PrairieWood Transition Center
PrairieWood Transition Center provides community-based education and training for students who participate in special education. Each student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) with an emphasis on increasing independence in his or her home and community.
The program focuses on developing living and working skills. PrairieWood provides opportunities for students and families to gain knowledge of adult service options through a variety of activities that will support the transition to adulthood. Students will learn through a gradual release model of instruction that starts in the classroom at Prairie High School with application opportunities in a simulation model for living. They are then transitioned to a living environment on the Kirkwood campus to continue building skills and independence. Students will also have opportunities to move into leadership roles in the school setting as peer leaders and also opportunities embedded throughout their experience to volunteer in the district and community.
Students learn in a hands-on way at PrairieWood. They participate in activities in areas of content that includes but not limited to domestic, community, vocational and recreation/leisure, functional academics, social and communication skills. These skills are embedded into each of these areas and practiced daily in authentic/natural settings. Students also have the opportunity to explore community resources that will provide them with support in the lives beyond this offering.