Golden Key Curriculum
The Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children is a school for students’ preschool through 8th grade on the autism spectrum or other cognitive disorders.
The Small Warriors Preschool Intervention Program curriculum is designed and approved by the Department of Children and Youth Step Up to Quality Gold Star standards. The curriculum is adapted to support preschool students ages 3 to 6years old on the autism spectrum.
The Charter, Non-Public Specialized School, kindergarten through 8th grade is fully accredited under the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). The curriculum is plentiful to support the many different learning styles that make up the 125+ enrolled students. All curriculum follows the Ohio Extended Learning Standards.
Certified Pyramid Classrooms – Pyramid Approach to Education
The Golden Key partners with the Pyramid Approach to Education, which provides an emphasis on the “why” of learning and how we teach. The program is specifically designed to support skill development on a pyramid scale level for those on the autism spectrum.
While Pyramid Educational Consultants is best known for developing the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), the Pyramid Approach extends far beyond communication. It provides a comprehensive framework for designing and implementing developmentally appropriate instruction that promotes skill acquisition, supports generalization across environments, and ultimately enhances the quality of life for individuals who benefit from this approach.
Building Independence Through Evidence-Based Support
The Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children is a nonprofit organization committed to providing individualized education, intervention, and therapeutic services through each student’s scholarship, charitable donations, and community support.
Our educational model is designed to develop independence, communication, self-regulation, and lifelong skills. Students are supported by highly trained educational teams using evidence-based intervention and behavior support strategies within a structured classroom environment.
To ensure the integrity of this model, The Golden Key does not provide ongoing one-on-one behavioral support. Students must be able to safely participate and make meaningful progress within our team-based approach. When a student’s needs exceed the supports our program is designed to provide, we work collaboratively with families and educational partners to identify services that best meet the student’s individual needs.
The Golden Key Charter, Non Public School is able to provide various styles of curriculum in all four required subjects – English-Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. All curriculum meets the required extended standards under the DEW.
The Golden Key is successful in the education of its students because it does meet each student at the level they are and not at their chronological age. Classroom sizes are small 10-12 students, at most. Classes are designed on three ability levels – academics, behavior and social emotional. These components for each students determine what ability level the overall classroom is taught and then individualized education, and small group work is performed by a professional teacher, teacher assistant and a state of Ohio licensed Intervention Specialist oversee each classroom.
The Golden Key, Charter, Non Public School, is an Autism Scholarship Program as well as certain categories of those who can receive the Jon Peterson Scholarship. The scholarships cover all of the educational needs for a student outlined in the student’s Individualized Educational Program (IEP). A student must have the appropriate eligibility from their district of residence on their Evaluation Team Report (ETR) to receive the Scholarship from the state of Ohio. A medical diagnosis does not qualify for the Autism Scholarship without special qualifications from the school district.
The Golden Key students in need of additional support in parochial private schools in Tuscarawas county with intervention.
This service is provided only through The Golden Key’s consideration process. If a family is interested in services at the existing schools The Golden Key has to assess and determine eligibility of their requirements to receive services. Staffing is also selected by The Golden Key and approved by the private school.
The Small Warriors Preschool Intervention Program is designed as a four-level program for preschool aged students (3-years to 6-years old) on the autism spectrum.
Program Philosophy:
Every student deserves a structured, engaging, and individualized learning environment. Our classrooms emphasize independence, communication, play, social interaction, data-informed instruction, and meaningful relationships. Consistency across classrooms helps students generalize skills and achieve long-term success.
The four programs – Troopers, Tribe, Titans and the transitional kindergarten – Rangers – focus on the three child outcomes that early intervention can provide positive outcomes for many children. The Small Warriors Program is grounded in basic fundamental principles of discrete trial founded in ABA, RDI and direct one-on-one intervention. The Small Warriors Preschool does provide each student with individual instruction with a licensed intervention specialist, tutors, early childhood teachers and aides as well as all educational therapies – occupational, physical and speech and language.
The Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children is also a Department of Children and Youth Gold Star Step Up To Quality rated program.
The program is a 12-month, four-day, Monday-Thursday program. The program allows for the staff to be highly trained by the Small Warriors Facilitator and Golden Key co-founder, Terry Frank. The staff go through rigorous training in the Core Competencies of Special Educators. Plus how to work closely with families to support the home-school connection.
The Golden Key Small Warriors Preschool Intervention Program is a Autism Scholarship Program that covers all of the educational needs for a student outlined in the student’s school district’s Individualized Educational Program (IEP). A student must have an eligibility of autism from their district of residence on their Evaluation Team Report (ETR) to receive the Autism Scholarship from the state of Ohio. A medical diagnosis does not qualify for the Autism Scholarship without special qualifications from the school district.
The Golden Key contracts all therapist to provide, in school therapies to fulfill a student’s IEP goals. Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists work directly with the students at the Center. Therapist also work with administration in providing modification to student therapy goals to ensure each student has he or she needs.