Functional academics are academic skills that are directly related to everyday life and practical tasks. These skills are taught to students with disabilities or special learning needs as part of their special education curriculum and include basic reading, writing, and math skills, as well as more practical skills such as time management, money management, and communication.

 

The goal of teaching functional academics is to help students develop the skills they need to be as independent as possible in their everyday lives and to participate in their communities and in work or post-secondary education. Functional academics are taught through a variety of methods, including direct instruction, hands-on learning, and the use of technology and other assistive devices.