Bennington Public Schools

The district works hard to ensure student needs are met. We have a variety of options related to transition programming. Decisions are made at IEP meetings and resources are chosen based on need and best fit to transition planning. Below are some resources the district currently utilizes. Please note that the district may customize programming as needed to best meet the needs of the student. 

Madonna:

This program operates daily both on campus and throughout the community. The goal is to advance students through five core learning domains which are: functional academics, independent living, career/vocational training, community mobility, and recreation/leisure. As the student enters their last year of transition, students may be part of Project SEARCH with Madonna. 

Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a partnership between Nebraska Vocational Rehab, a business, area school systems, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Assistive Technology Partnership, and Division of Developmental Disabilities. This one-year school-to-work program is business-led and takes place entirely in the workplace. The experience includes a combination of classroom instruction, job exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations.

Goodwill Transition Program:

This program is traditionally for students in their senior year of high school. This program offers work experience to students as part of the Goodwill organization.

Some qualifying criteria as set by Goodwill include:  

• Must have an identifiable and documented vocational disadvantaging condition.
• Must be 16-21 years of age.
• Must be able to independently care for personal needs (with or without the support of a physical care attendant).
• Must be motivated to comply with the program to which admission is being requested.
• Any maladaptive social behavior must be under reasonable control to prevent interference with program/agency operations.
• No evidence of violent activity within the last 90 days (P&P 210)
• Must have living and transportation accommodations established prior to enrollment.
• IQ in excess of 36.

Diploma vs Certificate

• Diploma
  Students who receive special education services may graduate with a high school diploma if all of the course requirements for graduation are met.  Your child's resource teacher can advise you of your child's graduation status if you are unsure.  Many students who are receiving services in high school do transition to two and four-year institutions following graduation and some also continue to receive accommodations in their post-secondary placements.  Colleges will not modify coursework or graduation requirements, and post-secondary institutions are not required to follow IEPs.  Accommodations offered to students who demonstrate a need (such as assistance with note-taking or extended time on exams) are done so at the discretion of each institution.  No college or post-secondary program will be aware of your child's disability unless he or she discloses that information.
• Certificate
  Students who complete all of the requirements of their IEPs, but do not finish all of the coursework required for a diploma, may participate in all Bennington graduation activities, including commencement ceremonies.  After their graduation, they may also continue to receive services through the school district through the school year in which they turn 21 years of age.  Often, these students are connected to outside agencies that will provide training in job skills and living as independently as possible.  As a student approaches 16 years of age, your child's IEP teams will begin to include individuals from these agencies to provide guidance in making the transition from high school to adulthood.  The information below may also be useful to parents of children who are approaching this transition.