Student Support

• Mild to moderate learning differences:  A learning difference is defined as a learning condition that makes it particularly difficult for a student to complete his work or adequately demonstrate learning.  Common learning differences among students at Ben Lippen include ADHD, Dyslexia, and other mild to moderate Specific Learning Disabilities in reading, writing, and/or math.
• Mild to moderate emotional challenges:  An emotional challenge is defined as a condition that affects the student’s ability to function well emotionally under normal circumstances at school or in schoolwork. Examples of emotional challenges for students may be anxiety or depression.  With a medical/psychiatric report, temporary accommodations may be offered for some emotional challenges; however, a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation and report will be required to maintain accommodations past 90 days.
• Mild to moderate medical conditions:  A medical condition is defined as a physical ailment that makes it difficult for a student to accurately demonstrate learning at school.  Medical conditions among Ben Lippen students may include concussions, seizures, surgeries that require prolonged absence, diabetes, and some chronic illnesses.

The Individual Learning Center services the unique needs of learners in a variety of ways.  Qualification requirements for specific Individual Learning Center services vary by level of support.

• Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
  • Students in kindergarten-12th grade who have been diagnosed with a learning difference and demonstrate a need in the classroom may be eligible for classroom accommodations through an Individual Learning Plan.  
• Resource periods for middle school students
  • An ILC instructor provides support in a quiet, structured environment to students in grades 5-8; support with the following
    • study skills
    • executive functioning 
    • test/project preparation
  • Available for middle school students who have been found eligible for an ILP and who need more support from the ILC staff to make academic progress

• Resource blocks for high school students
  • An ILC instructor provides support in a quiet, structured environment to students in grades 9-12; support with the following:
    • study skills
    • executive functioning
    • test/project preparation
  • Available for high school students who have been found eligible for an ILP and who need more support from the ILC staff to make academic progress
  • High school students earn ½ credit per semester for participating in a resource block

• Additional support from Academic Specialists
  • Small group intervention (1:5) targeted at building specific skills for students who fall below benchmarks
  • Available to lower, middle, and high school students who need additional academic support but may not have been diagnosed with a specific learning need

• Speech therapy services
  • Available to students who have difficulty articulating specific speech sounds and those who have difficulty with language processing
  • Speech therapy services at Ben Lippen are delivered either through Prisma (payment arrangements are between Prisma and the parent) or the local public school system

• Occupational therapy services
  • Available to students who need additional support with fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, and sensory processing
  • Occupational therapy services at Ben Lippen are delivered through Prisma (payment arrangements are between Prisma and the parent)

Students in kindergarten-12th grade who have been diagnosed with a learning difference and demonstrate a need in the classroom may be eligible for classroom accommodations through an Individual Learning Plan.  

• To be considered eligible for an Individual Learning Plan, students must have a current psychoeducational evaluation indicating the presence of a diagnosis that contributes to a learning difference that would impact students in the school environment.  The evaluation must be completed with a licensed psychologist at the Ph.D. level or a public school district school psychologist.  The acceptance of any evaluation report completed by an evaluator outside of these parameters will be up to the discretion of the Ben Lippen Individual Learning Center.
• The psychoeducational evaluation should minimally include the following components:
  • Measure of cognitive ability
  • Measure of academic achievement
  • Measure of phonological processing
  • Measure of behavior and/or executive functioning
• Comprehensive evaluations must be updated every three years to determine continued eligibility for an ILP.

Resource periods – Middle School

• $2500/Year
• $1250/Semester 

Resource blocks – High School

• $3000/Year
• $1500/Semester 

Speech therapy – payment arrangements are between Prisma and the family

Occupational therapy– payment arrangements are between Prisma and the family

Accommodations are delivered through an Individual Learning Plan. 

For additional information about how to qualify for an Individual Learning Plan, refer to “Student eligibility for an Individual Learning Center” above.

All student ILP’s (Individual Learning Plans) are reviewed annually. Changes may be made depending on a student’s current needs as well as changing academic expectations from one grade level to the next. Parents, teachers, and ILC staff will meet annually for the review.

While a student’s diagnosis may not change within 3 years, updated psychoeducational testing helps the Individual Learning Center to track student progress and determine in what areas they need support as they grow and make progress toward academic independence.  

Yes.

Resource periods – Middle School

• $2500/Year
• $1250/Semester 

Resource blocks – High School

• $3000/Year
• $1500/Semester 

Speech therapy – payment arrangements are between Prisma and the family

Occupational therapy– payment arrangements are between Prisma and the family

No. Ben Lippen recognizes that sometimes extra time is needed to learn and use a new skill. Students who need targeted support with a specific skill may work in a small group with an Academic Specialist. The focus of small-group support is to teach and solidify skills so that students can increase their success and independence in the classroom setting.

Student growth is monitored closely by the Academic Specialist and the Individual Learning Center may schedule a meeting with parents, the classroom teacher, and the Academic Specialist to discuss what next steps should be considered to help maximize student progress.

Yes. Students who have been diagnosed with a disability are not required to have an Individual Learning Plan.  Ben Lippen School strives to support individual learning needs. As students gain skills and become increasingly independent in academics, they may not require additional support. The Individual Learning Center works closely with parents, teachers, and students to monitor student progress and determine what level of support is needed for individual student needs.

Students in Kindergarten through 4th who have received a formal diagnosis of dyslexia can be provided small group sessions two or five times a week. This service will be provided at Monticello Rd. and St. Andrews Rd. campuses.

To be eligible for the program, students must be in K-4th grade and have completed a psychoeducational evaluation by a licensed psychologist at the Ph.D. level or a public school district school psychologist and must demonstrate a need in the classroom. The acceptance of any evaluation report completed by an evaluator outside of these parameters will be up to the discretion of The Ridge admissions team. 

The psychoeducational evaluation should minimally include the following components:

• Measure of cognitive ability
• Measure of academic achievement
• Measure of phonological processing
• Measure of behavior and/or executive functioning

The Ben Lippen Ridge admissions team will review the evaluation report to determine a student’s suitability for the program.

Two Orton-Gillingham Hour-Long Sessions-Weekly (1-3 students per group)

• $750/quarter
• $3,000/year

Five Orton-Gillingham Hour-Long Sessions-Weekly (1-3 students per group)

• $1500/quarter
• $6,000/year

Service Fees will include:

• Specialized instruction
• Consultation with student’s teachers
• Ongoing progress monitoring
• Weekly/Quarterly updates
• Ongoing communication
• Executive functioning support

The Orton-Gillingham approach was created by Dr. Samuel Torrey Orton, Anna Gillingham, and Bessie Stillman to remediate the language processing challenges associated with dyslexia.

For further information about the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators visit www.ortonacademy.org 

The websites below provide helpful information regarding dyslexia and support their child’s learning needs. 

www.ortonacademy.org

This site gives you a variety of resources for parents as well as information on academy standards for training.

www.dyslexiasc.org

This site will offer training and screening to aid in referrals to those seeking more information about your child and being diagnosed with dyslexia. 

dyslexiaida.org

This site offers resources to parents of children with dyslexia.

https://www.understood.org

This site offers helpful resources, webinars, practical tips, and more.