The ACCESS/Life Skills Program (Accessing Community, Careers, and Education through Successful Self-Determination) provides students with individualized support for academic and practical skills. The program focuses on areas of functional academics, self-care, daily living skills, independent living, community access, and job training and placement. Social competencies are also an important component. Perspective taking and emotional regulation are explicitly taught and embedded throughout daily instruction. By making specialized instruction available to students in every environment, the program balances the educational and extra-curricular opportunities at Burr and Burton with the necessary skills for students to become independent adults and contributing members of the Northshire region. 

The Learning Center is for students on an IEP or 504 plan who need additional support to meet the academic, participation, and organizational expectations of regular education classes. Specialized instruction is provided through the Study Skills course. Study Skills teachers regularly collaborate with students’ classroom teachers; help students identify and understand their learning challenges; provide remediation in the areas of need; tutor in the content areas; teach specific basic skills, exam-taking skills, organizational skills, and advocacy, and help students develop strategies to manage behavior and social expectations. Specialized instruction is provided in the basic skill areas of reading, math, written expression, functional academics, executive function skills, and social-emotional development. In addition to Study Skills, identified special education students may take a core academic class at a modified level for credit through the Learning Center. Special education paraeducators are available for identified students who need assistance in their core academic classes.