Support Services

Castro supports its students in a variety of ways.

Response to Instruction (RTI) is an approach for all students whether they need additional support or enrichment. It identifies and supports students with high-quality, multi-tiered instruction, ongoing student monitoring and assessment, and collaboration. Link to more.

Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) is an instructional model that allows educators to design and deliver lessons that address the academic and linguistic needs of English learners while enhancing the overall learning environment for all students. SIOP-based teaching benefits all students, not just those who are learning English as an additional language. Link to more.

Student Study Team (SST) is a school-based, collaborative problem-solving group whose purpose is to support students in the areas of instruction and/or behavior. The SST can provide support by contributing both personnel and school resources in response to identified student needs. The SST can include the parent, principal, or other administrator, psychologist, counselor or classroom teacher.

Before and After School Tutoring are provided throughout the year in a variety of  ways for any student who is in need of extra instruction in a particular subject area or skill.  These opportunities are provided by Castro staff and sometimes by outside agencies or volunteer groups.

Enrichment Programs

Both Castro School and Castro PTA provide many opportunities to attend enrichment programs after school.  Students can attend after-school sessions of PTA offerings that are run each trimester for classes such as robotics, chess, dance, art and many more.  Through collaborations with community organizations and clubs, the school offers after school enrichment programs in various STEM areas. Look for communications about these opportunities throughout the year.

Special Education Services

If through an SST meeting it appears that the needs of the child might go beyond what the teacher can provide in the classroom, the student may be referred for an assessment for eligibility for special education services. After the evaluation, a meeting is held with the parents to determine eligibility and goals for the student. Parents must approve this assessment plan.

Learning Centers

Learning Centers are a seamless approach to integrate site resources to serve at-risk and special education students. It is a model designed to meet the individual needs of each student and may include small group or one-on-one instruction based on diagnostic and prescriptive teaching. 
The Learning Center is a "place" or a time in the classroom where specific and research-based programs are used with students for intense remediation of basic skills. Students participate in the general education classrooms to receive core instruction for a part of each morning and afternoon and rotate into the Learning Center, as needed, or receive additional instruction and academic support in the classroom.  General education students may also rotate into the learning center for academic intervention. In the Learning Centers model, special education students participate in the school program and are part of the larger school community.

Resource Specialist Program

The Resource Specialist Program is for students who have specific learning problems in reading, writing, spelling, written or oral expression and/or math. After testing and evaluation, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is written for qualified students, with the approval of parents. These services are provided through the resource room at Castro.

Speech and Language Program

The district speech therapist provides speech and language therapy at school based on the child's needs. Qualification may be based on problems with articulation or language processing. Services can be provided in the speech therapists' office (pull-out) or inside the classroom (push-in).

Learning More About Special Education

Special Education services are managed by the Director of Special Education.

The Learning Challenges Committee of the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council is made up of parents, teachers and students in the Mountain View and Los Altos who are committed to getting the best education for students with learning challenges or special education needs. Contact your LCC parent liaison at Castro.

Mountain View is part of the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA 1) for public schools. Currently SELPA 1 encompasses Mountain View, Los Altos, and Palo Alto. The SELPA sponsors many activities including: support group meetings, featuring guest speakers, a biannual newsletter, a support line, Ability Awareness Week, and guidelines for parents of special needs children in public schools.

Mental Health Services

Castro coordinates a host of services for students and staff members. Families are served through a collaboration between: School Counselor, School Community Engagement Facilitator, Principal, At Risk Supervisor, Teachers, The Wellness Center, CHAC, Uplift Family Services.

The Wellness Center provides a calming, safe space for students to regulate emotions, along with providing individual and group counseling. Click here for more info.

CHAC provides individual and group counseling on campus for students in need. Students can be referred by either a teacher or parent.

Reading Partners

Reading Partners is a nonprofit literacy organization that recruits and trains community volunteers to provide one-on-one reading tutoring to students in under-resourced schools across the country and has been partnering with Castro for many years.

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