Microsite for JCFSschool.org (JCFS Knapp School & Yeshiva)
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
From the Yeshiva Manual to the Annual Calendar to application forms and more, here you’ll find links to frequently used Yeshiva policies and documents.
Yeshiva Manual
Application Process
Miscellaneous Forms
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
The Resource Room—fondly known as the Knapp School Library—is a calm, welcoming space where students can explore a diverse collection of reading materials or simply take a break from the bustle of the day. Whether they're checking out a favorite book, requesting a new title, diving into classwork, or taking a test, students can visit with their classes or alongside a member of their support team. Cozy couches and study tables make it the perfect spot for reading, studying, or working on group projects.
The library also serves as a shared workspace for our IEP Specialist, Reading & Instruction Specialist and Coach, and IT Support Specialist—bringing together learning, support, and technology in one thoughtfully designed space.
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
Many parents eagerly anticipate reintegration for their child, but it can be a daunting process. Students may approach reintegration with excitement, anxiety or fear at the prospect of returning to their home schools, where they faced tough educational or emotional challenges.
Knapp School & Yeshiva prioritizes supporting our students and their families, our teachers and mainstream school staff during the reintegration process.
Our students often return to their home school on a part-time basis, spending half their day there and half at Knapp School & Yeshiva, where they can continue to receive support from special education teachers, social workers and other service providers. This gives the Reintegration Team a way to maintain close contact with your child, while also being your child's bridge to new teachers.
Our students also attend weekly support group meetings, where they can receive therapeutic support and share struggles and strategies with their peers.
The Reintegration Team wants a smooth transition for your child. We will work with you and your child to propose solutions to any obstacles, which could mean postponing reintegration if the child is not ready.
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
We collaborate with students and their families, teachers and community representatives in creating curriculum and in providing services and supports. It is a process that builds on itself, with goals that evolve as each student gets older and gains new insights. Transition goals often are addressed within the classroom and with direct service providers. Our students explore career interests and post-secondary options through assessment and investigation. If they are interested in finding part-time employment, they may receive guidance and support from school staff. Services may also be provided in a group format, such as through career education workshops, job readiness trainings/activities, college tours, or life skills groups.
Our career counselor works with our students to help them prepare for, and obtain, work in the community. In addition, our counselors develop relationships with local employers to create career opportunities for our high school students.
Through our School Job Program, our students gain work experience and develop skills through supervised, school-based work opportunities. Students on the highest level of the behavior system are paid for their job.
Finally, we provide transition support to our students by connecting them to community resources, disability benefits, transition-related events, post-secondary education and employment options.
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
We prioritize our students' development and growth and strive to provide customized support that builds strong relationships between students, their parents and educators.
All students are assigned a social worker who provides a range of services, including individual therapy, group therapy, parent support, case management, consultation with community providers and crisis intervention. Whether students need to talk about a deeply personal situation, or are experiencing a challenging time during the school day, their social worker is the first of many therapeutic supports available to them.
Social workers and students are matched based on students' needs and social workers' corresponding expertise. The goal is to make an assignment that most closely addresses students' concerns whenever possible.
With the social worker as the student’s primary support, other JCFS Chicago Knapp School & Yeshiva therapeutic supports include:
There also is support for the student who wants to prepare for a job or college, and needs help learning how to apply for and maintain a job, and how to prepare for the rigors of college. Knapp School & Yeshiva also has a Transition focused classroom for students who need to develop independent living skills.
Therapeutic Supports at Knapp School & Yeshiva is led by Allison Stevens, Clinical Director.
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
We offer a dynamic academic and enriching curriculum.
Student achievement is measured & documented.
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
Visual Arts
Visual Arts Students participate in an extensive visual arts program every week in the school’s art studio. Instruction is provided by a creative arts teacher who is also a practicing artist. Hands on projects completed during the school year include clay, pottery, charcoal, collage, jewelry-making and more. Twice a year students can select pieces of their artwork to sell at the school’s student art sale.
Animal Assisted Therapy Service
Knapp School & Yeshiva students enjoy weekly animal assisted therapy from a very beloved dog. Animal assisted therapy works wonders in cultivating self-esteem and self- confidence with students who might be struggling in these areas. In addition, research shows that animal assisted therapy provides endless benefits such as: emotional regulation, lowering blood pressure, encouraging more focused interaction and lifting moods.
Driver’s Education
Once a year, certified driver’s education instructors provide training to a select number of eligible high school juniors and seniors. Students are given the opportunity to participate in classroom instruction during the school day and can complete their behind-the-wheel hours.
Extended School Year
Our summer program (ESY) is offered to help minimize student regression in academic and social-emotional development while strengthening core academic skills. This program maintains the integrity and supports of the regular school year with a highly structured environment, a low student-to teacher ratio, and a balanced blend of classroom academics, enrichment programming and recreational activities.
Snoezelen Room
The Snoezelen Room, a multi-sensory environment designed to help students relax, reduce agitation, and increase positive communication has many benefits. This space also provides opportunities to integrate sensory stimuli and increase socialization. Students can adjust the room’s varied sensory stimuli (i.e. sound, brightness, color and smell) to a desirable level. In the process of determining the preferred amount of stimulus, the student’s level of arousal is also being regulated. Time in the Snoezelen Room is scheduled by the class or student and is supervised by school staff.
Expressive Group Therapies
In partnership with professional therapists, Knapp School & Yeshiva students may receive weekly dance, music, or other expressive group therapies in their classroom. In addition to their weekly social work group that has more traditional activities, students in these groups are allowed the opportunity to use their creative talents to process through different emotions. These groups are designed to help students regulate and tolerate negative feelings that are stored in the body. Other themes addressed in these groups include: interpersonal relationships, bullying and isolation.
Other Extra-Curricular Opportunities
The Knapp School & Yeshiva provides opportunities throughout the year for students to participate in other interscholastic activities within the school and with other therapeutic day schools. These activities can include: basketball, bowling, chess leagues, a spelling bee, touch football, volleyball, soccer and more!
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
We invite you to take your time visiting our site and learn everything you want to know about the Knapp School & Yeshiva starting with our most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
You can also use the search tool at the top of the page to find answers to your questions.
Most students do not need to submit an application to the Knapp School & Yeshiva, as they are referred for placement by their home school district after it has been determined in their Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting that a separate day placement is needed due to the child’s academic and social/emotional needs. However, if parents would like to apply for a private placement in either the secular or Yeshiva program, an application is required.
Our school is accredited by AdvancED and welcomes students of all backgrounds. Staff and students at Knapp School & Yeshiva represent a broad range of diversity. There is a separate Therapeutic Yeshiva for students who want to maintain their Jewish studies in addition to the regular school day.
When students are referred through their home public school district, families do not pay tuition. Instead, the school district pays the tuition as part of your mandated IEP services. When students are privately placed in our school by their families, then a tuition agreement will be worked out between the school and the family as part of the intake process.
Students are referred to our school by their public home school districts after it has been decided by the IEP team that a separate day placement is needed to meet the child’s educational and social/emotional needs. When our school accepts privately placed students whose families/guardians have determined that a therapeutic placement is the most suitable environment for their child’s academic and social/emotional needs, the Knapp School & Yeshiva team will work with the family to create a Therapeutic Education Plan, similar to an IEP.
The Yeshiva Program maintains collaborative Partnership Arrangements with Jewish day/yeshiva schools. Under such an arrangement, a student starts the school day at one school and completes it at the other. If a child attends mainstream Jewish day school and experiences serious social or emotional difficulty, the family, child, Jewish day school, and Yeshiva Program might collaborate on crafting a partnership arrangement that could benefit that child.
Students at the Yeshiva Program may take classes at a partnership school (if they are partnership students) or may reintegrate for one or more classes at a Jewish day school, depending on their individualized program.
Your child does have specific rights and we encourage you to be informed. Visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website, which offers robust answers to a plethora of questions parents often have about their rights regarding children with special needs.
When it is determined through the IEP or Therapeutic Education Plan (for privately placed students) that a child needs additional support services beyond the therapeutic classroom, our school provides these services. The related services available to our school include, individual and group social work support, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and transition/vocational support.
For assistance or more information, call us at 855.275.5237 or email us at Ask@JCFS.org.
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