Franklin Center

Programs: Please see the full description on schedule o. Our program is unique in its ability to meet the needs of high-functioning students with an autism spectrum disorder (asd) or intellectual disability (id), offering a robust academic and social curriculum that encourages the development of life skills essential in becoming self-sufficient adults. We know that the underlying needs of students with asd and id need to be met before learning can take place. Our students grow and learn in a nurturing, positive, encouraging environment that enhances their self-esteem. The academy of whole learning is a place where active minds are challenged by using a blended learning approach. Blended learning incorporates direct instruction in small groups of 2-3 students combined with computer-mediated activities. This allows the teachers to collect progress data, get immediate feedback, and customize instruction and assessment while giving the student control over time, place, path, and pace. Along with using a blended learning approach, we use vertical integration (multi-ages grouped by learning level), allowing students to move at a flexible pace using various learning pathways to mastery. Students experience success because they are taught at their actual achievement levels to ensure mastery before introducing new concepts. Our faculty and staff believe that all students have learning potential and do well if they can, which the school must identify, stimulate, and nurture. All children want to learn and do well. Our responsibility as educators is to discover how to motivate each student. We develop a plan that fosters curiosity and love of learning that best meets his or her individual educational needs. We use a variety of testing procedures in order to evaluate progress and guide instruction, including norm-referenced testing, criterion-reference testing, and performance-based assessments. We use the most up-to-date testing materials and take a great deal of care to examine and consider test results. Testing data helps us determine a student's areas of strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to make the best possible decisions when planning the student's placement and curriculum. At the completion of the 2013-2014 school year, 33 students were enrolled.