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The
Partnership
Campus of The Willie Ross
School for the Deaf
provides deaf or hard-of-hearing students the opportunity to attend
school with hearing peers, while providing services to help Willie Ross
School's deaf or hard-of-hearing students benefit optimally from these
educational experiences. This unique academic setting allows our
students benefits that can only be achieved by integrating the
advantages of being enrolled in a school for deaf and hard-of-hearing
students with those of a mainstream setting. There are few, if
any, other schools that can provides such an array of academic
alternatives.
The Partnership Campus, located
within the East Longmeadow Public Schools,
as part of the dual-campus model, offers many opportunities for
mainstreaming for Willie Ross students. The partnership is a
well-established entity, which offers vital advanced academics for
students.
 The Elementary
School of the Partnership Campus is located in one of three
elementary schools in the town of East Longmeadow. It is staffed
by Willie
Ross School’s certified teachers of
the deaf and support staff, including on-site audiology services,
physical education instruction, and counseling as needed. The
curriculum is drawn from the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework
guidelines and is adapted for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
The full range of academic subjects is available to students
within the Willie Ross classrooms. Mainstreaming into academic
classes, sponsored by the host public school is available when
appropriate. Decisions regarding mainstreaming are determined by
a student’s team. Opportunities exist for informal and planned
interaction with public school students on a regular basis, and they
include but are not limited to lunch, recess, and assembly
programs. Students in the Elementary School are ages 8 – 12.
The Middle School of the
Partnership Campus is located in two classrooms of the Birchland Park Middle School. Willie Ross
students have the opportunity to participate in mainstreamed academic
classes with age-appropriate hearing peers. Willie Ross staff
provides required mainstream support for students whose team has
concurred in the decision to mainstream. Opportunities for higher
level class inclusion or mainstreaming are numerous. There may be
instances where a student will attend and participate in a class
without an interpreter. Those decisions also are made through the
student’s team.
The High School of the Partnership Campus is located in East
Longmeadow's Public High School These classes operate in a manner
similar to that of the Middle School, and advanced academic classes are
available depending on interest. Student schedules are planned
according to individual need. Advanced Placement classes provide
opportunities for students planning post-secondary education.
Accessibility to elective courses and ancillary types of instruction is
ensured through needed support personnel.
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