Special Programs
For Students with Disabilities
The Special Education Program at Granada Hills Charter (GHC) is grounded in the philosophy that all students can learn. A specific program is customized for every student with a disability, and a particular disability category does not automatically qualify a student for a program placement; most students enjoy a combination of a variety of programming. In addition to the fully customizable continuum of services, all students have access to all academic programs, athletics, and activities. Our services and programs have been designed to meet a variety of students’ educational and social-emotional needs.
About The Program

An Individualized Approach
Teachers, aides, and paraprofessionals assist students in accessing grade-level curriculum with assistive technology and other supports provided in their Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs).
General education teachers, resource teachers, special education class teachers, and related service providers instruct students using a multi-tiered approach, utilizing differentiation daily to meet the needs of all students, and scaffolding lessons for students who need more support.
Both summative and formative assessments are used to measure progress toward grade-level standards and IEP goals, and are reported to parents every six weeks and at IEP meetings.
At A Glance
- Co-Teaching for Moderate-Extensive Support Needs
- College Board Testing Services for Students with Disabilities
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program
- Learning Center Model
- Parent Resources for Engagement and Student Success
- Special Day Classes
- The IEP and You
Co-Teaching for Moderate-Extensive Support Needs
The Granada Hills Charter (GHC) Moderate-Severe Co-Teaching Program is a unique collaborative program that integrates students with moderate to severe cognitive challenges in one classroom with two teachers and opportunities to take classes in the general educations classes. We encourage parents of students transitioning to high school to visit our classroom, observe, and learn about our program, hands-on curriculum, and interaction opportunities with all GHC students.
Severe/Moderate/Mild SDP2 Program is a co-teaching model classroom. Students in this program require the highest level of support. This is an academic and life skills based curriculum, where students participate in CAPA testing and typically earn a GHC Certificate of Completion. The students are given opportunities for campus work experiences in the Cafeteria, Reprographics, School Offices, and the Student Store. Electives are taken with non-disabled peers.
College Board Testing Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities must request accommodations through the Collegeboard in order to use accommodations on AP, SAT, PSAT exams. For more information on eligibility, deadlines, and the request process, please visit the Collegeboard website:
https://www.collegeboard.org/students-with-disabilities/eligibility
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students are fully mainstreamed in the continuum of programs with support (sign language interpreter or aide) and take one period every day of DHH Communication Skills. Granada Hills Charter and LAUSD work in partnership to offer this unique program to students outside of the GHC residential boundaries.
Learning Center Model
Parent Resources for Engagement and Student Success
Welcome incoming ninth graders! -- What do ninth-grade students take in ninth grade?
GHC offers a continuation of programs for students with special needs. Ninth-grade student programs are designed to prepare students for the rigor of grades 10-12. All students access a rich academic course of study which includes but is not limited to English, math, biology, world languages, physical education, and a local option. The local option varies depending on the program of study and the student's needs.
Attention parents of seniors!
In order to meet the minimum GHC graduation requirements, it is important that your student pass all of the required courses with a grade of "D" or higher and attend school every day. Students who do not attend regularly, do not complete their work and earn failing grades are at risk of not passing their courses.
You may assist your child by doing the following:
- Daily monitor your child's attendance and grades in Home Access Center (HAC)
- Daily check and monitor your child's planner and look for completed homework
- Go to www.khanacademy.org for free help with math
- Go to http://www.tutor.com/ghchs for free help with homework
- Require your child to attend after school tutoring (see the back of this letter for the schedule)
- Contact your child's teachers
- Contact your child's counselor
In summary, students who are not eligible to earn a GHC diploma, may earn a certificate of completion (IEP only) and will participate in the graduation ceremony with their peers at the end of their 4th year of High School. Students who earn letter grade of "D" may also be at risk for losing their post-secondary acceptance. Go to HAC NOW to check your child's progress.
Special Day Classes
Granada Hills Charter (GHC) is unique in that most Special Day Classes are taught using a co-teaching model. Co-taught classes offer students the most inclusive experience with the support of two teachers and a Special Education Classroom Assistant. We continue to meet the changing needs of different subgroups of students with disabilities by providing them with quality targeted instruction in their areas of highest need – literacy, social, and behavioral skills – in the Least Restrictive Environment.
The IEP and You
What is an Individualized Education Program?
Granada Hills Charter (GHC) advocates that each Individualized Education Program (IEP) held to develop, review, or revise an IEP will be conducted by a team made up of the following:
The IEP team must include all of the following:
- One or both parents of the student
- An administrator or designee who:
- Is qualified to provide or supervise the provision of special education
- Is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum
- Is knowledgeable about the availability of the resources of the District
- Has the authority to commit District resources
- At least one special education teacher of the student, or, if appropriate, special education provider of the student (the language and speech specialist, if the student is only receiving language and speech services)
- At least one general education teacher of the student, if the student is or may be participating in the general education environment
- A person who can interpret the instructional implications of the assessment results (may be one of the above)
When appropriate, the IEP team shall include the following:
- At the discretion of the parent or the school, other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the student, including related service personnel
- For a student who is suspected of having a learning disability:
- At least one person qualified to conduct individual diagnostic examinations of students (e.g., school psychologist)
- At least one person, other than the student’s general education teacher, who observed the student’s academic performance in the general education classroom setting (e.g., special education teacher, school psychologist)
- When a Functional Analysis Assessment (FAA) has been conducted:
- A Behavior Intervention Case Manager (BICM)
Parents can request an oral interpreter or sign language interpreter for the meeting and a written translation.
Moderate-to-Extensive Support Needs
- About Special Day Program 2 (SDP2)
- Modified Core Curriculum, Life, and Transition Skills
- Culinary and Community Learning
- Lessons-to-Life Connection
About Special Day Program 2 (SDP2)
Special Day Programs 2 (SDP2) is a Modified Core Curriculum pathway that works hand in hand with the Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational and Physical Therapists, Adapted PE teacher, School Psychologist, Academic Counselors, Behavior Specialists, Paraprofessionals, and Health Staff to deliver instruction aligned with students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals.
Students gain real-world experience through “We Can Work” (in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation) and the “Morning Brew for the Crew” student-run coffee shop, in collaboration with DECA/School-Based Enterprise. These programs help strengthen numeracy, reading, financial literacy, communication, time management, organization, and teamwork—practical skills that carry from the classroom to the community.
Modified Core Curriculum, Life, and Transition Skills
The Mild/Moderate and Moderate to Extensive Support Needs Special Education Program provides instruction through a Modified Core Curriculum that integrates English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Skills with life and transition skills to support students in becoming as independent and successful as possible in real-world settings. Through engaging, hands-on learning, students build problem-solving, communication, daily living, and self-advocacy skills while gaining confidence across academic, social, and practical environments.
Culinary and Community Learning
Through the Foods and Nutrition class, students gain practical skills in meal preparation, menu planning, and kitchen safety cultivating confidence and readiness for postsecondary education and future careers. In collaboration with Honors, IB, AP Capstone, Advanced Music Technology, Advanced Culinary, and community partners, the program fosters leadership, character development, and strengthens communication, self-reliance, and teamwork.
Lessons-to-Life Connection

We Can Work Program
Granada Hills Charter (GHC) has partnered with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to provide students with job opportunities both on campus and at local retail stores in our local Granada Hills neighborhood. This partnership, known as the We Can Work (WCW) program, employs up to 32 students across grades 11 and 12, who are 16 years of age or older.
GHC's partnership with the DOR through the WCW program has been in place since the 2015-2016 school year, building and maintaining relationships between our School and retail stores, including Subway, Menchies, Baja Beach Tacos, Code Ninja, and more. Job opportunities on campus include the School's cafeteria and assistant roles in various school offices.
GHC's Work Experience Coordinator provides instructional support to prepare students for real-world employment. Students gain experience and training in appropriate interview skills, the importance of punctuality and good attendance, work-appropriate attire, and hands-on experience.
Special Programs at GHC is excited to provide these opportunities to our students as they grow academically and acquire job skills to apply now and after graduation.
-Kaila C.GHC student and varsity athlete
It's not because I was deaf that I was awarded a full-ride scholarship to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology, it's because I learned to accept my deafness in order to overcome that obstacle and then another, and another, and every other hurdle in my path.
Brochures and Guides
Faculty & Staff
By the Numbers
422
Students with IEPs or 504 Plans
21
Special education teachers
44
Support professionals providing wrap-around services
27
Years of providing a Deaf of Hard of Hearing (DHH) program
87%
Students with IEPs or 504 Plans in 2017-2018 received high school diplomas
100%
77%
Student inclusion in general education vs. 57% in LAUSD
$220K
In grants for students with IEPs or 504 Plans to receive innovative instruction



