Description of the T.A.C.L.E. Program
The T.A.C.L.E. educational program serves students with complex communication needs which generally result from severe physical impairments.
Students attend a 180-day regular school year program as per the Oakland Unified School District calendar. The length of a student's school day is dependent upon IEP team decision. Using the state standards-based, district-adopted Common Core curricula and the Unique Learning Systems special education curriculum, T.A.C.L.E. students are taught an appropriate curriculum adapted to their unique needs, with an emphasis on communication using customized augmentative communication systems and other technologies.
Oakland Unified School District offers four T.A.C.L.E classrooms which serve students throughout Oakland, kindergarten through grade 12.
The T.A.C.L.E 1-2 (K-5th grade) program at Redwood Heights Elementary School consists of 2 classes serving approximately 14 students each year:
- T.A.C.L.E 1 is the primary grade level program (grades K - 2) taught by Mrs. Michele Boruta and Mrs. Maureen Gilhooly.
- T.A.C.L.E 2 is the upper-elementary grade level program (grades 3 - 5) taught by Mrs. Stephanie Taymuree. There is additional paraprofessional staff assigned to the program.
- The T.A.C.L.E. 1-2 curriculum includes: language arts (reading, writing, phonics, spelling, grammar), mathematics, science concepts, social studies concepts, art, music, gardening, and physical education.
The T.A.C.L.E 3 (6th-8th grade) program at Claremont Middle School serves approximately ___ students each year. T.A.C.L.E. 3 is taught by Mr. Santiago Bustamante, along with paraprofessional staff. The T.A.C.L.E. 3 program curriculum includes _________________________________
The T.A.C.L.E 4 (9th-12th grade) program at Oakland High School serves approximately 10 students each year. T.A.C.L.E. 4 is taught by ____________________ along with paraprofessional staff. The T.A.C.L.E. 4 program curriculum includes _________________________________
Are students included in general education classrooms?
All T.A.C.L.E. sites are "inclusion" sites. T.A.C.L.E. students are included in grade-appropriate general education classrooms for academic and/or non-academic subjects as determined by the I.E.P. team. Appropriate accommodations and modifications to the general education environment and curriculum are accomplished through collaboration with the general education teachers. Students are assisted in the general education classrooms by a paraprofessional.
What support services are available to T.A.C.L.E. students?
O.U.S.D. offers several Related Services to eligible students. Many T.A.C.L.E. students receive services such as:
- Occupational Therapy,
- Physical Therapy,
- Speech and Language Therapy,
- Vision Services,
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services,
- Orientation and Mobility Services, and/or
- Adaptive Physical Education.
- Assistive Technology and Augmentative & Alternative Communication Specialists consult with all T.A.C.L.E. classrooms as an embedded service.
OUSD's Special Education Department also makes available a special education nurse who provides necessary training(s) and protocols to the T.A.C.L.E staff.