Ivan K Garrison Center

Our K–12 district cooperative serves six counties across 3,200 square miles in central Illinois. We partner with 19 schools, including: Brown County, Beardstown, Meredosia, Franklin, North Greene, Calhoun, Pittsfield, Griggsville-Perry, Bluffs, Triopia, Waverly, Northwestern, Greenfield, Carrollton, Brussels, Pleasant Hill, Western, Winchester, and Jacksonville. As a school, we qualify to provide free lunch for all students. Classrooms typically include 8–10 students, ages 5 to 22, supported by a certified teacher and a paraprofessional

Our school serves two distinct programs: LIFE and ED.

LIFE Program: Our current enrollment is around 35 students.

The Learning in Functional Environment (LIFE) Program facilitates a therapeutic environment designed to meet the needs of students whose handicapping condition or combination of impairments are so severe or unique that they cannot be met in any other special education program.  Placements are available for students with sensory and/or orthopedic disabilities, as well as students with the characteristics of autism, moderate to severe mental retardation, and inappropriate behaviors that interfere with learning. The student demonstrates concomitant impairments (such as intellectual disability and visual impairments, intellectual disability and orthopedic impairment, etc.), the combination of which causes such severe educational problems that the problems cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments.  The term does not include deaf/blind.  Emphasis will be placed on the development of skills in the areas of communication, self-help, motor, social, vocational, emotional development and community.  Each classroom is staffed with a teaching team of a certified special education teacher and instructional assistant.  Additional services and support for each student may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, transportation training, community-based instruction, vocational training and any other necessary service as determined by a multi-factored evaluation and the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP); hence, providing a therapeutic environment for the students. 

Emotional Disability Program: Our current enrollment is approximately 60 students.

Our K–22 classrooms provide a therapeutic environment designed to support student success both academically and emotionally. We deliver targeted social-emotional instruction and support to students, primarily those with emotional disabilities, though many also have a range of other primary or secondary disabilities. Our staff is trained in trauma-informed practices and de-escalation strategies to meet students' diverse needs. Central to our approach is the development of meaningful, supportive relationships between educators and students.