Description of the T.A.C.L.E. Program
The T.A.C.L.E. educational program serves students with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) with/without Severe Speech and Physical Impairments (SSPI).
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 CA state standards-based, district-adopted Common Core curricula and the Unique Learning Systems (www.n2y.com) 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 program is located at Redwood Heights Elementary School:
- T.A.C.L.E 1 is the primary grade level program (grades K - 2).
- T.A.C.L.E 2 is the upper-elementary grade level program (grades 3 - 5).
- The T.A.C.L.E. 1-2 curriculum includes: language arts (reading, writing, 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 is located at Claremont Middle School.
The T.A.C.L.E 4 (9th-12th grade) program is located at Oakland High School.
Are students included in general education classrooms?
All T.A.C.L.E. sites offer inclusion opportunities. T.A.C.L.E. students are included in 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 to participate in the general education classrooms by the special education teacher or paraprofessional staff.
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.