The Learning Center
Brainerd Baptist School provides a high-quality comprehensive academic program in a loving, Christian environment to develop children into positive, contributing influences in the community and the world. The Learning Center at BBS supports this mission by providing individualized academic services to students who have more significant needs. The goal is to give these students equal access to the learning environment, not to provide an advantage over other students or change the content of instruction. Qualifying students who come to the Learning Center will find a safe, quiet space with Academic Counselors who will help them achieve their goals using tools and strategies that work best with their unique strengths and abilities.
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When a student’s teacher and parents have identified a need, they may be referred for outside academic testing. The following resource can be used to better understand the tiers of support offered to students. The results of these assessments help guide the types of interventions and accommodations that students will receive in the classroom and also the Learning Center. Interventions may include speech or occupational therapy, a specialized reading program, or math remediation groups. The following are some examples of accommodations students may receive. Learning disabilities are unique to the individual and accommodations for a specific student must be tailored to them.
Extended time on assignments or tests (usually time and a half).
Taking tests in a room with fewer distractions.
Having a reader, scribe, or speech-to-text support.
The option to take an oral exam.
Using a calculator or multiplication chart.
Using graphic organizers or skeleton notes.
Working directly with an Academic Counselor.
Receiving in-class support from an Academic Counselor.
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The following organizations work in partnership with our Learning Center:
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NeuroBridge
NeuroBridge provides therapy services at the school and works closely with teachers, parents and administrators for a team approach. Complete academic evaluations available.
Services | OT, SLP, Clinical Psychologist
Contact | Margaret Hopping OTR/L, Co-Founder
mhopping@neurobridgellc.com
423-380-9087
SLR Center
5819 Winding Lane #101, Hixson
Provides therapy for speech, language, and reading, and complete academic evaluations.
Contact | Rebecca Iwanczyk
office@chattanoogaspeech.com
423-877-5042
True North
Provides complete academic evaluation, can include classroom observations.
Contact | April Nessin, Clinical Psychologist
april@truenorthts.com
423-271-9878
A complete academic evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of a student’s abilities and skill levels. It gives parents and teachers a thorough picture of how a student performs in an academic setting. The goal of this type of testing is to provide parents, teachers, and other service providers with a clear picture of a child’s unique strengths and needs in order to provide the best possible education. Among other things, these tests can help identify a student’s attention, auditory and visual processing, executive functioning, fluid reasoning, phonological awareness and other reading processes, language skills like written expression and spelling, short term memory and long term retrieval. This article provides a clear description of the what's and why’s of an academic evaluation.
An Evaluation Includes
An extensive written report with a summary and interpretation of each assessment.
A detailed diagnosis of the condition.
Detail of individual strengths and weaknesses.
Specific individualized recommendations designed to meet the student’s needs.
A conference is held with the family and/or student to explain the results, conclusions, and prescriptive instructional recommendations for the home, school, or possible tutor with referrals to other appropriate professionals. A differential diagnosis is dependent upon a variety of criteria. Regardless of whether or not the participant is diagnosed with a particular pattern, the resulting data and report are critical for future instructional planning.
Why pursue an educational evaluation?
Assessment is the process by which educational decisions are made. Parents and schools request testing for a wide variety of reasons including:
Screening and identification.
Diagnosis and potential eligibility for special programs.
Determination of appropriate accommodations and modifications.
Instructional planning.
Development and placement of Individualized Educational Program (IEP).
Reevaluation to measure progress.
Selection of best education option.
Support of application to private school.
Determination of appropriate grade placement for young students.
Basic aptitude testing for college-bound students.
Post-secondary educational planning.
Expected Outcomes of Testing
The client is provided with a detailed written report which includes the following information:
Present level of performance (baseline data).
Deeper understanding of how the student learns.
Diagnosis/description of a condition.
Design of appropriate educational program/placement.
Appropriate research-based recommendations for intervention.
Referrals to other specialists and related agencies.
Specialized program for home, school, and tutor/academic therapist.
Specific accommodations to provide the student with equal access to educational opportunities.
Extensive detailed report with specific Individualized Educational Program (IEP) development to share with other professionals.
Clear interpretation of findings.
Private and Public Evaluations
Students are entitled to evaluations at no charge when the tests are administered by the school district in which they live. However, school evaluations tend to be designed and completed in order to determine if a student qualifies for a particular program.
Private evaluations tend to be much more extensive and complex. Therefore, private evaluations often provide much more necessary information for making specific instructional recommendations. The private evaluator often has greater access to a variety of tests rather than being limited to those selected by the school.
The private evaluator can make recommendations that are the most appropriate for that student rather than those the school has available. Furthermore, the private evaluator can gain information that will allow for a description of a condition that may or may not be defined as a disability or determine eligibility for services. Detailing the nature of the disability is nonetheless important in making instructional decisions.
Private evaluations should include in-depth analyses of a student’s achievement, ability to process information, learning styles, and strengths and weaknesses and how to use this data to improve the student’s academic performance.