When each school began to plan their important work based on AACPS’s 2018-2023 Strategic Plan during the spring of 2018, school teams reflected on their school culture, their community, and the key factors contributing to student achievement.  Each school was then asked to consider which Strategic Plan Indicators would have the greatest positive impact for their students. School leadership teams selected indicators and developed plans to focus and guide their efforts.  Please come with us on our journey as we describe why, what, and how we do our work to serve our students and families of our school.

Ruth Parker Eason School provides a unique learning environment for nearly 150 students with moderate to severe disabilities. Built in 1984, Ruth Parker Eason is a safe and nurturing setting where students benefit from state of the art practices in special education that are delivered through a multi-disciplinary approach. The staff of 104 is comprised of special education teachers, related service providers, health personnel, and support staff. Ruth Parker Eason is also home to Forbush School of Anne Arundel, a non-public school partnership that provides an integrated setting for students who require intensive behavior programming. Our school community is diverse, with a student body comprised of 42% African American, 38% White, and 13% Hispanic students as well as students of Asian, American Indian, and Multiracial ethnicities. Forty-eight percent of our students qualify for Free and Reduced Meals. The staff at Ruth Parker Eason believe that every child can learn, and that each individual student will make progress when presented with high expectations, and provided with both specialized and differentiated instruction. 

Teaching and learning at Ruth Parker Eason are as unique as each of our students. Engaging and experiential learning takes place daily for our students, who range in age from 3 years to 21 years. Opportunities for students to develop learning and social behaviors, vocational skills, functional skills, academics, and communication are embedded into the instruction of an alternative curriculum which aligns to the Common Core Curriculum Standards. Our students’ global development and progress is highly dependent on their communication skills, which is an intentional focus at Ruth Parker Eason. Multiple modalities for communication are available throughout the school; and 60% of our students have an individualized communication system that is used functionally. Through the collaboration of all service providers, it is expected that every student at Ruth Parker Eason will have a communication system available for their needs and abilities; and that it will be accessible in all settings both in the school and community.