SCHOOL DAY PROGRAMS
Students referred to PAC school programs are grouped into one of two major program/service areas. The following programs are offered by PAC:
Seaside (Gr. 1-6): for students with Emotional, Neurological, Behavioral and Cognitive Challenges that interfere with their learning and prevent them from attending in-district school programs.
Pilgrim Academy (Gr. 5-12): for students with significant social, emotional and/or behavioral challenges.
Specialized Learning Communities (K-age 21): for students with ASD, developmental delays or similar learning/behavioral challenges, including transitional skills programming for older students.
Gaining Adult Proficiences (GAP) Program (Ages 18-21) : for post-graduate students with ASD, Specific Learning Disability, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, or social and/or emotional learning challenges.
EXTENDED SERVICES
PACES – Pilgrim Area Collaborative Extended Services
The PACES program is designed to provide supports and services that extend beyond the traditional school day. Designed originally in response to escalating needs of students on the autism spectrum, the PACES program began by providing specialty supports to families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder through home based student instructional programs and parent training. These PACES home supports address low incidence yet highly specialized needs during nontraditional school hours and in atypical school locations.
PAC has expanded the PACES program model beyond the realm of students on the spectrum to address member districts needs among a variety of student, program, curricular and facility areas. These extended services include professional consultation, professional evaluation, professional development, neuropsychological evaluations, and vision services.
REFERRALS
The process for making referrals to PAC for any program or services must come from the sending school district of the student involved.
Though PAC is pleased to provide general information regarding programs and services to parents and LEA representatives, any serious consideration of enrolling a student must begin with the formal initiation of referral documents from the sending school district’s Special Education Office to the Collaborative.
To see more about making referrals, click here
The Pilgrim Area Collaborative provides a broad array of programs and services in response to member district needs, identified gaps in services, and specialized challenges among
different student profiles and needed supports. PAC connects students, families, staff members and school district personnel to create learning environments and experiences that benefit all children in the learning community.
All students receive related RELATED SERVICES SUPPORTS support as defined in his/her Individualized Educational Program. PAC employs speech & language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, school psychologists, nurses, music specialists, vision teachers and orientation and mobility instructors. Therapists and specialists work closely with program, classroom and individual staff to integrate these services into the daily routines of each student’s program. Assistive technology is often used to further augment and support the learning of students attending PAC programs.
An EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR (ESY) is offered during the summer months to those students requiring consistency of programming in order to maintain their educational progress and avoid “regression” of skills.
The ESY curriculum provides students with structured activities in the areas of academics, communication, fine & gross motor skills and social activities which enable students to maintain adequate progress in skill development. Therapies are provided as indicated on the student’s IEP.
Students who do not attend PAC programs or do not receive services during the academic year may apply to attend PAC ESY Programs, but he/she must be referred to PAC by the Special Education Director or his/her home school district.
