Individuals with Disabilities

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) is a Federal law which mandates a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities.

Students who might require accommodations in existing classes are eligible for the 504 program, while students with a disability that might require additional programming are referred through special education services.

Section 504

Under Section 504, an individual with a disability is defined as a person who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity; (2) has a record of such an impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.

If you believe your student may have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity, you may contact the Main Office and request a determination meeting. If your student qualifies for a 504, they are entitled to accommodations in class and on standardized tests.

Special Education

Students with a disability are identified through a referral system and an Individual Education Program (IEP) process. Maine Special Education Regulations define a student with a disability as having one or more of the following diagnoses: autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech and language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment including blindness. Referrals may be made by parents or teachers who have reason to believe that the student may have a disability which requires special education services. Students may also refer themselves. Parents are notified when a referral has been made, and parental consent is required before any special education evaluation or service is provided.

Deering High School provides a continuum of special education placements to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Supportive services such as physical therapy and occupational therapy are available whenever such services are required to assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education services. Academic success, emotional growth, and life skills are the focus of the high school special education program, with the goal being a smooth transition from high school to the adult world.

To learn about the full Student Support Service Continuum, please visit the school website.

English Language Development

The purpose of English language development (ELD) at Portland Public Schools is to advance English Learners’ (ELs) language development and promote their academic achievement by integrating both language and content standards. ELD programming provides language instruction in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and prepares students for general education by focusing on the social and academic language required across disciplines leading to a proficiency-based diploma. Placement and the curriculum is aligned to WIDA’s English Language Development Standards, which capitalizes and builds upon the assets students bring to their learning: their cultural and linguistic practices, skills, and ways of knowing from their homes and communities. The District’s Lau Plan details the procedural requirements and services to be provided to language minority students, including identification, registration, assessment, placement, exit from the multilingual program, and monitoring of student progress in mainstream classrooms.

All ELD courses prepare students for proficiency-based graduation requirements by focusing on:

• Supporting development of academic language proficiency through speaking and listening
• Supporting development of academic language proficiency through attention to syntax and academic vocabulary in complex text and speech.
• Ensuring that students have opportunities to grow academic vocabulary through word study, close reading, and a volume of reading.
• Providing opportunities for students to read complex text closely and analytically on a regular basis, gradually developing students’ ability to learn from complex text independently.
• Increasing the volume and range of reading and address fluency for those students who need it.
• Helping students use evidence to inform, argue, and analyze (write and speak with support from sources).
• Providing regular opportunities for short, focused research.

Alternative Education Program

The alternative education program (AEP) is designed for students who may be struggling in a traditional classroom. Through this program, students have the opportunity to earn integrated credits in a smaller class setting through experiential learning. Students may self-refer or are referred by a staff member. All students must be approved through Deering’s Student Support Services Team (SST).

Jobs for Maine Graduates

The high school core program focuses on career attainment and growth, leadership, career exploration, post-secondary planning, and personal skills like financial literacy and "adulting." We also include hands-on community service projects, teaching students about the importance of giving back to our community.

JMG specialists work as a mentor, coach, advocate, and teacher, supporting students who are experiencing barriers to success.

Eligibility for JMG requires that students have at least one of the following barriers:

• are economically disadvantaged
• are living in foster care
• have a disability
• are facing inequities
• have a history of poor academic performance

For more information, please speak to your school counselor or one of our JMG Program Coordinators.

Make It Happen!

The Make It Happen program is an academic support and college readiness program for high school multilingual students. One of the goals of the program is to support students in developing competitive academic profiles to secure college admission and scholarships. As well, MIH students engage in academic skills development to succeed in content area classes.

Students engage in eight components of the program including academic coaching, academic progress and profile consultations, standardized test support, course selection advocacy, college application and scholarship support, leadership opportunities, professional development, and service learning opportunities. For more information, please contact program director Tim Cronin, cronit@portlandschools.org