BEST Program

Building Educational Skills Together

The South Bend Community School Corporation Special Education Department designed the Building Educational Skills Together Program (BEST) to meet the needs of Emotionally Disabled students whose behavior issues require more intensive intervention than can be provided in the general education setting with special education resources and support. BEST classrooms are self contained with academic subjects taught by the BEST teacher and supervision and support in the General Education setting for Art, Music, PE, etc. by para professionals. The focus of the BEST Program is to prepare the students to return to the General Education setting by teaching pro-social skills and using a behavior management and training system that allows each student to progressively demonstrate readiness for academic and behavioral success in less structured settings.

The BEST program is based on a stair stepped level system with each level requiring a higher degree of consistent appropriate behavior. The students are aware of the clearly stated criteria for progress through the level system and are expected to maintain the behavior for a minimum number of days to assure behavior attainment is maintained. Progress is monitored by each student’s exhibited behavior. Incentives are tied to compliance with extra incentives tied to specific student interest and at home privileges. The staff members teach the students the rules and routines and have them practice the expected behavior daily. Students are taught impulse control strategies, calm down techniques, problem solving skills, adaptive coping skills and other pro-social skills as needed. The teacher and Special Education Social Worker meet regularly to review patterns of behavior and to modify planned interventions. They monitor appropriateness of each student’s individualized Behavior Intervention Plan and the effectiveness of it’s implementation.

Program Locations:

 
Primary Intermediate High School
Harrison 3/4 Brown 7/8 Adams
Hay 3/4 Clay 5-8 Clay
Muessel K-2 Dickinson 5-8 Riley
Muessel 3/4 Edison 5-8 Washington
Nuner 3/4 Greene 7/8  
  Jackson 5-8  
  Jefferson 7/8  
  Marshall 5/6  
  Navarre 5-8  

Program Links: