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The Regional Day School, a division of the Manchester Township Public School District, has been providing a quality education to our students for more than 40 years. The Regional Day School is a 10-month day program supported through tuition payments from local districts. An extended school year program is offered during the months of July and August.
Manchester’s Regional Day School offers a unique program, providing the least restrictive environment for those pupils from across the state whose disabilities are low-incidence or of a severity that prevents programming in any other setting. Knowing Manchester’s Regional Day School is impossible unless you have visited and felt the dedicated and joyful spirit found at every turn thanks to our dedicated staff, students, and family members. We welcome you to schedule a visit to the Regional Day School for a tour, today!
Individualized education programs are implemented at the Regional Day School and within this context, each pupil's performance is commensurate with his/her social, intellectual, and physical abilities. Each student receives instruction and ancillary services aimed at alleviating or ameliorating the pupil's handicap.
Pupils from one or all of the Special Education designations are included at the Regional Day School. Students range in age from 3 to 21. Class profiles encompass instruction for students who are preschool disabled, multiply disabled, emotionally disturbed, intellectually disabled, communication impaired, and autistic. The staff at Regional Day School includes administrative, business, and service personnel as well as an Adaptive Physical Education Instructor, Art Education Instructor, Behavior Analyst, Classroom Teachers, Classroom and personal Para-Professionals, Industrial Arts Instructor, Learning Disability Teacher Consultant, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, School Psychologist, Speech Therapists, and Transition Services/Job Coach.
The instructional programs include basic academics, physical education, pre-vocational education, health and safety, activities of daily living, art, music, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, and medical and support services.
The following standards are used to evaluate the Regional Day School's instructional program:
The environment fosters positive feelings toward self and others through directed and non-directed activities.
The classroom organization and pupil assignment are based on individual needs.
The creative and effective use of a variety of instructional methods, equipment, and resources.
Students range from 3 to 21. Class profiles encompass instruction for students who are multiple handicapped, emotionally disturbed, and autistic.
HISTORY OF THE REGIONAL DAY SCHOOL:
In 1973, the voters of the state approved the Facilities for the Handicapped bond issue, which authorized the enactment of Chapter 149, Laws of 1973. This law mandated the construction of regional facilities that would provide appropriate programs and services to low-incidence handicapped children.
The eleven Regional Day Schools, like other programs for handicapped students, are thoroughly monitored by the Department of Education to ensure that their programs and services are provided in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as with department guidelines and policies.
The New Jersey Regional Day Schools provide the least restrictive environment for those pupils whose handicaps are low incidence or of a severity that prevents programming in any other setting. The schools provide each pupil with an enriched and comprehensive appropriate program.
The Regional Day School at Jackson began serving students in September 1982. On July 1, 1984, the Manchester Township Board of Education assumed the responsibility for the operation of the school.