Created by separate and special acts of the New York State Legislature, these districts provide unique educational and therapeutic opportunities to students who have experienced difficulty or failure in previous school settings. Special act districts are located on the grounds of residential child-care facilities licensed by the Department of Social Services. Although they primarily serve a residential population, special act schools also accept referrals of day students who are experiencing similar psychological, educational, or physical disabilities. The Blythedale School District in Valhalla serves students with severe physical disabilities who are in residence at Blythedale Children's Hospital. All other special act schools serve students with severe emotional disabilities who may be victims of neglect or abuse, or may have histories of delinquency or social maladjustment. Curriculum meets all state requirements for students ages five to 21. Guidance services, family and individual counseling, and psychological and psychiatric services are extensive. Students learn in accredited high schools to earn Regents, local, or GED alternative diplomas, and participate in vocational and work-study programs.
Superintendent: Ms. Dara Joseph
(914) 478-1106 • http://www.greenburgh-graham.org/
The Graham School is located on a beautiful 40-acre campus overlooking the Hudson River in Hastings-on-Hudson. The campus includes a 38,000-square-foot high school building and a 68,000-square foot elementary/middle school. Greenburgh-Graham provides a rich array of education and therapeutic services for more than 300 at-risk children and youth. Referrals come primarily from New York City’s foster care system, and from local school districts unable to provide the needed, highly specialized education and treatment programs.
The Middle States Association accredits both the elementary/middle school and the high school. The program includes Regents-level courses, basic skills instruction, after-school clubs, computer labs in each school, and a variety of sports for girls and boys. A high level of ancillary services and a low teacher-student ratio combine to create a student-centered learning environment whose goal is high student achievement.
Superintendent: Dr. Winsome Gregory
(914) 693-8500 • http://www.greenburgheleven.org/
Greenburgh Eleven, chartered as a Special Act Public School District, is located on the grounds of The Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, which serves students ages 5 to 21. Residential and non-residential day students are referred to the Greenburgh Eleven program for its highly specialized therapeutic/academic environment.
Students served by Greenburgh Eleven are classified as emotionally disabled or multiply disabled and arrive at school with backgrounds that include poverty, neglect, and abuse. Blending innovative educational strategies and a strong collaboration with The Children’s Village staff, instruction is provided to a highly specialized population. The staff uses state-of-the-art core curriculum materials, related services, tutorial services, and enrichment programs. After-school extracurricular activities are coordinated with The Children’s Village team. Greenburgh Eleven holds commencement exercises for seniors meeting the requirements for high school graduation. The District is funded on a per-child tuition rate by referring agencies and schools.
Superintendent: Dr. Carolyn McGuffog
(914) 693-3030 • http://gncufsd.org/
Greenburgh-North Castle School district is a New York State public school district serving approximately 300 students with special education needs, grades 7-12. Our class sizes range from 6 to 12 students with a teacher and a teacher assistant to assure personalized attention and individualized instruction.
The School District is recognized by the New York State Education Department and accredited by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools. We prepare students for all required New York State Regents testing and award high school diplomas to eligible students. Students also receive guidance from certified counselors to help prepare them for college, work and transition to independent living.
Greenburgh-North Castle/St. Christopher’s consists of three separate schools sites- the Greenburgh Academy/Yonkers campus specifically for students residing in their home community; the Jennie Clarkson/Valhalla campus, located on 38 wooded acres; and the Dr. Kenneth B. Clark Academy, our new “state of the art” facility on the Dobbs ferry campus.
Superintendent: Mr. Ray Raefski
(914) 749-2905 • www.hcks.org
The Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School District is located on the Westchester County campus of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. The District serves both residential and day students in three schools located in Westchester County; the Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Senior/ Junior High School, the Little School and the Linden Hill School, in addition to a short-term diagnostic program at Geller House located in Staten Island, New York. The Hawthorne Cedar Knolls UFSD was created as a result of a special act of the State Legislature in 1939, to educate the children in the Hawthorne Cedar Knolls and Linden Hill Residential Treatment Centers.
Today, the District serves over 300 students ages 8-21 years. Most live in the residential treatment centers and facilities on campus. The District provides academic, remedial and vocational programs. Guidance and psychological services provide additional support to foster the students’ development. The original and continuing mission of the District is to rehabilitate students so they can rejoin their families and the community. Three separate school programs on campus consist of self contained and departmentalized special education classes addressing academic and social needs, and are supplemented by physical education, art, industrial arts, special skills classes, and psychological and related services. Students have the option of pursuing Regents, local, GED, or IEP diplomas. Hawthorne Cedar Knolls offers work-study programs and Community-as-School external learning opportunities. Students may also participate in Southern Westchester BOCES vocational and educational programs.
Superintendent Dr. Emily Hersh
(914) 347-1800 • www.mpbschools.org
The Mount Pleasant-Blythedale UFSD was chartered in 1971 to provide educational services to the patients at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. The children exhibit complex medical and physical problems that require rehabilitation services integrated with multidisciplinary instruction. Patients ages 5-21 are automatically enrolled when admitted to the hospital. Preschool students are referred by community school district CPSE’s. MPBS is the only public school district in New York State affiliated with a hospital. Students receive instruction in accordance with the NYS standards and designed to meet the goals specified on their Individual Education Plans. Secondary students can work toward local, Regents or GED diplomas. Teachers are certified in special education and appropriate content areas. School-wide students benefit from instruction by a dual certified reading/elementary and special education teacher, along with certified music, art and multimedia teachers. Intensive related services, as per physician prescription, are provided by contract with Blythedale Children’s Hospital. All students are eligible for a full-day, 12-month school program.
Superintendent: Dr. Christina Torres
(914) 769-0456 • http://www.mpcsny.org/
The New York State Legislature created the Mount Pleasant Cottage School UFSD in 1971 to serve the educational needs of approximately 350 children with social-emotional disabilities who are either day students or residents of the Jewish Child Care Association's 175-acre campus.
Resident-students live in one of three separate programs on campus. The Pleasantville Cottage School is a co-educational facility for 200 students of average intelligence who are socially and emotionally challenged. The Edenwald Center serves 120 boys and girls who have developmental and emotional challenges. The Pleasantville Diagnostic Center is a 90 day short term residential, diagnostic facility for 25 boys ages 6 to 14.
In addition, the school district admits day students that are accepted and integrated into existing programs based on the submission of intake packages and interview with school staff. For more information regarding the day student program, contact Paul Angeron at 914-769-0456 ext. 208 or pangeron@mpcsny.org.
The school district develops individualized educational programs and utilizes related services and small classes to meet the diverse needs of our students. Programs follow the New York State curriculum and include academic diagnosis and remediation, speech and language services, counseling services, occupational therapy, computer aided instruction, a continuum of vocational skill development opportunities and a comprehensive focus on the enhancement of individual responsibility. Regents, Local and IEP diplomas are awarded to students meeting the requirements of the New York State Department of Education. Selected students are able to access local school district classes, the vocational programs of Southern Westchester BOCES, and career opportunities in coordination with VESID.