The O-School Curriculum

Department-based coursework with varying degrees of academic rigor enable students to experience the ebb and flow of academic challenge and risk-taking to further their academic growth and preparation.

• Education goals are aligned with traditional learning standards, so students can transition back to their next school fully prepared.
• Curriculum is shared with each student’s home school district to facilitate the collaborative process. All course offerings and material lists are also available to parents.
• The O-School works to devise meaningful instruction that remains consistent with the home school curricula and anticipated graduation requirements, while also addressing each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Academic Plan (IAP) goals and unique learning style.

Universal Design and State Standards:

At the O-School, curriculum is designed and implemented utilizing the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. This approach includes flexible learning strategies and approaches specifically designed to meet the needs of all students, regardless of their learning style. Instruction is designed to be accessible, promoting each student’s independence and growth.

O-School students have the benefit of teachers with strong instructional pedagogy and expertise in Special Education. This enables curriculum to be established with every learner in mind, without compromising instructional integrity or extensive retrofitting and accommodations.

Within small classrooms, teachers access multiple sources and materials, fostering a wide array of multi-modal learning opportunities. By blending written material, technology, audio and visual supports—in combination with the O-School’s relational style—this approach promotes acquisition and mastery at all grade levels and across the full curriculum.

Individualized Approach While Maintaining State and District Standards

The O-School is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and partners with more than thirty school districts, each with their own content and credit requirements. To satisfy all learning requirements, the curriculum at the O-School is developed to meet both the individual needs of the students and the specific guidelines of each partnering district and the State of Illinois.

In order to promote consistent matriculation, curriculum development at the O-School is a collaborative process across the instructional team. High School and Middle School teachers coordinate learning objectives and methodologies to ensure that students who are participating in Middle School courses will be prepared for High School coursework.   

As O-School curriculum is developed, district and Illinois based standards are cross-referenced, embedding these goals into the direct content. The O-School course descriptions are widely available and relevant Illinois State Learning Goals are outlined for every course. This process allows earned credits to seamlessly transfer to partnering school districts, ensuring a full representation of each student’s accomplishments and capabilities.