Academy Resource Teachers

Chantilly Academy Support Team (CAST)

Providing the assistance necessary to enable students with special needs to successfully participate in academy classes.

Academy support teams are made up of special education resource teachers assigned to each of the Fairfax County Public Schools Career and Technical Education Academies. The mission of the support team is to provide the assistance necessary to enable students with special needs to successfully participate in academy classes. Team members meet with each student to discuss needed accommodations, plan classroom supports, and provide assistance with transition planning. The support teams work closely with academy instructors and administrators, high school special education departments, and Career and Transition Services personnel to assist students in achieving their goals.

Focus

Academy programs equip students with valued technical knowledge and skills through meaningful and relevant learning opportunities. Rigorous industry and academic standards, technology, and employment competencies are integrated to prepare students for higher education and careers. Students have the opportunity to participate in internships, receive college credit, as well as industry certifications upon successful completion of certain academy classes, and are eligible for scholarship funds to be used for postsecondary education in related fields of study.

Services

The support teams address the needs of students by providing direct academic support to students, technical support to academy instructors, and by acting as liaisons to the special education departments at students' base schools and to other Career and Transition programs. Services are based on the individual needs of each student. Examples include:

Individual and small group instruction in organizational and study skills
Individual test administration
Review of instructional materials
Behavioral support plans
Self-advocacy
Transition planning and post-secondary linkages

Who benefits from academy support team services?

The support teams serve students with Individualized Education Program (IEP) who attend FCPS Career and Technical Education Academies. Students from any FCPS high school are eligible to apply to participate in academy courses. Some technical courses recommend prerequisite coursework and entail technical vocabulary and advanced problem solving skills. Students with a high degree of interest in the subject area and the ability to work independently are likely to be successful in this inclusive setting.

Our Academy Support Teachers: