LSC 'Chance' program focuses on student misbehavior

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Lafayette School Corporations "Chance" program will focus on elementary students with severe behavior issues.

LSC Director of Elementary Education Karen Combs said students involved in the program will focus on small group learning and behavior modification.

"In addition they're going to receive points all day long for doing the right thing or for positive behavior. The kind of behavior we want to see in the regular classroom," Combs said.

Combs said LSC principals worked on creating the program this summer. Thomas Miller Elementary is where the program will be housed. 

Miller Elementary Principal Brandon Hawkins said the 'Chance' program will benefit all students.

"This gives us an opportunity for a child that's really affecting the education of the other students in the classroom it gives the class a break," Hawkins said. "It gives them the opportunity to have that child removed, that interference removed to allow them to continue their learning."

Hawkins said students will first meet with their principal and teachers to determine if the 10 day program is right for them and Combs adds parent involvement is key.

"We really want to get parents involved in knowing every day how their child's experience is going so we're going to be actually asking parents to come into the classroom every morning and every afternoon," Combs said.

Combs said she thinks the program will be a positive experience for students.

"Our goal is to get them back in the classroom as soon as possible and certainly integrate them in a way that they're feeling really good about the things they've learned and being able to show those things every day," Combs said.

LSC said they are looking for a special teacher for the "Chance" program.

"We'd like somebody who has a background in general elementary education but also a background possibly in special education or behavioral management. Somebody who can really take a child whose heading down the wrong quickly in terms of behavior and help them readjust and get to the point where they can end up being very successful in school," Hawkins said.

Combs said the program will likely begin mid to late September after teachers have had a chance to identify students that may benefit from the program.