Common Core Educational Standards

The Innovations Academy Therapeutic Day School programs follow the Common Core educational standards as set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Illinois Learning Standards can be found here. (http://www.isbe.net/ils/)

Illinois Learning Standards performance descriptors and classroom assessment chart can be found here. (http://www.isbe.net/ils/html/descriptors.htm)

Innovations Academy currently implements the Beacon Therapeutic Day School Curriculum and the Simple Curriculum as our 7th and 8th grade educational curricula. For grades 3 through 6, our team utilizes an individualized curriculum that includes the Simple Curriculum, News 2 U and the Read 180/System 44 program and is aligned with the Common Core Learning standards.  For our students on the Autism Spectrum we utilize the LINKS curriculum along with ABA behavioral constructs.  We have implemented a Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) model of programmatic intervention beginning with Level One interventions of Universal Expectations and therapeutic interventions based on the philosophy of Trauma-Informed Care.  Level Two and Three interventions include classroom based group therapy, and individualized and group art and music therapy.  Individualized intervention responses based on the CPI model of the Integrated Experience are developed by the student’s therapeutic learning teams and reviewed monthly within therapeutic case meetings.

Innovations Academy currently implements the Beacon Therapeutic Day School Curriculum and the Simple Curriculum as our 9th through 12th grade educational curricula.  These curricula are aligned with the Common Core Learning Standards.

A significant component of our 9th through 12th + grade program will be focused on Vocational and Transitional skill building and development.   Students will participate in semester long Vocational Education training blocks (with the exception of Employability that will rotate quarterly) within an extended school day that will increase awareness of successful job and social skills for future on and off-campus employment and integration into one’s community.  Curriculum for the Vocational Education training blocks is aligned with the Common Core Learning standards in each area of focus and include supporting resources such as the Kuder Career Assessment and Curriculum.   The four Vocational Education blocks and specific categories of training are:

  • Culinary Arts / Hospitality
    • Culinary Skills
    • Lunch Service
    • Catering
    • Housekeeping
    • Basic Maintenance (Janitorial Services)
  • The Arts
    • Fine Arts
    • Crafting
    • Gift Shop
    • Landscaping
    • Horticultural Arts
  • Home Economics
    • Simple Meal preparation
    • Knitting and Sewing
    • Craft Making for the home
  • Employability Skills
    • Communication in the workplace
    • Managing Information
    • Using Numbers
    • Problem Solving
    • Personal Management Skills
    • Interviewing Skills and Resume writing
    • Basic Computer and Clerical Skills

A Vocational Education Coordinator will provide support to our students and staff members in the areas of job shadowing, on-campus job placements, interviewing skills, resume writing and appropriate social skills within the workplace.  We have implemented a Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) model of programmatic intervention beginning with Level One interventions of Universal Expectations and therapeutic interventions based on the philosophy of Trauma-Informed Care.  Level Two and Three interventions include classroom based group therapy, and individualized and group art and music therapy.  Individualized intervention responses based on the CPI model of the Integrated Experience are developed by the student’s therapeutic learning teams and reviewed monthly within therapeutic case meetings.