Specifications include, but are not limited to: Southbridge Public Schools seeks proposals for a consultant (individual or organization) with the district as a comprehensive technical support partner to design and support implementation of the alternative education experience for Southbridge students. Specifically, the partner will provide intensive support during the initial phase of the design process—fully understanding the needs, interests, opportunities, and challenges of our students—before designing and implementing the programmatic technical support that will best serve our students. We expect this design process to launch on or about May 15, 2018, through the rest of the 2017-18 school year, and into the 2018-19 school year. Furthermore, Southbridge is uniquely positioned to realize a robust alternative school model to serve students of all gender identification aged 14-18 or in grades 9-12, whom have qualified for educational services under an Emotional Disability through IDEA. Additionally, students identified as at-risk due to trauma response behaviors would be eligible to attend this proposed Day School. With that in mind, Southbridge Public Schools will focus on re-launching a new alternative experience for identified students in 2018-19. Changes to our alternative school programming may include, but are not limited to: instructional and intervention models; therapeutic milieu development, positive behavioral supports; development of entrance and exit criteria; student profile; school day scheduling; partnerships with external experts; and flexible pathways to graduation.
