CASE Collaborative

Student Population

The Davis Elementary School CASE Class in Bedford serves children ages 5 - 8 who exhibit significant delays in cognitive development, communication skills, daily living skills, and, generally, one or more of the following:

• Gross motor development

• Fine motor development

• Oral motor development

• Social interaction and adaptive behavior

• Visual and/or auditory development

• Sensorimotor integration

The class may include children with pervasive developmental disorder when behaviors do not threaten the welfare or productivity of the other students in the class.

Program Description

The Davis Elementary School CASE Class provides individualized educational programming for children with special needs using a model that focuses on the strengths and needs of the children in all developmental areas.  Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are integrated into the children’s daily schedules as needed.  Various service options are available in formats ranging from individual to small group instruction to integrated programming (“main-streaming”).  Activities include gross motor group, morning meeting, oral motor group, language group, communication programs, fine motor skill development, cognitive work sessions, symbolic or sensory play times, and self-help training (including activities of daily living).  The classroom reflects a total communication approach using a range of augmentative communication strategies which include sign, pictures, and speech output devices. 

The curriculum for the Davis Elementary School CASE Class is determined by the individual students’ IEP’s and follows the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as much as possible.  Monthly themes, letter of the week activities, and special activities throughout the year are reflected in most aspects of the program, including therapies, as appropriate.  Students are identified with an age-appropriate grade level:  kindergarten, first, or second grade.  They are generally integrated into mainstream activities with their grade level for “specials” (art, music, physical education, and library), classroom time, and occasionally for field trips.  Students are accompanied to mainstream activities by a staff member. 

The class is part of the CASE network of programs for children with developmental disabilities, and typically provides placements for children for up to three years.  Several CASE programs for the upper elementary grades are common considerations as the next school placement for children graduating from the Davis School class.

School Calendar and Hours

The Davis Elementary School CASE Class follows the calendar of the Bedford Public Schools.  The program runs from 8:35 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. four days per week and from 8:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays during the regular school year.  (This schedule may vary slightly each year depending on the hours of operation of the Davis School.)  A five week summer option is available for children whose IEP’s call for an extended year program.  The CASE Summer Program, which is held at the air conditioned Parker Damon Building in Acton, addresses the students’ IEP goals and benchmarks over the summer in much the same way as does the regular school year program.  Integration with children who do not have special needs, however, is not available during the summer session.

Parent Support Services

Parent support and communication is an important part of the Davis School CASE Program.  A daily notebook travels between home and school to keep staff and parents current regarding the students’ progress and to facilitate language use in both settings.  Opportunities for parent involvement include being a room parent, attending Open House and special classroom events, or volunteering in the school.  Annual IEP meetings, twice-yearly parent-teacher conferences, and quarterly progress reports also offer opportunities for parent/school communication.

Additional Information

Enrollment in the CASE program at the Davis Elementary School is by consensus of the child’s parent(s), the child’s school district, and the CASE Collaborative.  Additional information about this or other CASE classes may be obtained by contacting the collaborative office in Concord or by speaking with the special education office in a CASE member school district.

Please direct inquiries and referrals to:

Rory Liebmann, Assistant Director
978-318-1535
rliebmann@colonial.net