ENL Services
English as a New Language instruction integrated into core classes, with dedicated ENL periods for newcomers.
Accessibility
Access isn't an add-on. It's the foundation.
At Common Grounds, accessibility is woven into the physical campus, the curriculum, the technology, and the culture. Every decision starts with the question: can everyone participate fully?
Inclusive Classrooms
“Every classroom has both a general education teacher and a special education teacher.”
At Common Grounds, classes are not tracked. Every classroom is co-taught by a general education teacher and a special education teacher. Support is the norm — not the exception.
Learn About Our Inclusive Curriculum →How We Build Inclusive Classrooms
Inclusion at Common Grounds is built into the structure of every classroom and every service. Here's how.
Curriculum & Inclusion
No tracking, co-taught classrooms, bilingual support, and Life Skills programs — every learner in every classroom.
IEP Philosophy
IEPs that scaffold access to the full curriculum — then fade supports as students grow into independent learners.
How We Support Inclusion
Co-teaching as the norm, explicit education about SPED, open resource rooms, and Life Skills classrooms — inclusion without stigma.
Meeting Student Needs
In-house OT, PT, and speech therapists. Bilingual staff and ELL teachers. Push-in and pull-out services based on each student's needs.
Ensuring *Accessibility*
“All students, no matter their abilities, receive the best quality of services and education that we can provide.”
At Common Grounds, accessibility means more than compliance — it means ramps, elevators, and chair lifts wherever necessary, a team of social workers with regular check-ins for every student, close family contact, and dedicated support for students who are young parents.
Read More About How We Ensure Accessibility →Language Access
We use New York's "Multilingual Learner" framework to support students whose home language is not English. Rather than treating language diversity as a barrier, we treat it as a strength.
Translated Materials
Key documents, report cards, and family communications available in the top languages spoken by our school community.
Interpretation Services
On-demand phone and in-person interpretation for parent meetings, IEP conferences, and school events.
Linguistic Justice
Translanguaging, multilingual texts, and home languages as tools for learning — language is a resource, not a barrier.
Sensory Garden
The Common Grounds sensory garden sits behind the Science Wing — a fully accessible outdoor space designed collaboratively by students in the STEM and Art pathways. It features raised planting beds, textured walkways, a sound installation, and Braille plant labels.
The garden serves as an outdoor classroom for science, art, and wellness activities, and is open to all students throughout the school day.
Transportation
All school transportation is fully accessible, including wheelchair-accessible buses and trained aides for students who need them. Routes are designed in partnership with families to minimize travel time.