Special Education
“Each person is created in God’s image, yet there are variations in individual abilities. Positive recognition of these differences discourages discrimination and enhances the unity of the Body of Christ.” -Welcome and Justice for Persons with Disabilities, United States Catholic Bishops
If your child is a gifted learner, speaks English as a second language, or has a specific learning need that requires additional support, The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Catholic schools provide a welcoming home.
Our schools serve children with many special learning needs including but not limited to, individuals with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, emotional disabilities, and mild vision and hearing impairments as well as students who are gifted learners and those for whom English is a second language. Within our schools, we bring together staff members with a variety of talents and perspectives to problem-solve in order to best meet your child’s needs.
Each school within the Archdiocese offers different resources and support, and admittance criteria may vary. We encourage you to contact individual schools to start your search, learn what each school can offer, and engage in open conversation with prospective school administrators.
Elementary Schools
For children with special learning needs in our elementary schools, we offer:
- A community of support: We know it takes a whole group of people, including parents, classroom teachers, administrators, counselors and special education teachers, to support a child with special learning needs. Our Student Assistance Teams work together on both short-term solutions and long-term strategies designed specifically to help your child succeed, and work with teachers to implement their ideas.
- A strategy for success: We develop a customized plan for your child that includes any accommodations he or she may need to access the curriculum and/or curricular modifications that may be needed and establishes your child’s individual academic and/or behavioral goals. That way, you’ll know what you can expect for your child, and how we’ll get there.
Our universally designed classrooms are conducive to multiple learning preferences. Resource teachers support students in class as co-teachers and during small-group activities, where they provide intensive instruction focused on your child’s specific needs.
High Schools
Many of the high schools in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Catholic schools accept students with special learning needs. Just as each high school has its own personality and culture, each school also has its own approach to supporting students with special needs. We invite you to discover the benefits each school has to offer, and to explore the opportunity each school presents for your child. LEARN MORE>