District Information

The mission of District 75 is to provide appropriate standards-based educational programs, with related service supports, to approximately 23,000 students with severe challenges, commensurate with their abilities. The district is committed to working with students and their families to afford them an opportunity to maximize their potential, become contributing members of society and develop the tools to ensure maximum personal independence and self-esteem.

District 75 provides citywide educational, vocational, and behavior support programs for students who are on the autism spectrum, severely challenged, and/or multiply disabled. District 75 consists of 56 school organizations, home and hospital instruction, and vision and hearing services. Our schools and programs are located at more than 350 sites in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and Syosset, New York.

District 75 collaborates with various institutions of learning and colleges to replicate best instructional practices, and offers state of the art professional development for teachers. The District supports instruction through their offices of Autism, Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Inclusion, Transition, and Positive Behavior Supports. There are extended day programs providing academic intervention strategies and extracurricular activities that provide opportunities to improve their social skills and self-esteem through art, dance, drama etc. District 75 delivers services to students in a variety of supported environments that include community-based vocational training sites, special education schools, institutional facilities, inclusive settings, community school, students’ homes, high schools, hospitals, and agencies.

As mandated by the students’ Individualized Educational Programs (IEP’s), District 75 supports a wide range of related services that include Speech, Counseling, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing. These services are individualized and can be delivered in a small group and/or one-to-one settings. All are geared to support student achievement both in school and in the community at large.

Goals

To accomplish its mission and to support Children First, District 75 provides extensive staff and parent education programs as well as administrative leadership training. District 75 focuses its energy and resources on the following six district goals:

1. To develop and expand options, within the least restrictive environments, for the participation of students with severe disabilities in school and community settings.
2. To support the development and implementation of an integrated approach to instruction, merging all components of a comprehensive program (high expectations, performance and content standards, program practices to accommodate diverse learning styles, ability levels, and assessment alternatives) to meet students' Individualized Education Plans.
3. To create learning environments that provide positive behavior supports, including instruction in self-management of challenging behaviors and in social skills development.
4. To develop and implement a set of procedures that ensures the smooth transition from school to post-school/adult opportunities.
5. To examine current regulatory, funding and administrative structures that support the achievement of the district goals and coordinate activities to facilitate systems change.
6. To partner with regional general education schools under a grant for Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) in 40 general education schools, to develop and train teams on proactive behavioral interventions, so that students can remain in the least restrictive environment in their home zoned schools.