Affective Needs Center Program

In Affective Needs (AN) programs, Jeffco builds relationships in a safe and consistent environment in an academic setting. Students who come to AN programs frequently have had behavior challenges and require more structure and time to build school-ready behaviors.

AN programs help students rebuild trust while feeling safe and comfortable in school. The programs support any student with behavioral needs, including students who have qualified for:

Special Education (SPED)
Serious Emotional Disability (SED)
Developmental Delay (DD)
Health Impairment (HI)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Jeffco’s AN Center Programs use the Colorado Department of Education’s SED Quality Indicators.

Affective Needs Program Focus

Jeffco focuses on teaching students social and emotional skills while keeping on pace with academic standards.

Staff members at schools with AN programs have access to professional learning on trauma-informed practices and de-escalation strategies.

AN programs model, teach and reinforce school-ready skills through integration into the general education classroom. These skills include:

Remaining safe with support:

Students are taught to safely express their needs with fading, or gradual release of, adult support.

Accepting responsibility:

Students learn to apologize and express empathy for others so that they can solve problems.

Self-regulation:

Students practice appropriate responses to frustrating situations.

Following classroom routines and instructions:

Students learn to respond to classroom expectations appropriately and complete schoolwork.

Grade-Level Standards of Instruction

Students are provided with grade-level, standards-driven instruction in the general education classroom or the Center Program. Specialized academic instruction identified through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is provided primarily in the Center Program.

Research-based social and emotional intervention using Zones of Regulation, SuperFlex and Skill Streaming curriculum is part of daily instruction.

Positive Behavior Focus

Programming in AN Centers reinforces positive behavior through encouragement, rewards and privileges. Students receive frequent, quantifiable feedback on behaviors, which is reviewed daily and calculated as points. The points system is a way of increasing privileges as the behavior becomes more consistent and school-appropriate.

Every student has an individualized Behavior Intervention Plan that is based on a current Functional Behavior Assessment. Functionally equivalent behaviors are taught and reinforced through the program.

Various options are available to respond to negative behaviors before or instead of suspension.

General Education Classroom Time

Time in the general education classroom is not treated as a privilege. Like any student with an IEP, it is individualized based on student needs. AN teams work with the general education teachers to build relationships with each student and maximize opportunities for integration and time with typical peer models. Partnerships with general education teachers impact the success of each student.

Adult Support and Family Engagement

Each program is staffed with:

One full-time learning specialist - a SPED teacher
One half-time Mental Health Provider - a psychologist or a social worker
One full-time and one half-time or three half-time paraeducators

Most schools have a primary program for grades K-2 and an intermediate program for grades 3-5. Each school has different staffing needs.

Families are connected with the school team and community resources. The school team communicates with the family daily. Families feel welcomed, valued and connected to the school community.

Exit Criteria

The following criteria determine when a student is ready to exit the AN program:

Achieving the highest goal level.
Maintaining independent integration in the general education setting with appropriate support as identified on their IEP.
Consistent demonstration of coping skills, self-regulation skills and safe behaviors.

When these criteria are met, the AN team will start a conversation and initiate an IEP meeting about transitioning a student out of the program and consider many variables.

Center Programming

Center-based programs are specialized classrooms within regular school buildings across the district and are available as part of Jeffco’s continuum of placement options for students in special education. These programs provide intensive support, additional resources and a focus on individualized needs for different students. Programs also change as needed to respond to individual student needs.

Only students whose IEP identifies placement within a center program can be supported in a center program. Students cannot be enrolled into a program by a family or transferred into a program by an administrator.

Most students can be supported in their neighborhood school and do not need center programming. A Director or Assistant Director of special education must be included in decisions to change a student’s placement.

Special Education Center Based Program Locations 2024-2025

View a Map of Special Education Schools & Programs

Contact Us

Special Education

Special Education Community Support Line: 303-982-6682
Child Find Intake: 303-982-7247
Records Request: spedrecords@jeffco.k12.co.us