About Key Center

Key Center proudly serves students with Moderate Retardation to Severe Disabilities from Fairfax County and surrounding areas. With a student population of 120, we are a small school by Fairfax County standards and unique in that our students range in age from five to twenty two. Our small size and low student to staff ratio ensures that our students get considerable one to one attention as we strive to help each one reach their potential. We offer many exciting programs to meet the diverse needs of our students, including Music Therapy, Art, Adaptive PE. We also provide numerous opportunities for our students to interact with the local community and for the local community to come to them. In compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act along with IDEA, Key Center School provides an appropriate total educational program for students with moderate retardation, severe disabilities and autism in the least restrictive environment to meet their individual needs. Each classroom has a teacher, a personal health assistant and a personal health training assistant. In addition, Key Center has a full time Registered Nurse and a part-time Public Health Nurse provided by Fairfax County.

Key Center School stresses a functional curriculum rather than an academic one, unless students are capable of learning in this fashion. On a typical day, students may experience Community Integration, Vocational Activities, Domestic Living situations, and Recreation and Leisure. Recreation and Leisure is particularly enriching – including adaptive PE activities, Music Therapy and Art. This program is augmented through related services of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and vision/hearing services.

These are all taught in the settings where they are most likely to occur which also serves to reinforce inclusion.

Each student’s needs are addressed on an individual basis as determined by goals and objectives written in their Individualized Education Programs (I.E.P.). At the time of I.E.P. conferences, parents receive their Due Process Rights as stated in the Special Education Regulations. Data is taken to assure accountability of student learning in all of the above instructional areas. After assessing the child's level of functioning with various assessment instruments, these goals and objectives are established which enable the classroom teacher to plan lessons to address the areas of need through the teaching process. Teachers document student progress four times a year on Progress Reports, at which time parent conferences can take place. When conducting end of the year staffings with parents, all staff members involved in the child's program are present.

We welcome any questions you have about Key Center. Feel free to email or call us at (703) 313-4000.