The Learning Center

List of 8 items.

• Low Student-to-Staff Ratio

  Our ratio, approximately 3 to 1, is in place to ensure that each student is engaged as an individual. This enables our staff to identify and implement meaningful, inclusive opportunities, to customize schedules, and to provide the best learning strategies for each student.

• Individual Assessment

  Constantly assessing each student as an individual is key to creating optimal learning experiences—both inside and outside the classroom. Our staff is able and eager to customize community involvement and to implement job training opportunities that are specific to each student’s interests, as well as abilities. This individual attention gives students the confidence and tools they need to become engaged in their communities both while they are with us and—more importantly—once they have graduated.
  
  

  The Learning Center seeks to provide the maximum impact in academic, therapeutic, post-secondary, and independent living domains of growth. This looks different for every student, and we are committed to helping every student grow.

• Academics

  Using the best curricula for educating students with a range of learning abilities, we expect many students to continue to follow a standard sequence of academic instruction for middle and high school with modifications when necessary. Students also focus on the more functional aspects of learning such as using money, calculating the time needed to complete tasks, designing a budget, and reading for work and daily life.

  
  Some students take standard middle and high school courses, while other students follow an alternate curriculum across academic disciplines. Planning with multidisciplinary teams with significant input from the student and the family allows us to create tailored academic programs that are specific to each student’s needs.

• Therapy

  Therapy services that assist with the integration of school, life, and vocation skills are a vital part of the student’s day. Occupational, speech-language, and physical therapy strategies are provided as direct services and integrated into daily learning across activities.

  
  Students can access the right amount of therapy in the right settings according to areas of need for targeted development. Having the flexibility and the resources to integrate therapy services based on each student’s needs allows the focus to be on individual growth. This approach is preferred over a one-size-fits-all approach offered a limited number of times per week.

• Post-Secondary Opportunities

  What happens after graduation is a daunting subject for all high school students. Our staff works with students to determine high areas of interest and high levels of skill potential in order to begin planning toward post-secondary work, training, or school placements. Our general education students are invited to participate in post-secondary planning programs alongside The Learning Center students.

  
  Some of our unique business partnerships within the community allow us to look at vocational possibilities for students in order to train for jobs that focus on the strengths and interests of each individual. We offer the Alternate Academic Diploma based on Tennessee standards for students who are able to meet the criteria and who plan to continue with a post-secondary educational placement like a college or university.

• Independent Living Skills

  Creating a budget, planning a grocery list, caring for a living space, setting an alarm, and accessing transportation are some of the skills we teach to support independent living. These skills are explicitly taught in the classroom and involve regular practice out in the community. For instance, some students take sections of the Personal Finance course, then visit banks to practice the skills taught in class in real-life settings. Practicing all that is involved with having a bank account, grocery shopping, meal planning, budgeting, and components of housekeeping such as safety, laundry, food storage, etc. are explicitly taught, then generalized across real-world environments.

• Safe and Sound

  Safety and good care are fundamental priorities for our students. Parents often worry about what is happening at school and want to ensure safety as a top priority. For students with limited verbal ability, families should have frequent communication from teachers and other school staff.

• Come By and Come Often

  Parents and families are always welcome to come visit The Learning Center. We know this is a way to provide communication and information for students who may be challenged to provide this information on their own. Communication and input from everyone who knows the student is a necessary approach in Exceptional Education school environments. Outside therapy providers are also welcome to come visit their clients at The Learning Center and to share their knowledge of the student in order to assist our staff. Our goal is to provide the best possible support and care for the growth of the students.