Academic Support

St. Xavier High School is a provider for the Ohio Department of Education’s Jon Peterson and AutismScholarship Programs. Our Catholic school offers an inclusive general education environment designed to meet your child’s needs. Students needing special education services in 9th through 12th grade receive intervention, accommodations, and direct instruction in the regular education classroom. Intervention specialists, in collaboration with the regular education teachers, provide direct instruction as specified on a student’s IEP. With a combination of the scholarships, tuition, federal and state funds, we are able to provide intervention services and speech and language therapy services to those students who qualify.

Our goal is to fully include each student in the general education program to the maximum extent possible. At St. Xavier, we foster independence and life-long learning. We want to ensure a well-rounded education that promotes academics as well as spiritual, physical and social development.

Please note: St. Xavier cannot serve every student who has special needs. Applying students will be reviewed by a screening committee of educational professionals to ensure the student will be successful at St. Xavier High School. Students are expected to meet the same requirements as their peers for entrance to St. Xavier High School. We do not modify curriculum.

St. Xavier High School recognizes that some student experience academic difficulties due to a learning disorders, attention issues, or other learning challenges. In some cases, students may require an Accommodation Plan and/or support from a specialist. Accommodations that can be implemented within the regular classroom environment (e.g. extended time on classroom tests/quizzes/exams, preferential seating, physical needs assistance) will be considered.

St. Xavier has created the Intervention Assistant Team (IAT) to examine such cases. As part of the process, the IAT evaluates all current documents (e.g., Evaluation Team Report, IEP, ISP, psychological evaluation) and develops an Accommodation Plan. The Plan provides the students with reasonable academic and behavioral accommodations.

In effort to facilitate the process, St. Xavier requests all relevant documentation about your son be sent to St. Xavier High School. Documentation should includeboth of the following:

1. The 8th grade Accommodation Plan and/or the 8th grade ISP or IEP
2. A current Evaluation should include:
   • Identification of the specific disability (according to the DSM-V).
   • A current evaluation (completed within the last three years & include both IQ testing and Achievement Testing).
   • Description of presenting problem(s) and developmental history, including relevant education and medical history.
   • Description of the comprehensive testing, and, as appropriate, complete ocular, audiologic, or other diagnostic exam.
   • Description of the substantial limitations (e.g. adverse effects on learning, academic achievement, or other major life activities) resulting from the impairment, as supported by test results.
   • Description of the specific recommended accommodations and provides rational explaining how these specific accommodations address the substantial limitations.
   • Establishes the professional credentials of the evaluator(s), including information about licensure or certification, education and area of specialization, along with their signature(s).

All teachers and staff have a child-centered approach. All staff members are made aware of the needs of students from the classroom, to the cafeteria, to free bells. St. Xavier, with its full inclusion program, has many teachers who are licensed in different areas.

Our team works collaboratively. Together, teachers can modify the learning environment to accommodate sensory needs. They establish behavior and self-control strategies that help reduce or increase certain behaviors. Teachers work to integrate social skills into the daily routine and curriculum.

The Scholarship Coordinator coordinates the development of the IEP each year withthe local school district, parents and St. Xavier educators. The Scholarship Coordinator handles scholarship paperwork and serves as a resource for parents. The Scholarship Coordinator also maintains compliance with the district of residence. She works with the IEP team to ensure that annual reviews are conducted on time and may represent the Finneytown Local School District at annual review meetings.

The special education staff at St. Xavier High School supports the students and general educators with a variety of services.

Our staff and intervention specialists are highly trained in meeting the needs of students’ special education needs. We consult with you to make the most beneficial changes that will produce maximum results in learning. Accommodations are strategies to enable the student to participate in the regular education classroom as independently as possible. Accommodations do not change the breadth and objectives for learning, merely how the student will take in the information or the response.

The following is a partial list of possible accommodations:

• extended time (50% extra) on classroom tests, quizzes, and exams.
• four function calculator
• breaks as needed for medical reasons
• audio books
• tests read outloud
• use of technology for written assignments
• preferential seating

Intervention Specialists

Intervention specialist(s) work with all students in grades 9-12. We have developed an Educational Support Program(ESP) through which we support your son’s needs. Services may be provided in the general classroom or in a resource room outside of the classroom. This typically addresses the need for a quiet environment for your son to study.

Speech and Language

Our licensed and highly trained speech/language pathologist(s) provide therapy in the classroom both in small groups and individually. Research-based therapy techniques are used and data is collected to monitor student progress. Areas addressed in therapy includethose goals outlined on your son’s IEP. The speech/language pathologist will work collaboratively with all teachers and parents to develop and implement strategies that will benefit the student.

School Psychologist

The school psychologist provides mental health services that address needs at school to help students succeed academically, emotionally, and socially. They are specially trained to link mental health to learning and behavior.

St. Xavier High School is a provider of services for both the Jon Peterson and AutismScholarship Programs which is offered by the state of Ohio. All special education students who have been offered an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) by their local school district may apply for a Peterson or AutismScholarship and use those funds to pay for services at the provider of their choice.

It is the policy of St. Xavier that students participating in these scholarships allocate the amount of money charged for services to St. Xavier High School in order to cover the cost of services. In the event that the cost of services exceeds the amount of the scholarship, St. Xavier High School will make every effort to secure supplementary funds to cover the balance. Scholarship amounts are determined by the special education identification of the student as determined by the most recent ETR (Evaluation Team Report). Parents are responsible for costs of services not identified in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

The total for special education students will be the general tuition, plus the Inclusive Classroom Environment Fee plus hourly billing for the cost of special education services. Jon Peterson andAutismmoney does not pay down the tuition. There is financial aid available through St. Xavier to help families with the cost of tuition.

If you have specific questions, please contact Dr. Charlene Ponti (School Psychologist) at cponti.stxavier.org or 513.761.7815 x592 or Mrs. Michelle Yauss (Intervention Specialist) at myauss@stxavier.org or 513.761.7815 x309.

Questions regarding the Peterson procedures, should be directed to the Ohio Department of Education peterson.scholarship@ode.state.oh.us.

Questions regarding the Autism Scholarship Program should be directed to the Ohio Department of Education 614.466.2650, or emailed to autismscholarship@ode.state.oh.us.