Extended
School Day Programs
by
Herbert D. Hinkle, Esq. and Ira Fingles, Esq.
Hinkle,
Fingles & Prior, Attorneys at Law
2651 Main Street
Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648
(609) 896-4200 or (215) 860-2100
The
typical length of a school day is about six hours.
This duration was established many decades ago based
largely upon informal estimates of how much time a
typical student requires to complete a standard academic
curriculum.
While
six hours may be sufficient for a typical student,
it may not suit the needs of a student with disabilities.
Students with disabilities often learn at a different
rate, or in a different manner, than non-disabled
students. Moreover, students with disabilities may
require intensive instruction in skill areas to which
relatively little time is devoted in the general education
curriculum, such as behavior, socialization, or independent
living skills. Depending upon the student’s
abilities and needs, this instruction may be required
in addition to the full curriculum provided to non-disabled
students.
For
these reasons, an increasing number of courts are
finding that some students with disabilities require
extended school day programs in order to achieve an
acceptable level of learning. Such programs provide
students with educational services that extend beyond
the typical school day.
Extended
school day services can take whatever form is necessary,
such as additional one-to-one instruction, individual
or group therapies, or even outings to practice skills
in the community with trained staff. In some cases,
it may be effective to provide extended day services
through private agencies which already have established
after-school programs. Regardless of where or how
services are provided, educational authorities must
ensure that services are aligned with the student’s
needs as spelled out in the IEP.
______
Hinkle,
Fingles, & Prior maintains a multi-state law practice
with offices in Lawrenceville, Marlton, and Florham
Park, New Jersey, and Yardley, and Plymouth Meeting,
Pennsylvania. They lecture and write frequently on
topics of law, aging, disability and estate planning
and are available
to speak to groups in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania at no charge.
Comments
and suggestions for future articles should be mailed
to: Hinkle, Fingles & Prior, Attorneys at Law,
2651 Main Street, Suite A, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
08648-1012.
Copyright
2006 Herbert D. Hinkle. All rights reserved.
