The Aurora Program is a Kindergarten through 8th grade school setting for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.
Our mission is for all students to develop the social-emotional skills and passion for learning necessary for success in high school, college, and beyond.
The Aurora Program is designed to meet the unique needs of students with exceptionalities in grades K-8 who exhibit emotional and behavioral challenges. The program is dedicated to helping students manage significant emotional reactions, solve behavior challenges, increase positive social interactions, and improve academic progress.
Aurora works closely with the sending school to create short and long term goals. We track progress and communicate with home schools, and if a transition back to the home school is possible we set students up for success.
Aurora is not a time-served program or an expulsion school. Students best served by our program are those with behavior challenges where every possible intervention has been put in place with fidelity, the disruptions are so extreme that they are impacting student learning or classroom and school culture.
Our Campus
Aurora is the only alternative school setting in New Orleans with a facility tailor made for Aurora students. The Aurora building is its own community with small classrooms, dedicated intervention and sensory spaces, and an outdoor playground and basketball court. Adjacent to Behrman Park, our school site is on the Tubman Park Campus which hosts Tubman Montessori and our Constellations Program.
Our Program
The Aurora Program serves students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, and is designed for students who need more support than a traditional school setting can provide.
At Aurora, a low student-teacher ratio and focus on relationships and community help reduce student behaviors and emotional difficulties.
Our program is a full academic day, with teachers teaching the same Tier 1 curriculum as their regular education peers in English language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Students also participate in enrichment activities like art, physical education, and music, as well as skill building instruction in social and emotional awareness.
School Staffing
Aurora is staffed by experienced teachers and support staff who, in addition to their academic subject training, are trained in behavioral management, crisis prevention, and trauma-informed care. Class ratios are typically around 6 students to one teacher.
Special education certified teachers provide specialized instruction that is tailored to student need.
In addition to the academic and support staff, Aurora has a full time counseling team and provides all services on site, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other special education services.
A full-time nurse is on campus, and medication can be administered daily for consistency.
How To Apply
Students are referred to Aurora through their current school.
We only accept students who have a Bulletin 1508 compliant evaluation and corresponding IEP. If your child does not have those in place, please work with your school to establish these so they can initiate the process.
If a student is admitted to the program, a transition plan is put in place involving the family, the sending school, and the Aurora team.
Note: Aurora is not on the NCAP. Parents cannot select it as a placement for their child. Instead, see above for the process. Students transitioning to the Aurora program retain their enrollment at their sending school.
To learn more about the Aurora Program or inquire about a potential referral, contact:
Carissa Kolakauskas
Director of Student Support
Crescent City Schools
ckolakauskas@crescentcityschools.org
504-708-8325