Palmer River Elementary

The Palmer River Elementary classroom has a 220-day program that offers a structured learning environment within the inclusionary setting of a public elementary school. This classroom provides comprehensive educational services to children in Kindergarten through grade five who demonstrate developmental delays and a variety of disabilities. The students’ adaptive behavior challenges, cognitive challenges, communication deficits, emotional challenges, and/or medical needs preclude them from successful participation in their home school setting at this time. This classroom has an average enrollment of 6 students and a 1:2 staff-to-student ratio.

The mission of the Palmer River Elementary program is to offer focused specialized instruction and services to our students, including all therapies. The Palmer River Elementary classroom has high standards for academics that are aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The curriculum is modified, adapted and used as a developmental framework to ensure students are participating in standards-based learning. Our goal is to prepare students to transition back into their district schools as well as to be seen as integrated members of their community, be it school, at home and/or in their neighborhood.

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.