F.S. district completes summer special ed, constructs new sensory gym at Washington Street

The Franklin Square Union Free School District’s summer special education program, which runs for six weeks each summer and is for children with significant to severe cognitive disabilities, ended this summer on Aug. 16.

The district’s summer Intense Support Program, which services children in grades Kindergarten to 6th grade, is state-mandated as part of its regular ISP, which is held during the school year. However, the Franklin Square district is one of few local districts to have a program specifically designed for students needing special education.

Franklin Square’s regular ISP, which operates at the John Street School, is comprised of self-contained classes, primarily for low functioning youngsters with limited language and communication skills. The class is language-based, with a speech language pathologist team teaching with the special education teacher for approximately two hours daily. Children in the ISP integrate with typical students for lunch and special subject areas, such as physical education, music, library and art.

Twenty-one students — seven of whom were from surrounding districts, including West Hempstead, Floral Park, East Meadow, Rockville Centre and Valley Stream — attended Franklin Square’s summer ISP program, which is also held at John Street. Students in the program took several local trips this summer, including to Pump It Up, Herrill Lanes, Wood Kingdom, 5 Star Gymnastics, and Stop and Shop.

Many local districts cross-contract with the Franklin Square district because they do not have an in-district program, and are required by the state to send students out-of-district if they cannot provide a comprehensive special education program. The students took several trips into the community this summer to enhance everyday skills, and focused on gaining a sense of independence.