| For the 2007-2008 school year, 20 students from 13 schools are enrolled at The HillSprings Learning Center for the morning and are mainstreamed for the remainder of the day in local public or private schools. This dual enrollment affords students the opportunity to receive necessary remediation in a special school setting, but not at the expense of normal social interactions. Students may choose to participate in sports or clubs at their regular school. The academic program at The HillSprings Learning Center is designed to provide individualized instruction to students in kindergarten through eighth grade who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder or specific learning disabilities. HillSprings uses multisensory instruction in a highly structured environment to present a curriculum based on individual objectives. Students are placed in small classes of no greater than four students per teacher and attend 3 classes daily which focus on reading, written language and mathematics.
Enrollment in HillSprings is generally short-term. In most instances, remediation is accomplished in two to three years and students are able to return to their regular schools on a full-time basis. Along with academic remediation, emphasis is also placed on teaching compensatory strategies through a study skills curriculum which is an integral part of each class.
The HillSprings Learning Center's academic program strives to assist each individual in realizing his or her potential by developing strengths, remediating weaknesses and experiencing success. The relationship between the teacher and student encourages participation and a willingness to attempt challenging skills. The positive, success-oriented nature of the program facilitates learning, as well as improvement of self-esteem and enhancement of motivation. Close communication with the student's regular school helps to ensure optimum sucess for the student in both environments. Progress is reported throughout the school year in the form of progress reports, grades performance on pre- and post- standardized instruments, and mastery of instructional objectives. Parent conferences are scheduled at least three times during the school year and may occur more frequently upon request.
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