How Next-Generation Libraries Are Getting Students Ready For The Real World; Delivering Inclusive Education to Children of All Abilities and Identities

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL: HOW NEXT-GENERATION LIBRARIES ARE GETTING STUDENTS READY FOR THE REAL WORLD

The days of school libraries being a place for only books and getting shushed are a thing of the past, at least in some school districts. Baldwin High School on Long Island is among them, transforming its traditional library space into a collaborative hub outfitted with 21st century tech. Dubbed the “Learning Collaboratory,” the district’s goal is to better prepare students for life after high school and the real world of work, a concept Baldwin has pioneered with its specialized school-to-career Academic Academies program. Baldwin Superintendent Dr. Shari Camhi joins us tonight to discuss how this next-generation library fits in with the district’s revolutionary approach to learning.

CHASING THE DREAM: DELIVERING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION TO CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES AND IDENTITIES

What can parents with special needs children do to optimize their education and quality of life? One answer for parents is the IDEAL School of Manhattan, which has been a game changer for many families as New York’s only K-12+ independent inclusion school. The school was founded in 2006 by three mothers with sons with Down syndrome. Their goal: create a diverse and inclusive independent school that affirms and accepts the full identities of all students. The concept of inclusive education is simple but transformative - students with disabilities learn in the same classrooms alongside their typically developing peers. Tonight, a conversation with two of the co-founders of the school, Audra Zuckerman and Michelle Smith, about the challenges and successes of delivering inclusive education in New York City.