Curriculum and Instruction

Accessing the core curriculum, for students with an IEP, may require the use of alternative curriculum and/or additional resources and materials. Below is a description of the available alternative curriculum along with additional instructional resources.

Unique Learning System

CVUSD uses Unique Learning System as the California Common Core State Standards (CCSS) aligned alternative curriculum for preschool-post secondary. This evidence-based curriculum was adopted by the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) in 2016, and CVUSD purchases annual licenses and provides ongoing training and support to teachers for use with students who access an alternative curriculum as determined by their IEP. It includes English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science curriculum that is presented with visuals, different instructional levels, and a variety of formats to make the content standards accessible to students. It can be presented through printed materials and digital web-based materials that are interactive and engaging for the whole class and individual student. In addition, Unique has embedded assessments that can be used to inform progress monitoring, benchmarks, and transition. In addition to Unique Learning Systems, CVUSD also has licenses for News2You and Symbol Stix, which are additional related components that can be used with students.

Cyber High and APEX are online credit remediation programs that allow high school students to make up credits from past failed courses. The programs provide students with the ability to remediate failed courses concurrently while enrolled in school full time. Students with IEPs have the opportunity to remediate credits through these online platforms. The courses can be accessed in credit recovery courses built in throughout the school day. APEX requires a teacher credentialed in the curriculum area being remediated or through accredited alternative schools or programs. Students requiring credit recovery options are encouraged to connect with their case manager or academic counselor to determine the best credit recovery solution based on individual needs and program requirements.

Seeing Stars is one of several evidence-based reading interventions designed to develop skills in the areas of phonemic awareness, word attack, word recognition, spelling, and reading fluency.

The Sonday System is a comprehensive line of materials designed to provide multisensory reading instruction to students accessing Learning Centers across CVUSD elementary schools. The Sonday System is a research and evidence based system to support reading needs using proven Orton-Gillingham methods.