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 The Devereux Day School
600 Boot Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
(610) 873-4900 - Phone
(610) 873-4961 - Fax
Population
Students are referred to the Devereux Day School when the severity of their educational and emotional needs cannot be addressed within the local education community. Full-time emotional support programming is offered for children and adolescents with emotional difficulties including difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships, instability of mood and temperament, and difficulty following classroom and school rules and expectations. Students often present with learning difficulties including specific learning disorders. The Day School is licensed to educate students who have a diagnosis of social/emotional disturbance or neurological impairment. Students’ clinical diagnoses include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, attention and disruptive behavior disorders, Tourette’s Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Adjustment Disorders, mild PDD, and others. The population is co-educational (though predominantly male) and the age range of eligible students is five to 21 years old. Students with cognitive and academic functioning levels that are below, above, or commensurate with, their chronological ages are considered for enrollment. The Day School is located in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, 30 miles west of Philadelphia and serves students from a wide geographic area. Programming is provided to over 100 students.
Programs and Accreditation
The Day School’s full-time emotional support program incorporates a structured environment, positive and supportive approach, research-based teaching methods, small class sizes, low staff-student ratios, close individual student monitoring, and frequent home-school communication. Our goal is to enhance the educational, behavioral, emotional, and social development of students to prepare them for return to their local school district or educational community. The Day School encompasses three programs: an elementary, middle and high school. Each of these programs has a multi-disciplinary team and programming tailored to the academic and social/emotional needs appropriate to the developmental levels of the students served. The Pennsylvania State Board of Private Academic Schools licenses the Day School.
Assessment and Treatment Planning
Each student receives services mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Reevaluations are conducted at least every three years. The annual review of the Individualized Educational Program (IEP) by professionals, the family and representative of other agencies ensures that each student continues to gain skills needed for future success. Each student’s academic and social/emotional progress is closely monitored through daily data collection and frequent review. Academic progress is assessed through curriculum based assessments as well as individual and group standardized testing. For students experiencing delays in basic academics, Direct Instruction is used. Traditional instructional methods are used for students on grade level. Students requiring advanced academic instruction may be eligible to participate in the PLATO web-based learning program offered by the Day School. Transitional programming is available to students ages 14 and over and may include career education, and assistance with job placements, vocational placements, and college preparation.
Therapeutic Modalities
The Day School provides a supportive, structured and predictable environment that focuses on both the educational and psychosocial needs of each student. The environment is structured to promote the development of work habits and academic skills, social skills, coping skills and emotional maturity. Classroom based social skills training is provided and is incorporated into the school community. The learning environment includes integrated behavior support systems that teach specific classroom and social behaviors which are critical to success in a learning environment. The Day School strives to maintain a positive learning environment for all students and to keep students in the classroom and actively engaged in learning activities. The behavior support systems are positively oriented and implemented in order to promote self-esteem and motivation and to enhance learning. Students are taught needed skills and provided with frequent feedback and reinforcement. Behaviors continue to be promoted and reinforced on an individual and program-wide basis to facilitate generalization. Students are initially provided with a high degree of structure and supervision. As progress is achieved, students are gradually provided with more independence, privileges and responsibilities. Rewards are an integral component of the behavior support program. The menu of rewards is extensive and constantly changing based on student input. Examples of rewards that are offered daily, or almost daily, include opportunities to: use the soda machine, earn extra computer time, earn free time, participate in outdoor activities, participate in small games and visit the school store (snacks, school supplies, batteries, and miscellaneous items are offered). Longer term rewards are often community based and include: visiting local parks, fishing trips, sporting events (Phantoms, Kicks), roller skating, movies and amusement parks.
Professional Staffing Levels
The multi-disciplinary team at the Devereux Day school includes professionals in the areas of special education, reading, psychology, social work, and speech and language therapy. Additional personnel provide support during classroom instruction and support
Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Devereux Day School admits students between the ages of six and 17 years. It is located on a suburban campus 30 miles west of Philadelphia and accepts students from a wide geographic area. |
