George R. Austin Intermediate School (GRAIS)

The George R. Austin Intermediate School (GRAIS) classroom has a 205-day program that offers a structured learning environment within the inclusionary setting of a public elementary school. This classroom provides comprehensive educational services to students in grades 3-5 who present with social-emotional challenges. Our goal is to prepare students to transition back into their district schools by implementing a Step-Up (students from public day classrooms) and Step-Down (students from district regular education classrooms) environment. The educational team works closely with district personnel to ensure that all students are therapeutically supported as needed to ensure their success during their transition back to their neighborhood school. This classroom has an average enrollment of 8 students and a 1:2 staff-to-student ratio.

The GRAIS classroom has high standards for academics that are aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and the Common Core Curriculum. Our mission is to develop student success across educational environments so that students will successfully transition to a less restrictive educational setting. We achieve this by providing cutting-edge services that are based on brain-based therapeutic researched best practices. Academic and social-emotional growth are facilitated through specialized counseling, individualized academic instruction, brain-based therapeutic supports and supported transition opportunities. Professional development in curriculum design and brain-based therapeutic supports is a priority. All educators receive rich professional development in the form of scheduled release days for professional learning, embedded professional development, regular staff meetings, focused teacher meetings, and routine consultation from outside expert consultants.

All families are invited to participate in the program’s family consult model. The mission of the family consult model is to support parents/caregivers by providing continuity of care and services between school, home and community environments. Family consult is coordinated by a social worker and is led by a clinical psychologist in consultation with a developmental pediatrician and any other professionals working with the student or family. This global approach to learning supports family stability, regulation and social connectedness, thereby providing the student with a solid foundation for performance and success.