Programs and Services

Click below on each Special Education program in MBUSD to learn more:

CHOICE Program

CHOICE Program Logo

CHOICE Transition Education Specialists

Lareina Rodriguez | [email protected]

CHOICE is the MBUSD Special Education Transition program for individuals ages 18-22. CHOICE provides teachers, job mentors, and other support services that ensure our young adults learn all the skills necessary to improve long-term outcomes. CHOICE stands for community, healthy living, opportunity, independence, career, and emotional social well-being.

The CHOICE program incorporates the following skills into its weekly schedule:

Group and independent living skills
Vocational supports that promote access to viable employment options post 22
Adaptive academic skills in the areas of math, English Language Arts, and current events information to support living and life skills
Career Exploration
Social skills and expectations at work, including hierarchy in the workplace
Self-management of emotions and behaviors
Workplace demands such as productivity, communication skills, problem-solving, and initiation
Building self-advocacy, confidence, and self-esteem
Professionalism
Time management and organization
Healthy living
Technology use
Community-Based Instruction
Travel Training

We work collaboratively with service providers who specialize in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language/Augmentative communication, and behavior intervention. CHOICE incorporates elective-type classes in its weekly schedule. These include music, art, fitness activities (track, yoga), and working cooperatively with others during group games. Vocationally students may elect to participate in workability.

The workability program may provide:

Career awareness and exploration
Pre-employment skills training
Employment placement and follow-up for high school students in special education
Independent living training
Life After High School education options
Paid and non-paid work experience
Support and guidance from vocational staff

Additionally, students in the CHOICE program can participate in volunteer nonpaid work experience set up through community-based instructional outings taught and guided by the Special Education Adult Transition Teachers and job coaches.

These locations have included MB Creamery, Fish Bar Restaurant, MB Parks and Recreation, Loyola Marymount University, and MBUSD school worksites. Students can volunteer at these sites pending student interest/readiness, staffing, transportation access, and job site hours of availability.

The Made by CHOICE Pop-Up Store provides work experiences for the students of the CHOICE program while promoting inclusion in our community and workplace. The Pop-Up Store products are designed, created, and sold by CHOICE students with the guidance of support staff.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH):

MBUSD is the home of the SouthWest SELPA’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Total Communication Regional Program. We provide services to Deaf and Harding of Hearing students within our District and eleven other surrounding Districts. Our program starts at Manhattan Beach Preschool and continues through elementary school at Pennekamp, Manhattan Beach Middle School, and Mira Costa High School. Our passionate and skilled teams consist of seven Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, American Sign Language Interpreters, Instructional Aides who are fluent in sign language, Speech and Language Pathologists, Audiologists, a D/HH School Psychologist, and other support providers, based on individual needs. These teams provide language-rich environments that meet the needs of all D/HH students by utilizing American Sign Language and written and spoken English.

Extended School Year (ESY):

MWell:

Manhattan Beach Wellness Program (MWell) is a Mira Costa High School (MCHS) special education program that follows an alternative educational model. It is a self-contained therapeutic classroom program designed to support students with a current IEP exhibiting internalizing behavior (i.e. depression, anxiety, school refusal). The program is supported by one Special Education teacher, one ERICS Counselor, an Instructional Assistant, and part-time Behaviorist support. The staff facilitate students' social emotional growth in order for them to achieve academic success and be prepared to graduate with a MCHS diploma. MWell students participate in the culture and events of MCHS when appropriate based on their individual needs with a goal of eventual transition to full- time attendance at Mira Costa. Generally, the student maximum is 12.

Click below on each Special Education service in MBUSD to learn more:

Adaped Physical Education (APE):

Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS):

Behavior Intervention Specialists work in cooperation with Special Education and General Education staff. They participate in the development of positive behavior intervention plans, consult with school principals and staff concerning appropriate learning strategies and positive behavior interventions in order to support student’s access to the general education curriculum and make progress in the least restrictive environment.

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA):

Educationally Related Intensive Services (ERICS):

Learning Resource Center (elementary):

Provision of Specially Designed Instruction in a pull out or push in service. Special Education Teachers provide direct and/or consultative services to individualized or small groups to support and address IEP goals and provide accommodations as determined by the IEP team. Specific student schedules are determined by teachers with consideration of specials and other classroom activities.

Learning Center (secondary):

Provision of Specially Designed Instruction during an elective period. Special Education Teachers provide individualized or small group support to address IEP goals and provide accommodations as determined by the IEP team. Each class is typically composed of 10-15 students and addresses educational needs such as: learning strategies, organizational skills, homework assistance, tutorials, direct instruction, and access to computer/technology sessions.

Occupational Therapist (OT):

Occupational Therapists provide assessment, intervention, direct service, and consultation to eligible students who may have difficulty with postural stability, self-help skills, sensory processing and organization, environmental adaptation and use of assistive devices, motor planning/coordination, visual perception, social and play abilities and fine motor skills. Services may include group, individual and/or consultation to staff/parents.

Physical Therapy (PT):

Resource (secondary):

School Psychologist:

School Psychologists provide assessment, intervention, direct service and consultation for eligible students. Services may include group or individual counseling services as well as consultation to staff and parents. The focus of services may include self-esteem building, social skills, and anxious/depression symptoms that may impact a student’s access to the general education curriculum.

Special Day Class (SDC):

Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP):

Speech & Language Pathologists provide assessment and intervention for eligible students with difficulty understanding or using spoken language. Services may include group or individual services and/or consultation with staff/parents. Areas of student need may include: articulation, abnormal voice quality, pitch or loudness, fluency, hearing loss, language comprehension, and/or language expression.

Speech and Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA):