The School • Substitute/Foster Care • Public School-Based Services ("Backpack")

Programs: The School

Laraway School is a highly structured educational and therapeutic environment designed for students who require alternative learning methods beyond those offered in mainstream education. Laraway is licensed by the Vermont Department of Education to serve students from grades K through 12.  Laraway offers group and individual instruction across all subject areas while blending a therapeutic milieu* with behavior management. Individual and group counseling is available and incorporated through Art exploration and Outdoor Education.

Laraway is a licensed independent school and mental health day treatment program dedicated to developing the strengths and talents of every student. We are motivated toward incorporating strategies that help children cope with their individual needs.

Laraway provides a safe atmosphere for students to address academic, behavioral and emotional issues and offers opportunities for growth through a diverse range of activities. Laraway School is also licensed to serve students with special educational needs such as emotional disturbance, learning impairment, speech or language impairment, specific learning disabilities and/or other health impairment.

Students are placed in small groups, (5 - 8 pupils), based on their age, educational requirements and therapeutic needs. Individual or multi-year educational plans dictate the necessary accommodations for each child. Staff to student ratio is high, affording para educational support as well as 1:1 assistance when appropriate. Individualized community based educational plans are also utilized offering students a portion of the school day for learning off campus.

Laraway School provides instruction with qualified teachers in all the core academic areas. All students participate in group counseling and based on their individual needs may be scheduled for one on one counseling.  Mathematics, and literacy and / or written expression is detailed in the treatment plan and  Individual Education Plan (IEP) of each student. A Personal Learning Plan may be offered to students whose strengths can best be accessed in a one on one environment. The student's program is then individualized, with needs accommodated based on goals expressed in his or her IEP or multi-year plan.

Students participate in service learning projects in the community.  Classroom lessons are often moved out into the community, providing place-based opportunities to learn.  Older students work with Case Managers and our School-to-Work Coordinator to research career, vocational and continuing education opportunities and to experience work placements to expose them to the world of work.

All school personnel are experts in their fields; they are also cross-trained in various mental health and treatment protocols. Student education, behavior and treatment is reviewed weekly to insure proper positive supports are enacted to promote student success. Laraway incorporates universal design and differentiated instruction, providing each student opportunities for success in core subject areas.

We invite you to contact us via email for more information about our School Programs: info@laraway.org

*Therapeutic milieu is based on "Reclaiming Youth @ Risk" and the "Circle of Courage" by Brendtro, Brokenleg and VanBrokern as well as social skills by Goldstein. "Skillstreaming the Adol