ACADEMICS AND CAREER EXPLORATIONS PROGRAM

MISSION STATEMENT:

The ACE Program is an alternative education cooperative, delivering individualized curriculum to students in grades 9-12 to fulfill the common core educational standards and secure college preparedness. It is a safe learning environment that provides the social and emotional support necessary to foster healthy relationships at work, home, and school. It offers diverse 21st-century vocational training and real-world career readiness. Our goal is to cultivate positive student self-esteem and a strong desire for achievement and success in each student.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

• Classes are small with no more than 8 students in a classroom.
• Students receive individual counseling at least weekly and are enrolled in a daily social-emotional learning (SEL) class. The student and their family are encouraged to pursue outside counseling to support the student's emotional growth.
• Classes will be academically challenging, and teachers in the program will expect quality academic work.
• The ACE Program academic requirements parallel the regular education curriculum for a student’s grade level (English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies).

ENTRANCE CRITERIA:

Appropriate candidates for the ACE Program are students who are currently attending grades 9-12, and:

• have social/emotional issues that prohibit them from participating in mainstream, regular education programs, even with additional support from regular or special education teachers.
• have not been successful in their current program of studies for at least two terms and have exhausted all other sources of academic support services to no avail.
• have emotional issues or a diagnosed disability, diagnosed by the appropriate professional sufficient to be eligible for special education services as delineated in the Massachusetts Special Education guidelines.
• have been successful in a more restrictive education environment and are ready to step down into a less restrictive environment but are not ready to re-enter a traditional comprehensive middle/high school.
• have been hospitalized and are ready to step down into a less restrictive environment but are not ready to re-enter a traditional comprehensive middle/high school.

ACE PROGRAM STAFF:

• Terry Gawronski
  • Mental Health Coordinator and District Social Worker
  • Email Terry Gawronski
• Eileen Wood
  • Adjustment Counselor
  • Email Eileen Wood
• Christina Nicholson
  • Teacher - ACE Program
  • Email Christina Nicholson
• Jason Burch
  • Teacher - Special Education
  • Email Jason Burch
• Maureen Remington
  • Paraprofessional
  • Email Maureen Remington