ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL ROAD MAP
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As hard as we try, some parents have to face an agonizing decision to find an alternative school or education program that better suits their child's needs. When choosing another school, parents have to consider their child's educational ability but more importantly the training and experience of the teachers/learning coach.
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Private Schools
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When looking into a traditional private school,please keep in mind that the disability laws do not apply to private schools or traditional homeschooling for neuro-typical children. That means they aren't required to offer 504 Plans or IEPs. They don't have to offer additional supports like OT, Speech, etc. The following schools are recommended by other local parents but you know your child/grandchild best to pick the best option from the different choices.
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Capstone Academy K-12
Capstone Academy provides effective education services to individuals with Autism through Applied Behavior Analysis and a multi-disciplinary collaboration. Capstone Academy help individuals reach their maximum potential in all areas, including academic achievement and community and family participation. In addition, Capstone Academy contributes to the field of Autism and education by conducting research and partnering with universities and local hospitals to educate future professionals.
Where: 351 E. Johnson Highway, East Norriston, Pennsylvania 19401
Call:484-704-2470
Website: http://www.capstoneacademyedu.org/about.html
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Centennial
Mission:To educate children and youth with challenging behaviors and prepare high quality special education teachers.
Ages: 6-12
Where: Centennial School of Lehigh University, 2196 Avenue C, LVIP
Website: https://centennial.lehigh.edu/
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The Hillside School
Services: The Hillside School is a place for children with average to above-average intelligence who require a different approach to learning due to dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD/ADHD or other difficulties with language organization and memory. Students may apply any time of the year. Bus transportation is available to students whose home school district's closest boundary is no farther than 10 miles from The Hillside School. If your school district provides transportation, parents must complete an ACT 372 form which is available from the school office. Parents also transport that child to and from school and organize car pools.
Where: 2697 Brookside Road, Macungie, PA 18062
Call: 610-967-3701
2017-2018 Tuition: $24,500 financial aid, scholarships, tuition payment plans, educational loans, medical deduction/flexible spending accounts, and grants are available. See website for more information.
Website: http://hillsideschool.org/
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Sacred Heart
Mission: Sacred Heart School is dedicated to the philosophy that Catholic education must have firm rooting in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ for the Christian spiritual, intellectual, moral, emotional, social and physical development of the child. Intellectual development proceeds in the primary grades through the logic of concrete operations and in intermediate grades by gradual introduction of the logic of symbolic operations. Students learn to think abstractly and to make intelligent decisions in response to concrete and abstract problem solving by developing critical thinking skills.
Where: 115 Washington St, Bath, PA 18014
Call: 610-837-6391
Tuition: Please see website for complete breakdown of costs
Website: https://www.sacred-heart-school.com/
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School at Kirkridge K-12th grade
Where: 2495 Fox Gap Rd, Bangor, PA 18013
Call: (610) 588-1793
Website: http://www.kirkridge.org/
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Mercy Special Learning Center
Services: Mercy Special Learning Center is a Catholic school operated by the Diocese of Allentown that is dedicated to providing education for children with special needs. Preschool (3-5 years), School Age (5-21 years) and TLC Program (21+).
Cost: Tuition is $4,200 per student; TLC program pricing is based on county rates, inquire about preschool pricing
Where: 830 South Woodward Street, Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: 610-797-8242
Website: http://mercyschool.org/
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St John Vianney Regional School
Mission: A welcoming Catholic community dedicated to highest levels of academic achievement and spiritual well-being for students from Preschool, Kindergarten, and elementary school through 8th Grade.
Where: 210 North 18th Street, Allentown, PA, 18104
Call: (610) 435-8981
Website: http://www.stjohnvianneyschool.org/
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Saint Michael the Archangel School (private school)
Where: 4121 Old Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem, PA 18015
Elementary School Campus: 5040 Saint Joseph Road, Coopersburg, PA 18036
Call: (610) 965-4441
Middle School Campus: 4121 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Call: (610) 867-8422
Website: http://www.st-mikes.com/
Cyber School Options (FREE)-Required to do IEP's
Autism Home School Success is a Facebook page where parents can post questions and learn from other parents who home school their children diagnosed with ASD.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1788951754679889/?hc_location=group
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Agora Cyber Charter School-Based on Traditional School Model
At Agora, we provide students with the opportunity to engage in a personalized, innovative, intensive academic preparation that inspires and educates them to achieve their high level of academic knowledge and skill. We do this through a focused and intentional instruction model that is built around six key areas. From the foundational level of establishing and organizing the school, to a high level of school excellence and continuous improvement, Agora students play an active role in their learning success.
Where: 590 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Call: 844-40-AGORA
Website: https://agora.org/
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Commonwealth Connections Academy (CCA)-More Flexible Model
At Reach Cyber, students receive a great public online education at no charge. There are no materials fees and no tuition charges. The Reach Cyber Charter School curriculum offers a robust selection of core courses, including AP® and Honors courses, that are designed to help students gain the knowledge and thinking skills they’ll need for life, work, and higher education. Our cyber school classes meet and exceed all national and state standards while also integrating the best texts, materials, and resources available to create a curriculum that keeps students engaged in new and creative ways.
Website: https://www.connectionsacademy.com/
PA Website: https://www.connectionsacademy.com/reach-cyber-school/about
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The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School
Serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) is one of the largest, most experienced, and most successful online public schools in the nation. PA Cyber’s online learning environments, personalized instructional methods, and choices of curricula connect Pennsylvania students and their families with state-certified and highly-qualified teachers, and rich academic content that is aligned to state standards. Founded in 2000, PA Cyber is headquartered in Midland (Beaver County) and maintains a network of support offices throughout the state. As a public school, PA Cyber is open for enrollment by any school-age child residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and does not charge tuition to students or families.
Where: 652 Midland Avenue, Midland, PA 15059
Call: 1-888-722-9237
Website: http://www.pacyber.org/
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PA Leadership Cyber School (PALCS)
Where: 1332 Enterprise Dr, West Chester, PA 19380
Call: (610) 701-3333
Website: https://www.palcs.org/
