Unified Champion Schools Program

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The Unified Champion Schools (UCS) initiative is a nationally supported Special Olympics program offered on the state-level and supported with generous funding by the US Department of Education. Special Olympics Kentucky(SOKY) assists schools in our state with implementing the three pillars of a Unified Champion School:

  • Inclusive sports – The Unified Sports® programs including Interscholastic/ KHSAA Unified Sports, Unified PE or Unified Intramurals, and Special Olympics Unified Sports. Inclusive sports supports all ages with the Special Olympics Young Athletes 2-7 year old inclusive play activity program.
  • Youth Leadership – Students with and without intellectual disabilities working together to lead and plan advocacy, awareness, and other Special Olympics and related inclusive activities throughout the school year.
  • Whole School Engagement – Awareness and education activities that promote inclusion and reach the majority of the school population. Examples include such things as Spread the Word to End the Word (RWord) Campaigns, Pep Rallies or “Fans in the Stands” for Unified Sports teams, Choose to Include Campaigns or student fundraising.

Unified Champion Schools is for all students from elementary to college. Our goal is to build self- sustaining, School-Based Programs that foster inclusive, positive, equal student relationships.

Check out how your Kentucky Unified Generation Chooses to Include:

The following list of organizations are integral collaborators to the movement of inclusive schools;

  • Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE)
  • Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE)
  • ESPN
  • Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA)
  • National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) & National Student Council (NatStuCo)
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
  • National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
  • National Forum for Accelerating Middle-Grades Reform
  • National Head Start Association
  • NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation
  • SHAPE America