GERMANTOWN ACADEMY APPROVED LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS
February 2012
In the spirit of one school, all three divisions offer the following standard learning provisions that may be implemented for all students:
· Break material into chunks
· Provide reminders to students about due dates
· Provide study guides/practice questions/extra help as needed (via Bb in US)
· Allow computer keyboarding for written work (with disabled internet, spellcheck, and grammarcheck in MS and US)
· Present directions/information in multisensory format
· Invite collaboration with families/therapists/tutors
· Provide preferential seating
· Provide extra help as needed on occasion (students should come prepared)
Due to the developmental needs of students at different ages, the following division-specific standard learning provisions may also be offered:
Lower School:
· Assistance with organizational and study skills
· Student-prepared notes and/or outlines to follow in class
· Support services in reading and/or math in small groups delivered by GA teachers
· Support services in reading and/or math in small groups delivered by Montgomery County Intermediate Unit teachers
Middle School:
· Assistance with organizational and study skills
· Student-prepared notes and/or outlines to follow in class
Upper School:
· Assistance with organizational and study skills
· Encouragement to use writing center and science center
· Encouragement to use peer tutors
In response to psycho-educational testing recommendations, all three divisions may offer the following GA-endorsed accommodations following the divisional Psychologist’s review of the testing report:
· 50% extra time on in-class tests/essays/quizzes/exams when possible (Note: this does not include standardized testing unless authorized by the College Board or ACT)
· Encouragement to use audio books
· Sensitivity to spelling difficulty for in-class writing
· Preview of class materials via syllabi, Blackboard, class outlines for all students
Due to the developmental needs of students at different ages, the following division-specific accommodations may be offered in response to testing recommendations and the divisional Psychologist’s review of the testing report:
Lower School:
· Flexibility regarding curricular demands, on a grade-by-grade and an assignment-by-assignment basis, with the expectation that materials and/or approach may be altered while still meeting the curricular obligations of the student's grade level.
Middle School:
· Reduced course load for those students entering Middle School whose best interest is served by taking 4 major courses rather than 5.
· Participation in Academic Transitions class.
Upper School:
· Participation in Academic Enrichment program.
The following psycho-educational testing recommendations are not accommodated at Germantown Academy:
· Sharing of teacher lecture notes
· Changing the curriculum
o (In Lower School, there may be flexibility regarding curricular demands, on a grade-by-grade and an assignment-by-assignment basis, with the expectation that materials and/or approach may be altered while still meeting the curricular obligations of the student's grade level.)
· Offering outlines for class, if not already provided to all students
· Offering frequent extra help sessions (excessive need for extra help leads to a recommendation for tutoring)
· Audio/videotaping classes
· Exemption from foreign language study in Upper School
Note: All psycho-educational evaluations are housed in divisional Psychologists locked file cabinets.