The School District of Lancaster is rebranding its specialized education program. The new program is called “Milestones: Comprehensive Educational Solutions.”
Previously known as “DASH,” Milestones offers provides academic curricula, combined with therapeutic support, for students aged 5-21 (kindergarten through grade 12) who face social, emotional, educational, and behavioral challenges.
“We are excited for the beginning of a new chapter in our building for all our students as well as our dedicated staff,” said Cory King, principal of Milestones. King said the staff has worked to implement programmatic changes in a variety of areas over the past year, but added, “when you are so close to those changes, sometimes it can be hard to see progress.
For example, this year Milestones began implementing a school-wide approach called Responsive Classroom, an evidence-based approach to teaching and discipline that engages students in academics and builds a positive classroom community using effective classroom management and developmentally appropriate teaching.
“The official changing of our name to Milestones serves as a reminder for staff and students of that progress and exemplifies the mantra, ‘it’s not where you came from but where you are going,’” King said.
Students in Milestones attend school in a facility dedicated to the program where they receive individualized, small group, and whole group instruction based on the Pennsylvania standards-aligned curriculum. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is embedded in lesson plans, with teachers and staff providing guidance in natural environments.
“I’m excited we can offer full-time emotional support services in the School District of Lancaster,” said Charles Hample, the district’s Director of Special Education and Gifted Services. “We aim to provide individualized plans for students so they can fully access the general education curriculum and continue to grow their social skills.”
The Milestones program supports students with all disability categories, as well as behavioral and emotional challenges, with the aim of helping each student successfully transition back to their neighborhood school or achieve graduation.