
• SRA-Reach and SEACO Curriculum
• Behavior Management Program
• BICM Trained Staff
• Cognitive Testing Performed By Clinical Psychologist
• Group Therapy and Individual Counseling
• Art Therapy – On-Site Credentialed Art Teacher and Licensed Art Therapist
• Social Skills Training
• Speech and Language Services
• Psychological Testing and Psychiatric Services
• Intramural and Intermural Sports Leagues
• Physical Education Program
• Computer Lab
• Transportation Provided
Additional Information
UHS Keystone School - Carmichael has strived hard to be the BEST Non-Public School in California. In the Spring of 2004, we were granted another 6 year accreditation by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). UHS Keystone School - Carmichael not only is WASC certified, but is also state certified. All of our Special Education Teachers are NCLB (No Child Left Behind) compliant.
Assessment
Teachers do quarterly assessments on all students to
measure a student’s reading fluency, word
recognition, reading comprehension, math computation
and writing samples aligned to the state frameworks.
All classrooms are observed by an Education
Coordinator monthly and rated on 13-15 areas
depending on the type of classroom. That data is
used to plan trainings and to support the teachers
within their classrooms. All state standardized
tests are administered on site and according to the
state mandates. UHS Keystone School - Carmichael is a member of
the Compendium for CAHSEE (California High School
Exit Exam) remediation which began in Spring 2006.
Curriculum
In accordance with AB1858, UHS Keystone
School - Carmichael researched and adopted K-12 curriculum
aligned with the state frameworks and San Juan
Unified School District. Textbooks exceeding
$135,000.00 were ordered in the Summer of 2005 in
all core academic areas. Supplemental materials,
such as manipulative kits, teacher resource binders,
adaptations for Special Education populations and
Universal Access kits were purchased to further
enhance the curriculum and allow the teachers to
make the necessary modifications to grant all
students access to the grade level curriculum.
UHS Keystone School - Carmichael also focused on improving
reading scores school-wide, and as a result
purchased SRA-Reach curriculum. Reach is a
comprehensive reading decoding and comprehensive
program that is researched based. In Spring 2006,
Elective curriculum for the 9-12th grade
was purchased. In Summer 2006, Social Sciences will
be readopted, which means the purchase of even more
curriculum. In addition to the textbooks, UHS
Keystone School - Carmichael
also installed Orchard software in every classroom
and the Computer Lab. The Orchard software is
supplemental curriculum to augment the Direct
Instruction taking place within the classrooms. The
Computer Lab contains 7 Dell Computers that are
networked with all classrooms and offices on campus.
The Lab is primarily used for the Junior and Senior
High aged students. The classroom computers are all
equipped with word processing, supplemental
educational and reinforcement software and all have
internet access. In the Elementary Wing, a class set
of Alphasmarts were purchased in Spring 2004 to
augment the curriculum and to teach keyboarding
skills to the students. Another new addition to the
curriculum department was the move from Art Therapy
to Art Education. UHS Keystone School - Carmichael has a
credentialed Art Teacher and a licensed Art
Therapist on site and educating the students on Fine
Arts within the classroom settings.
Behavior
Positive reinforcements are used campus-wide.
All classrooms document behavioral data hourly in 3
common domains (following directions, social
contact, and on-task behavior), as well as 2
individual goals according to their IEP. The
classroom points convert to levels within each
classroom. The levels allow access to certain
rewards school-wide. In the Fall of 2005, a
Recreation Room was created for all students on
level 4. The Rec Room contains Air Hockey, Foosball,
Nintendo and 5 games and a 32 inch television on
which to view it. All classrooms have 30 minutes 2
times a week and can sign up for more time, if they
so choose.
UHS Keystone School - Carmichael has a Clinical Psychologist that can perform cognitive testing and a School Psychologist who together write all IEP Psychoeducational reports. Individual Counseling is available to any student who requires it, and all students receive Psychoeducational Groups weekly. At UHS Keystone School - Carmichael, we have also adopted Why Try and Second Step. We have staff on site that are BICM trained by Diana Browning-Wright and they write all Behavior Support Plans for every student enrolled at UHS Keystone School - Carmichael. We have a multidisciplinary team that includes Psychologists and Masters Level Special Education Coordinators.
In our Autism Program, all Teachers and Educational Assistants were trained using SEACO (Special Education Administrators of County Offices) Curriculum. The staff uses PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) to teach students flexibility. The Center uses TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children). The students receive Sensory Integration Therapy under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. The students go out into the community for Community Based Instruction (CBI) 2 days per week and are frequently accompanied by the Speech and Language Pathologist. Approximately 50% of our students receive Speech and Language services as dictated by their Individual Education Plan.
Athletics
Students enrolled in UHS Keystone School - Carmichael are eligible to participate in intramural and intermural sports leagues in Football, Basketball and Softball. This is a positive experience for many kids who have often never been part of a team. The Physical Education program has also evolved into a much more structured and coordinated part of school. The school purchased new equipment for every grade and developmental level.
Transportation
Transportation is provided door to door for over 26 school districts on any given day. Those students are transported by our 30+ Educational Assistants that support the classroom teachers. In the ED classrooms there is a 1:12 staff to student ratio and in the Autism Center there is a 1:3 ratio staff to students.
Accreditation
Our school has strived hard to be the BEST Non-Public School in California. In the Spring of 2004, we were granted another 6 year accreditation by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). UHS Keystone School - Carmichael not only is WASC certified, but is also state certified. All of our Special Education Teachers are NCLB (No Child Left Behind) compliant. At UHS Keystone School - Carmichael our staff believes it is important to always look to the future. Thus in the Fall of 2005, we implemented an Annual School Plan. This drives our trainings, meetings and purchases for the upcoming year. All of our staff attend over 40 hours a year in training on and off-site.
School Accountability Report Card
UHS
Keystone School Carmichael School Accountability
Report Card
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