BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL Curriculum Handbook 2011 - 2012

SPECIAL SERVICESSPECIAL EDUCATIONStudents who qualify for special education programs may be served in a variety of ways. Bellflower offers afull inclusion Resource Specialist Program, a Special Day Class setting for students whose needs requirespecial education 50% or more of the school day, and physical health impaired and other health impairedservices, which includes classes for severely handicapped students. Bellflower has two school psychologistswho work with students with special needs, an Adaptive Physical Education teacher, and a Speech andLanguage Specialist. Each student receiving special education services has an annual review of the programand an Individual Education Plan is written by a team of specialists, including the parent and student. Foradditional information, please see your counselor.Bellflower offers a broad spectrum of special education services for those students who have active IEP’s.Services range from RSP full inclusion to SDC and OHI self contained.GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION (GATE)The GATE program serves students who are gifted academically and/or in the visual performing arts.Students who have been identified as gifted according to the Gifted and Talented Education criteria of ourdistrict receive differentiated instruction within the classroom. In addition, students can enroll in coursesdenoted as "Honors" or “AP”. High achieving students are also given the opportunity to take these classes.Course content in these classes is a combination of enrichment and acceleration.ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM (AP)Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses taught on the high school campuses whichprepare students to take the AP exams each spring. Students who pass AP exams receive college credit atmany colleges and universities (including the UC and CSU systems). AP courses carry an extra grade pointas long as the student earns a "C" or better so that an "A" = 5 points, "B" = 4 points and "C" = 3 points.Students wishing to be admitted to competitive universities or majors should consider taking AP courses intheir sophomore, junior and senior years. Recommendations are normally required for enrollment.CAREER CENTERThe Career Center, with a computer for each student, has expanded the methods of providing students witha bridge between school, college and the world of work by using Choices software to describe colleges anduniversities as well as to discuss career and interest opportunities. Each year, under the supervision of theCareer Center technician and high school counselors, the Career Center processes over 2,000 students,guiding them through resume writing and in-depth career planning. In addition, each student receives acareer-planning packet containing a LACOE career handbook.CONCURRENT ENROLLMENTBellflower Unified School District students may enrich their programs or make up failed courses throughconcurrent enrollment in the Bellflower Adult School or Cerritos College. With prior approval from theirhigh school counselor, students may apply these courses toward high school graduation. Permission formsare available in the counseling centers.55