Education/School Component

Focus House provides specialized on-site education based on each child's age and academic need. Teachers have special education credentials and are certified to teach elementary, junior high, and high school-aged students. In all aspects of our school component, we strive to provide a challenging school environment similar to that of public schools. For example, it is not unusual for children to have daily homework assignments from more than one teacher, just like in traditional schools. Earned class credits transfer back to home schools upon a child's discharge from the Focus House program. Further, Focus House also offers a summer school curriculum which includes classroom learning, educational field trips, and work experience, if appropriate.

Upon placement in Focus House, a school social worker and psychologist complete a case study evaluation for each child. The findings of this evaluation are then shared and discussed with the parents at an educational planning meeting. Educational expectations are individualized based upon these findings, with the goal and mission to maximize each student's learning potential, and to either mainstream the student into a local (Rochelle) school prior to their release, or back to their home school.

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