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Board approves Structured Support Program at PRIDE Academy for students with disabilities
Summary
The board approved adding a Structured Support Program to the special education continuum for 2025–26 at PRIDE Academy, intended for students needing sensory strategies and high adult support; staff estimated approximately 35 students (K–4) and an initial fiscal impact near $20,000 for room configuration.
The Santee School District Board voted unanimously April 1 to add a Structured Support Program to the district’s continuum of special education services, with the program to be implemented at PRIDE Academy in 2025–26. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lisa Paisley introduced the program and welcomed Director of Special Education Dr. Brienne Downing, who outlined the program’s focus on sensory strategies, explicit social skills instruction, and access to general education curriculum with additional adult support.
Staff said the classroom will feature evidence‑based practices (flexible seating, sensory‑friendly spaces) and explicit instruction by specialists such as speech‑language pathologists to support reciprocal academic conversations. The district noted an estimated fiscal impact of about $20,000 for room configuration and staff characterized the model as serving roughly 35 students in grades K–4. After discussion and positive site visits to a model program in Poway Unified, Member Dustin Burns moved approval and the Board approved the change 5‑0.
Board materials tie the program to LCAP action item 1.3 and metrics 1.6 and 1.7 addressing inclusion of students with disabilities in general education settings.
