2020-21 Academic Bulletin fall

Solebury teachers have a great deal of freedom in designing their courses and establishing classroom
policies. Some teachers, for example, routinely allow extra time for tests, others only by special
arrangement. Some teachers often give open-book tests; others never do. Although many non-LSP
teachers are experienced at tailoring lessons to individual learning styles, not all non-LSP teachers have
this expertise. Therefore, when accommodations are needed, the Learning Skills (LS) teacher is the
primary advocate on campus. The LS teacher will make arrangements with the student’s other teachers to
ensure the student has the maximum chance of acquiring the skills and knowledge taught in those classes.
Accommodations will vary on a case-by-case basis, and all accommodations need to be arranged in
advance. Although LS teachers act as advocates, a key goal of the LSP is to teach students to advocate
for themselves, as they will need to do in college. Other students with diagnosed learning differences, or
their parents, may request that the Director of the LSP serve as the student’s advocate. Below is a list of
the sorts of accommodations that can be requested and will be considered, if appropriate for the individual
and if arranged in advance.
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT MAY BE GRANTED BY ARRANGEMENT
Textbooks on tape
Extended (but not unlimited) time for tests
Permission to copy another student’s class notes or, if available, the teacher’s notes
Note-taking accommodation to use technology (SmartPen, Sonocent)
Permission to use a laptop computer or other electronic aid in class
Use of a word processor for tests and quizzes
Test directions (or whole tests) read aloud
Permission to take tests in a more distraction-free environment
Homework assignment book checks
Frequent reminders of deadlines
Extra advance notice of written assignments
Reasonable extensions of deadlines if requested in advance
Preferential classroom seating
Conferences with teachers as appropriate
Regular telephone or e-mail reports to parents by advisors and/or LS teachers
Duplicate texts (available for purchase in the bookstore)
However, it is important to let families know that some accommodations will not be possible, either
because we are such a small school or because we feel they could not be implemented without
compromising standards. Below is a partial list:
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT CANNOT BE GRANTED
Texts of a reading-level or difficulty lower than those used by the class
Shorter assignments than those for other students in the class
Versions in writing of classroom activities
Adaptive testing that avoids course requirements or skills taught in the course
Use of electronic aids when test security would be compromised
(e.g., spell checker in spelling test)
Grades based primarily on effort or improvement rather than achievement
Exemption from major course requirements, including homework and class attendance
Formal written reports to parents beyond those provided for all students
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