COOKE SCHOOL AND INSTITUTE
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Mission Statement
Cooke School and Institute is a non-profit private provider of special education services in New York City offering a school for students ages 5 through 21, and consulting and training services for other schools. At Cooke, we are driven by the belief that all children have a right to an education which leads to an independent future—one in which they can be included as integral members of their community.
About This Cause
Mission: Cooke envisions a world in which all people with special needs are included as valued members of their communities, leading independent and purposeful lives. To realize this vision, our school educates students with diverse developmental disabilities and backgrounds, from early childhood through young adulthood. Through innovative programming and intensive, experiential instruction, designed to foster student independence, we integrate academic, social and life skills to prepare our students to discover and fulfill their life goals. We strive to promote the world we envision by cultivating community partners and sharing our knowledge. Background: Cooke was founded in 1987 by a small group of parents looking for a school to serve their 7 children with disabilities. Unable to find appropriate educational services for their children, the founding parents used their own resources to start their own school. Cooke has grown into one of the largest private providers of special education services in New York City. Student Population: There is not one typical student at Cooke. Over 280 students ages 5 – 21 come to Cooke with a range of developmental disabilities (Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Seizure Disorder, Learning Disabilities, etc.). Cooke students come from all five boroughs and fully represent the city’s rich socio-economic and cultural diversity. Cooke Programs Lower, Middle and Upper Schools 1713 Madison Ave, Manhattan Cooke Transitions 60 MacDougal Street, Manhattan Cooke Institute Partner sites in Manhattan, the Bronx & Staten Island School Experience: At Cooke, instruction is guided by student strengths and interests, not just their deficits. Programming is designed with an explicit focus on developing social/emotional and adaptive skills, as well as academics, to promote independence. Clinical services are seamlessly integrated into classroom lessons and school-wide planning, in addition to individual and small group sessions. Cooke Center Schools offer: ● Individualized, strength-based academic instruction – Classroom instruction follows New York State Common Core Learning Standards, implemented by a dedicated and innovative staff working collaboratively to adapt lessons and objectives to appropriately match the strengths and learning needs of each student. ● Typical school experience – Cooke stands out in its focus on providing students with a typical school experience including enrichment activities such as school dances, an annual musical theater production, a school newspaper, student government, clubs, afterschool programs, team sports, a yearbook and a peer mentoring program. ● Community inclusion – Cooke students benefit immensely from experiential learning especially outside of the classroom. Educators plan frequent off site education trips making use of the various learning opportunities available in such places as museums, parks, urban farms, television and radio studios, restaurants, community centers and large corporate offices such as the New York Times. Additionally, students are educated on the importance of having a positive impact on their community through participation in service learning projects and other types of volunteer work starting in Kindergarten. ● Vocational education and employment experience – Each student at the high school and SKILLs will complete a different internship every year; students in grade 11 and above are compensated for their internship work, earning biweekly paychecks. Internships provide students with real employment experience while enabling them to build on their strengths and understand first-hand the skills and characteristics required for employment. Additionally, students participate in vocational skill classes focusing on both hard and soft skills to help prepare them to enter to workforce. ● Individualized transition planning – Cooke students and families have access to a unique level of support in developing an appropriate transition plan to best prepare each student for life in the real world. Staff in the Grammar School focus on building the self-determination for each student preparing them for success at the Academy. Upon entering grade 9 each student has a licensed social worker who will stay with that student throughout the Academy and SKILLs, working to develop a unique transition plan including a superior level of advocacy and support in navigating the adult service system and advocacy. The Institute: Some of the poorest schools in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island contract with Cooke consultants in an effort to improve instruction to meet the needs of all of their students who represent a broad range of learning and developmental abilities. Cooke consultants lead professional development trainings and provide onsite support to enhance the special education services in partner schools. The Institute has recently expanded with the introduction of Universal Pre-K in New York City, now providing special education support to newly formed UPK classrooms. Alumni Services: Services provided through Cooke’s Alumni Association are continuously expanding through outreach and event coordinating. Alumni are invited to attend several events throughout the year including a baseball game, New Year’s Eve party, field day, movie trips, bowling, and more. This promotes socialization and helps alumni stay connected to the Cooke family. Alumni can also access support should they experience difficulty with their transition plan at any time throughout their adult life. Outcomes: While only 17.1% of the population of people with disabilities was employed in 2014 nationwide, Cooke alumni continue to demonstrate a much higher rate of meaningful community engagement. As of 2014 53% of Cooke Alumni were employed, 22% were attending a training program and 12% were volunteering as part of a supported program. Furthermore, 93% of Cooke Interns demonstrated improvement in their Work Readiness Score upon completion of their internship placement. Funding: Each year, approximately 85% - 92% of revenue is collected through tuition, education and consultation fees. The remainder is collected through an Annual Fund drive, a yearly spring fundraiser, and grants from foundations and corporations. More than 65% of Cooke’s families do not have the means to pay tuition; Cooke’s Board maintains a commitment to serving any child who could benefit from a Cooke education regardless of the family’s financial situation. Cooke is the only private special education provider with this level of commitment to serving low income families.