Multi-Tiered Levels of Behavioral Support

The Calais School offers a multi-tiered system of supports for students in grades k-5 with multiple learning disabilities and significant behavioral challenges. Identified students will receive the tools and therapies needed to reach their goals in a private and safe space. A collaborative team Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Counseling and Resource Center teacher, BCBA, and School Psychologist will work with certified teaching staff to effect positive behavioral and academic outcomes.

Our structured approach focuses on the academic, behavioral and socio-emotional needs of each student to teach healthy and adaptive responses to their environments. In addition, our highly therapeutic techniques promote mindfulness and empowerment while ensuring that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Depending on intensity of services needed, students have access to four levels of support including the Counseling and Resource Center, Zen Den, Think Tank and Safe Space. Each level of support is provided in a designated area designed to evoke peaceful, calming and self-reflective emotional responses.

Token Economy Reward System

Token Economy Reward System is a very well-structured behavioral program that we have seamlessly integrated into academics at The Calais School. Through a points based praise and reward system, students build confidence as they learn. Teachers and supporting staff build positive relationships with students in their combined effort to reach academic and behavioral goals. Overall, our school-wide culture of empathy combined with high expectations and accountability, ensure students make steady progress toward goals.

Elementary School System

The development of a personalized set of five target goals is established for each student in the program. The targeted goals are reviewed on a regular basis and modified when appropriate.

The point card system affords the student an opportunity to pair the five goals that are targeted for change with a visual feedback system to monitor their progress. This system allows each student to always know the areas that are being met with success and those that will require greater effort on their part to change. Points are awarded for each target area successfully performed each period throughout the school day.

The levels component allows each student an opportunity to earn greater privileges within the program, and directly reinforces each student’s effort to successfully modify their behaviors.

The School Store is an additional reinforcement for students. Students may choose to spend or save the points they earned to purchase items that may be of interest to them.

High School System

The program still includes the development of a personalized set of five target goals for each student, however, in keeping with transition requirements, target goals are modified to teach our students about the relationship between work expectations and job performance. In this transition based model:

  • The teacher is the employer
  • The student’s assignment is the job task to be completed
  • The point card evaluates the student’s disposition and performance which ultimately effects job status and pay

The level system is designed to reflect promotion/demotion and corresponding earning rates within the program. It is our intention to teach a work ethic with corresponding skills that will translate into success in the workplace.

Targeted goals are reviewed on a regular basis and modified when appropriate.