Special Education
Overview & Philosophy
The Rockville High School Special Education Department empowers students to reach their full potential and prepare for post-secondary success through tailored academic, social, emotional, and behavioral support. Programming decisions are determined during Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings and outlined in each student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Committed to inclusive education, RHS provides a full continuum of services to support students alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
In-Class Support: Direct and consultative support provided directly within the general education setting.
Direct & Specialized Instruction: Targeted, skill-building instruction in Reading, English/Language Arts, Mathematics, and Executive Functioning.
Resource Support: Focused assistance designed to improve study skills, organization, work completion, and specific skill deficits identified through IEP goals and objectives.
Specialized Programs: For students requiring a more intensive or structured environment to make effective progress, Rockville High School offers specialized in-house programs:
Activity-Based Learning (ABL): Designed for students whose learning is enhanced through practical, repetitive, hands-on classroom activities and community field trips. Students participating in ABL receive specialized instruction tailored to functional academics and transition skill development in the following areas:
Reading & Mathematics
Science & Social Studies
Independent Living, Health, and Life Skills
Alternative Special Education Program (ASEP)
A highly structured, low-ratio learning environment designed for students who require a more intensive, flexible, and predictable setting. ASEP provides a collaborative, calm home base for students struggling with school avoidance, social anxiety, or the challenges of navigating a large high school environment, helping them rebuild their connection to education through a personalized, compassionate approach. Students participating in ASEP may take up to five courses within the program:
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
Learning Strategies
Total Alternative Learning Center (TALC)
A small, self-contained, and highly structured environment located within Rockville High School. Serving students in grades 9–12, TALC supports individuals whose significant social, emotional, and behavioral needs have substantially impacted their academic progress within a traditional high school setting. Students within the program will be provided with the opportunity to fulfill all credit requirements for graduation.
Related Services
Eligible students may also receive supportive related services, including:
Social Work
School Psychology
Speech and Language Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Adaptive Physical Education
Hearing Impairment Services
Additional Opportunities & Enrichment
Unified Sports: Inclusive sports programming that brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities.
Vocational & Post-Secondary Field Trips: Hands-on exploration focused on post-secondary planning and practical vocational skill development.
College & Career Visits: On-site and off-site visits designed to expose students to various post-graduate pathways and career opportunities.