La Plata, MD – The Charles County Board of Education will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 14 to accept comments on the proposed Fresh Start Academy. The hearing follows the board’s regular monthly business meeting and will be held in the boardroom at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building at 5980 Radio Station Road, La Plata.
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff will provide a short presentation on Fresh Start. Following the presentation, the Board will accept comments and questions about the program. Although the forum is designed to be interactive, speakers must sign up by 6:30 p.m. and the Board will limit comments to three minutes.
Fresh Start Academy is a highly structured, safe program for children in kindergarten through Grade 2 who persistently demonstrate behavior that impedes their ability to learn and creates a barrier to learning for all students. Children recommended for the program will be those who repeatedly display extreme disruptive behaviors, including destruction of classrooms, running away from the classroom and causing physical harm to others.
Students may be placed at the Academy only after a school has exhausted other available and appropriate interventions. Placement in the program is for about 45 days. The experience will allow students to continue with his/her regular studies while staff introduces a therapeutic and positive approach to behavioral support through early intervention.