Path is an inclusion model that creates new paths to success for students who can benefit from focused emotional and behavioral support, specifically those who have the potential to be classified as having emotional disabilities. Based on the Nest Support Project model, Path is a New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Specialized Program that serves students within a community school using a culturally responsive and trauma-informed, healing centered approach.

Path is embedded throughout the school, fostering a culture of safety and inclusion, and creating equitable opportunities for learning and development. The program aims to promote students’ academic and social-emotional outcomes using a strength-based approach. Through integrative co-teaching, social-emotional support, and a small class size, the Path Program provides schools with effective tools to support students with and without emotional-behavioral challenges in an integrated setting, with the ultimate goal of fostering student success and reducing the prevalence of ED classification. The Path Program includes coordinated support from general education teachers, special education teachers, school social workers, occupational therapists, and school administrators.

This project represents a partnership between NYCPS Division of Specialized Instruction and Student Support and NYU’s Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC).