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=History= In 1973, the State of NJ Passed a vote to allow services to handicapped children. Regional Day School in Jackson, NJ is one of them. Regional Day began providing education in 1982 to special needs children. This school is designed to meet the needs of children with diverse abilities and disabilities, including multiple handicapped, behaviorally disabled, and autistic students. Furthermore, Regional Day is one of the few schools that is a public school. These students come from all different parts of the state, such as Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington County. The students within this unique school range from five to twenty-one years of age.

=Academics= The school itself is made up of twelve classrooms. They consist of a certified teacher, a classroom assistant and a personal paraprofessional depending on the needs of the particular student. Other services offered at Regional Day School are OT(Occupational Therapy), PT (Physical Therapy), APE (Adaptive Physical Education), Speech Therapy , and Individual counseling, along with group counseling. Regional Day School (RDS) is also included in the state required assessments such as the NJ ASK and PARCC.

=School Curriculum= Included in the school’s program is a work study and job sampling program. This prepares students for post-secondary goals. The students also are given the opportunity to participate in student council, safety patrol, dances for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Holiday Express visits the school. While Holiday Express makes an appearance at the school, they put on a beautiful concert to kick off the Holiday season. Additionally, RDS ends the year with a prom for the graduates in the auditorium, where it is transformed into a formal forum with a different and unique theme.

=Additional Information= Regional Day School is an exceptional school with a distinctive, caring, and professional staff that provides students with academic, social, and vocational experiences that they can use post-graduation. As some people have a different mindset towards special education schools, this school proves that they do not treat their students any different than a normal public school. Many say that this school is the best kept secret in Ocean County. Please feel free to visit the school website or their Facebook page to see more about what the school has to offer.