Students with cognitive impairments at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park could gain work experience through a proposed entrepreneurship component of the campus Peer to Peer program.
The program, which pairs general education students with special education students across Canton, Plymouth and Salem high schools, is developing additional learning opportunities. The entrepreneurship track would connect students in the Cognitive Impairment (CI) program with Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, with possible activities such as starting and running a coffee business, special education teacher Jacklyn Klotz told the Plymouth Express in an article published Oct. 12.
"Next year, we are adding team games and entrepreneurship," Klotz said. She described the entrepreneurship component as a way to build employability skills and real-life work experience for students in the CI program. The article did not specify entrepreneurship’s launch semester.
Klotz runs the program with a team of special education teachers. General education students called "Connecting Peers" partner with students who have disabilities for activities including learning quizzes, music, art and cooking. Connecting Peers also organize a monthly social event. Planned activities described in the article include a game day, scavenger hunt, ornament and cookie decorating, an Easter egg hunt and a year-end field day.
Klotz said the program aligns with peer-based instruction methods that the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP) lists among 28 evidence-based practices for students with autism. She said research has found positive outcomes in social, communication, academic and play skills for students with disabilities participating in peer-based programs.
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 on Nov. 12, 2024, to approve a general education course called Peer-to-Peer Connections, according to board meeting records. Board members Christenson, Kehoe, Picard, Sidhu and Westra all voted in favor. The course was set to launch in the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year.
A course revision for Peer-to-Peer appeared as a first reading on the board's May 12, 2026, agenda. The board approved the Team Games revision 7-0 on May 26. The approved minutes identify the second semester of 2026-27 as its proposed start.
Growth has brought challenges. Klotz said scheduling and finding rooms large enough for the program remain the biggest obstacles as demand grows. She said the team plans to promote the program and build general education teacher support across the three schools.
Students interested in becoming a Connecting Peer can apply through a Google form or receive a recommendation from a teacher, counselor or administrator, according to the Plymouth Express article.
