Morning Drop–Off

Upon arriving by bus to Bradley, commuter students disembark at the front entrance and are greeted by Bradley staff. They then proceed to the check-in area where they participate in a security check with Bradley staff and store their outerwear, electronics, and any items not able to be taken into the school program. Students are then given the option to eat breakfast in the Atrium before transitioning to their homeroom classrooms.

Students who are residents of The Bradley Center PRTF transition to the school program with peers and staff from their residential halls.

How Classes Work

Each student is assigned a classroom that serves as a homeroom learning community. Each homeroom has its own unique schedule to include academic core classes, specials, and related arts classes. All students start their day with their homeroom learning community and participate in a community meeting, a review of the schedule and any special events, and have the opportunity to enhance their prosocial skills through various activities.

Elementary, middle school, and some high school homeroom learning communities stay together as a class throughout the day to run a specified weekly schedule. While our middle school students stay in their homeroom areas for all subjects, our middle school teachers rotate between the homerooms to deliver instruction in the core academic subjects. Most of our high school homeroom communities are together for homeroom period and electives periods. During the other periods of the day, our high school students transition to different classrooms for academic core classes similar to that of a typical public school setting. All class periods are 40 minutes in duration, with the exception of homeroom which is 30 minutes long.

Therapy Sessions

Students who commute from home are offered to meet with a school therapist on a schedule as determined by their IEP teams. Some students meet with the school therapist on a weekly basis, and others on a less frequent basis depending on the level of need. School therapists are also available to assist with day-to-day concerns as they arise. Individual therapy sessions are scheduled in a manner that ensures students do not miss their core class periods.

School therapists are also available to assist students who are transitioning to post-secondary education or employment, who need guidance in their decision-making, or who need additional support in accessing community resources.

Lunch

Lunch is a time when students are able to practice their social skills with their homeroom learning community. Each homeroom is assigned one of the three lunch periods in the Bradley Atrium. Occasionally, students will take their lunch period in their classrooms while they participate in an incentive lunch activity, such as a movie or a learning community activity.

Morning and Afternoon Classes

Students’ schedules differ based on their grade levels and homeroom learning communities. Typically, middle school and elementary classes have their core classes earlier in the day with specials and related arts periods occurring later in the day. High school students participate in core class periods in the morning and afternoon, with specials and related arts periods during homeroom periods throughout the day.

Free Period and Study Hall

Students typically do not have a study hall period; however, there is an incentive period at the end of the day in which students are able to work on assignments they did not complete during the day or to ask for additional assistance from their teachers.

Homework

Homework is assigned to students according to age and grade level and at the discretion of the teachers. Since many of our students are working on their social and emotional needs, Bradley students may not be assigned the same amount of homework as in a traditional public school.

Tests and Grading

As with a standard public school, students are assessed using the PA Common Core Standards that align with classroom instruction and activities. Students who have Individualized Education Plans may have accommodations and modifications outlined in their IEPs in relation to assessments and grading.

Tutors

Teachers are available throughout the day and upon request if students need additional help with a specific assignment or class in which they are struggling. Many times, students will seek additional help during their homeroom period or incentive period at the end of the day.

End of Day

All students are dismissed at the end of the day from their homerooms. Commuter students are dismissed by the district they are from and transition from the school program to the front entrance to board their buses. Upon transition, students are able to pick up items such as outerwear and electronics from staff at the check-in area before heading to their bus.

Students who are residents of The Bradley Center PRTF are dismissed by hall and meet their hall staff at a designated location in the school to transition back to their living areas.