Q&A: What Should Parents Know About Private Schools and Education for Students with Learning Differences?
Private school education is one of the best options for a child with learning differences. Not only will they receive academic training tailored to their needs, but they will also be in an environment that allows them to explore their passions and develop life skills essential to their success. Brentwood private school Currey Ingram Academy answers crucial questions on things you should know before committing to a private school for your child.
Q: I suspect that my child might have learning differences. What should I do?
A: You can have your child evaluated at Currey Ingram Academy’s Diagnostic Center to confirm your suspicions. Students can undergo evaluation as young as age three, and the vast majority of students considered at the Diagnostic Center can apply to enroll at the K-12 Currey Ingram Academy or boarding school for grades 9 through 12.
The center’s team members have various experiences in clinical and school psychology, child development, test administration, and OT and speech/language assessment and intervention. The team’s goal is to get to know each child as thoroughly as possible and produce a report that fully explores the child’s learning challenges and strengths, which helps point a clear path toward effective interventions and strategies for each unique child.
Q: Are private school teachers trained to handle students with learning differences?
A: Private schools have set the bar high when it comes to faculty qualifications. At Currey Ingram Academy, approximately 70% of administrators and teachers have master’s degrees or higher. Moreover, teachers complete more than four times the state-required professional development hours each year. They are devoted to providing an education that empowers students with learning differences to achieve their fullest potential.
Q: How do private schools ensure that students with learning differences accomplish the same tasks as their peers?
A: Private schools like Currey Ingram Academy provide accommodations that change how students learn the material; however, the students’ expectations do not change. Accommodations allow students with learning differences to complete the same assignments and understand the same concepts as everyone else. These could be in the form of extra time on projects, oral instead of written examinations, or the use of assistive technology.
Q: What are the next steps if I feel that a private school would best meet the needs of my child?
A: You can now set up a call or email the school’s admissions office to discuss your child’s learning needs. Currey Ingram Academy recommends that every family tour the campus to enhance understanding of Currey Ingram’s curriculum and see the classrooms in-person. On-campus tours are scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please contact the Admissions Office to schedule a private tour.
The Admissions Office will review your child’s evaluation and help guide you through the next steps in the admission process. Documents such as an IEP, 504 Plan, speech-language evaluation, and/or occupational therapy evaluation may be requested. The Admissions Office will then provide you with login credentials to begin the online application process.
Currey Ingram Academy is a private school in Brentwood that supports and empowers students with learning differences to achieve their fullest potential – academically and socially – within an environment that fosters holistic student development. Get in touch by calling (615) 507-3173.