In the late 1980’s, the Westerly School District, in Westerly, Rhode Island had many students in overly restrictive environments and was cited with over 100 Office of Civil Rights Violations and desperately needed a change. With new leaders in the district, the community decided to restructure its entire philosophy and approach to educating children. Using research-based approaches, Westerly revamped its policies and programs to focus on a comprehensive educational system of care for each student, particularly students with disabilities.

Over the past few years, the Westerly school system has been nationally recognized for its efforts to create a continual system of care for its students, elementary school through high school, that provides for a coordinated program of service delivery. Westerly has enacted a range of projects to implement this system of care, including: (1) collaborative team teaching, (2) planning centers, (3) the Westerly Integrated Social Services Program (WISSP), and (4) extensive teacher training.

Collaborative Team Work. What first started as a single special education teacher’s efforts to bring her students into the regular classroom has led to a system-wide approach that employs collaborative teaching teams of regular and special educators. Over 80 teams of teachers structure their instruction to engage all students in learning. Using proactive discipline and student mentoring, the Westerly school system has become a model of how to effectively involve all students in the general education curriculum.

The Planning Centers. To serve any student in need of emotional support, "cooling off" time, academic assistance, or just a quiet place to work with an adult or peer to problem-solve, each elementary school and the middle school has established planning centers. These centers contain educational equipment, such as computers, as well as carpeted areas with rocking chairs or other more soothing materials and are staffed by a certified teacher trained in behavior management techniques. Any student can choose to come to the planning center, however, some students have daily planning center time written into their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Planning centers help prevent problems from escalating, provide students with the skills necessary to solve their problems using effective non-aggressive means, and when necessary, link students to additional support services.

WISSP. In addition, Westerly High School, recognizing the need for a more collaborative approach to providing services to students or families in need developed the WISSP Center. Located on campus and directed by the school psychologist, WISSP coordinates school services and community resources in a place accessible to students and their families to meet their social or emotional needs. Its vision is to "promote all students’ success in school and enhance the quality of life for all families in the community." As families come to the WISSP Center for counseling or other assistance, they get a positive experience within the school that helps to build trusting, respectful, and cooperative relationships between school and home.

Teacher Training. Furthermore, the district has emphasized its commitment to the system by providing ongoing training and support for teachers, counselors, and other school personnel. All teachers have four days of training a year, including a two-day, off-site retreat, geared to allow teachers to focus on how to adapt their instruction and how to apply research-based practices for students with emotional or behavioral problems. Teachers have special planning sessions each week to work other team members and adapt lesson plans to the diversity in their classrooms.