Conejo Valley Unified School District's Commitment to Inclusion
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The Conejo Valley Unified School District recognizes each child is unique and when differences are celebrated, a community of inclusivity, kindness, and respect results, which enhances the learning for all. CVUSD is committed to acknowledging historically marginalized individuals and/or communities by working together to break down barriers as well as ensuring the full and equal access to opportunities and resources. CVUSD is proud to have developed a Strategic Inclusion Plan for Students with Disabilities during the 22/23 school year. Our team engages in regular reflection and monitoring of all action items within the plan.
Universal Design for Learning in CVUSD
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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an instructional mindset that acknowledges the variability of all learners and seeks to remove barriers to learning by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, action and expression. UDL strengthens the universal instruction provided for all students by intentionally designing a learning environment to be more accessible and inclusive for diverse student learners.
UDL was introduced to all CVUSD teachers during a full day of professional learning in August 2019. This kickoff event featured a keynote address by renowned author and practitioner Dr. Katie Novak. This training was followed up in November 2019 when all teachers worked collaboratively to determine barriers to student learning and then apply the UDL Guidelines as grade-level or content area departments. Continued training has been provided since the launch of UDL in CVUSD through additional teacher collaboration, district-led training for administrators, principal-led training for school sites, and through continual "UDL Learning Walks", in which teams of educators observe their colleagues' classrooms to identify and discuss the applications of UDL.
Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
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According to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a “comprehensive continuum of evidence-based, systemic practices to support a rapid response to students’ needs, with regular observation to facilitate data-based instructional decision making.” In CVUSD, the MTSS process embraces inclusion and diversity while providing the supports that students need. MTSS is a collaborative problem-solving process used to identify concerns, develop interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in a multi-tiered system of service delivery.
Co-Teaching in CVUSD
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Co-teaching is an inclusive instructional strategy in which two teachers, a general education teacher and a special education teacher, partner to create a cohesive curriculum in which they co-plan, co-teach, and co-assess to provide access to the subject for ALL students. Co-teaching provides students with and without disabilities the opportunity to interact with and learn from both teachers and all students while gaining access to the curriculum in a more universally designed manner.
CVUSD offers various co-teaching classes in English, Social Studies, Science, and Math for grades 6 through 12. Students with IEPs may access their Specialized Academic Instruction services in a co-taught class based on the IEP team decisions. If your student's IEP does not indicate that a co-taught class is a required component of the least restrictive environment, and rather, a CP course that is not co-taught is named, you can request a co-taught class with the school counselor (this does not guarantee placement and is based on each student's required course and the overall master schedule at the school site).
Community Based Instruction
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Community-based instruction (CBI) is a strategy or instructional method that promotes the teaching and use of academic and functional skills in the student’s community environment. CBI is designed to teach and promote student independence as much as possible in as many community environments as possible and to provide students with practice for independent or supported living, employment, and recreational activities. CVUSD students in specialized programs access CBI in settings that are relevant to the student, facilitate independence, and are age appropriate. Through CBI, students work on IEP goals in real-world situations, develop social and behavioral skills, are provided opportunities for inclusive interactions within the community, gain familiarity with the community, develop work skills, develop independent life skills, and develop communication skills. CBI is an instrumental component of CVUSD’s high school LEAP specialized programs as well as at Conejo Oaks Academy. Students participate in community trips concurrently with classroom instruction. Students engage and practice some skills in the classroom first while later practicing the skills in the community setting.
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The Sparkle Effect was started by 2 high school students in Iowa in 2008. In 2020, they made the decision to change their name to "Generation Spirit" to match the power and the passion behind what has truly become a nationwide movement for inclusion! Today there are over 225 teams in 31 states, involving over 20,000 students.
At CVUSD, we have 3 clubs in total - one at each of our high schools, run by spirit cheerleaders!
Students with and without disabilities cheer together at football and basketball games routinely, and have also cheered on our teams playing baseball and softball! Sparkles teams participate in school rallies, ability awareness events, and attended the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles in 2015, along with numerous other events.
Our Sparkles teams are not about perfection! Rather, Sparkles is about positive interactions between all students, respect for each other, and forming friendships. The impact of our Sparkles programs at each of our high schools has been overwhelming.
Conejo Valley Unified School District is proud to have Debbie Hanna as the Sponsor of our Sparkles program!
For more information in the Sparkles program, please contact Debbie Hanna.
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The Young Athletes Program – TK-2: Special Olympics Young Athletes is a sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), ages 2 to 7 years old. Young Athletes introduces basic sports skills, like running, kicking and throwing. Young Athletes offers families, teachers, caregivers and people from the community the chance to share the joy of sports with all children.
Unified Juniors – 3- 6: Unified Juniors is for students, grades 3-6, with and without intellectual disabilities. Students will gain knowledge of Special Olympics and an introduction to competitive sports in a fun, non-intimidating manner, while breaking down barriers at an early age through the Play Unified movement.
Current schools that use the Young Athletes Program are
- Acacia Elementary
- Aspen Elementary
- Be Me Preschool
- Madrona Elementary
- Maple Elementary
- Wonder Elementary
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Ability Awareness Week reinforces the understanding that individuals with disabilities have incredible abilities. Through various engaging and informative opportunities students acknowledge the abilities and strengths of individuals with disabilities, helping to reduce hurtful myths or stigma.
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CVUSD is proud to celebrate Inclusive School Week during the first full week in December. Inclusive Schools Week is focused on acknowledging the historical marginalization of individuals and/or communities and taking action to break down barriers that preclude all individuals/communities from full and equal access and opportunity. Each school site prepares and plans for various activities that improve the ability to successfully educate all children.