Martin P. Mackay Education Center

Mission Statement:
The Therapeutic School will provide Lincoln-Way students assistance in realizing their highest academic and emotional potential to become productive members of society.

Educational Philosophy:
The Mackay Education Center is a day treatment public school program which provides therapeutic, academic, and transition services for special education students.  The ultimate goal of the Mackay Education Center is to assist each student in reaching his or her highest academic and emotional potential.

Program Design:
The program is designed to address the diverse emotional, academic, and vocational needs of our students.  The program establishes a supportive learning environment necessary to develop a healthy self-image and develop positive social behaviors so that students become positive contributing members of society.

The methods through which change or growth in students is anticipated includes:
•	Classroom instruction meeting the requirements of the referring district
•	Post graduation transition planning to teach basic employability skills, career awareness, and life skills
•	Individual and group therapy
•	Affective Education/Community Classroom Model
•	Individual Behavior Intervention Plans
•	Parent Support

Academic Component:
The Academic curriculum reflects the coursework necessary for graduation from each district that sends students.  Each student is given an opportunity to function at the appropriate academic grade level and curriculum.

Students take course work in the following areas:
•	Language Arts / Literature
•	Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry)
•	Science (Biology, Earth, Physical)
•	United States History / World History
•	Geography
•	Art
•	Food & Nutrition
•	Physical Education
•	Health
•	Music

Therapeutic Component:
The emotional issues presented by the students are understood to represent their response to personal and interpersonal stresses.  Inappropriate behavior and inappropriate affective expressions, with adverse affect on academic performance, are seen as symptoms of their emotional issues.

Students participate in the following therapeutic techniques to remediate these issues:
•	Therapy (group & individual) that focus on specific behavioral issues, traditional adolescent problems, substance abuse, family problems, personal problem-solving, and interpersonal relationships.
•	Community classroom model, which focuses on the skills necessary to function in a group, with friends, with family, at school and at work.  Skills developed are relationship development, effective communication, moral development, and problem-solving.
•	Level/Point System.  Positive behavioral component in which students earn points for demonstrating appropriate social and school behavior.

		* In addition, the Mackay Center is participating in a recycling fundraiser. Click here for more information.