Student Support Program

Supporting students is about more than helping them succeed academically—it is about helping them develop the skills, confidence, and self-awareness they need to thrive both in school and beyond.

 

At our school, we view student support as a developmental process that evolves alongside each child. From kindergarten through twelfth grade, our goal is to provide students with the tools and strategies they need to become increasingly independent learners. While the specific supports may change over time, our commitment remains the same: to help every student access their education, understand their strengths, navigate challenges, and experience success.

 

As a K–12 institution, we believe learning is a gradual journey toward independence. In the early years, educators and families play a highly active role in guiding students' academic, social, and organizational growth. As students mature, they are encouraged to take greater ownership of their learning, develop effective problem-solving skills, advocate for their needs, and become active participants in their educational experience. By graduation, our aim is for students to leave with not only strong academic skills, but also the confidence and self-knowledge necessary to navigate future challenges.

 

Families are essential partners throughout this process. We believe that the strongest outcomes occur when students, families, and educators work together to support growth, celebrate progress, and address challenges collaboratively. While the nature of that partnership may evolve as students grow older, the importance of communication, trust, and shared goals remains constant.

 

This guidebook is designed to provide an overview of the student support services available across our K–12 program. It outlines our philosophy, explains available supports, and serves as a resource for families seeking to better understand how we work together to help students succeed.

 

Above all, our goal is to cultivate capable, confident learners who understand their strengths, can advocate for themselves, and are prepared to engage meaningfully with the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Eligibility for our Student Support Program is based on a student’s documented learning or developmental needs. To receive support, a student must have a diagnosis under the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) that impacts their ability to access and succeed in the general education curriculum. This ensures that services are provided to students who demonstrate a clear need for targeted academic and functional support.

 

For specialized programs within our school, specific criteria apply. Students wishing to enroll in the SPARK Program must have a formal Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 (ASD 1) diagnosis, which aligns with the program’s focus on supporting neurodiverse learners with ASD.

 

Families are asked to provide current medical, psychological, or psychoeducational documentation. This allows the Student Support team to make informed decisions and create a meaningful, individualized plan to help each student thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

 

 

What’s a New Roads Learning Plan?

 

A Learning Plan is our school’s individualized support plan for students with documented learning differences or other educational needs. It outlines the accommodations and supports a student will receive to ensure meaningful access to the curriculum within our college-preparatory program.

 

Developed in collaboration with families, educators, and specialists, the Learning Plan is informed by current evaluations and documentation. It reflects a student’s strengths, areas of need, and recommended strategies, and is reviewed periodically to ensure supports remain appropriate as the student grows and develops greater independence.

 

A New Roads Learning Plan provides students with individualized accommodations, supports, and suggested strategies for success. The Student Support team does not provide academic or behavioral remediation. Families interested in pursuing additional support outside of school may contact Student Support for referrals to trusted community providers.

 

Teacher Collaboration and Consultation: Student Support partners with teachers to discuss student progress, implement accommodations, and develop strategies that support student success across learning environments.

 

Testing Accommodations Coordination: Student Support coordinates accommodations for classroom assessments and standardized testing to ensure students receive the supports outlined in their learning plans.

 

Meetings with Parents and Allied Professionals: Student Support collaborates with families and outside providers to share information, discuss student needs, and promote consistency across settings.

 

Participation in IEP and Related Support Meetings: Student Support participates in IEP and other support meetings to collaborate with families, educators, and service providers regarding student needs and recommendations.

 

Professional Development and Faculty Consultation: Student Support provides training and consultation for faculty on learning differences, accommodations, executive functioning, and inclusive instructional practices.

 

Ongoing Monitoring of Student Progress and Support Plans:

Student Support regularly reviews student progress and adjusts supports as needed to ensure services remain responsive to each student's evolving needs.

Supporting a student is a collaborative process. Learning Specialists work closely with teachers throughout the school year to monitor progress, discuss concerns, review accommodations, and identify strategies that support student success.

 

In the Upper School, teachers offer substantial office hours and opportunities for extra help outside of class. Middle School students also have opportunities to meet with teachers for additional support. Taking advantage of these built-in supports is one of the most effective ways for students to strengthen their skills, build relationships with teachers, and develop independence. Student Support can help students identify and schedule these opportunities, but students are encouraged to take an active role in utilizing them.

 

Many students also work with outside professionals, such as tutors, educational therapists, executive functioning coaches, psychologists, or speech-language pathologists. With parent permission, Student Support is happy to communicate with these providers and participate in occasional meetings when appropriate.

 

Our role is to share information about a student's experience at school, provide teacher feedback, clarify accommodations, and answer questions about the school environment. While we value collaboration with outside providers, Student Support does not supervise, direct, or manage outside services.

We deeply value partnership between home and school. When families and educators communicate openly and share insight about a child’s strengths, challenges, and growth, students benefit. Encouragement at home, interest in their progress, and thoughtful guidance around routines and responsibility all contribute meaningfully to a child’s development.

 

This partnership allows us to live out our philosophy of a gradual release of responsibility. Across the K–12 journey, we intentionally and thoughtfully shift ownership from adult to student — fostering independence, self-awareness, and confidence over time.

 

As students move through our program, the nature of support evolves. Adult guidance remains important at every stage, but responsibility steadily transfers to the child in developmentally appropriate ways as skills and maturity increase.

Personal Finance: Designed to help students make informed decisions about real world financial issues as well as to develop essential life skills.

 

Personal Finance 1 provides a holistic approach to financial literacy and essential life skills. Students will design household budgets and simulate the use of checking and saving accounts. Students will gain a basic financial understanding of the following: interest, inflation, investment, 36 debt, payroll taxes, credit management and credit scores. Students will explore the costs of living including rental/lease agreements for housing. Students will learn about car, home and health insurance. The course also covers domestic management strategies such as clothing maintenance skills, meal planning, grocery shopping for both economic and health-conscious choices as well as roommate etiquette. Students will analyze their personal financial decisions, evaluate the costs and benefits of their decisions, recognize their rights and responsibilities as consumers, and apply the knowledge learned in simulated financial scenarios.

 

Film: Emphasis is placed on executive functioning, collaboration, conflict resolution and social communication. All Film Production classes culminate in a Film Festival to showcase students' work.

 

This year-long course will teach students the basic fundamentals of video production. Through class discussions and short film projects, students will learn skills such as screenwriting, acting, directing, storyboarding, producing, lighting, camera work, and editing. Students will be producing several short films throughout the year and will have the opportunity to submit their work to three film festivals the school puts on. New Roads produces Climate Changemaker Teen Film Festival, and the annual New Roads School Film Festival.

Communications: SPARK’s Communications class emphasizes collaborative and creative skills through shared decision-making and real-world experiences. The students work together to generate and plan ideas for community outings, creative projects, and wellness activities.

 

Through a collective process, the students identify lessons and develop projects that integrate their interests and passions. The course assists students in building strategies to strengthen teamwork, increase their ability to persevere through challenges, and to practice flexibility.

 

Film Lab: Film Lab focuses on introducing and applying technical skills through a collaborative learning environment. The first semester units incorporate story and character development, while the second semester shifts to filmmaking techniques as the students develop films to be screened at the end of the school year. Through acting, directing, and editing activities, the lessons encompass the practices of turn-taking, planning, task initiation & delegation, accepting and respecting differing viewpoints, and active listening.

Study Hall: Study Hall is a dedicated support period designed to give students structured time during the school day to focus on their academic responsibilities. During this time, SPARK inclusion specialists check in with their assigned students to monitor progress, review upcoming assignments, and provide guidance with organization and planning.

 

Study Hall also provides a quiet and supportive environment where students can complete homework, study, or work on longer-term projects. SPARK teachers are available to help students communicate with classroom teachers, clarify expectations, and develop strategies for managing their workload.

 

When schedules align, students may also use this time to attend a teacher’s office hours for additional academic support. The goal of SPARK Study Hall is to give students consistent access to guidance while helping them build the skills needed to manage their work more independently.

Daily Check-in & Check-out: Students receiving SPARK services participate in a daily check-in and check-out as part of their support plan. Each student meets with a SPARK staff member twice per day—once at the beginning of the day and once at the end of the day.

 

The morning check-in is used to review the student’s schedule, clarify expectations, and help the student prepare for the day’s responsibilities. The afternoon check-out provides an opportunity to reflect on the day, review completed work, organize materials, and plan for upcoming assignments or responsibilities.

 

This consistent structure helps students build organization, accountability, and independence while ensuring they have the support they need to navigate their academic day successfully.

Access to Student Support: Students have ongoing access to their support person throughout the school day as needed. This allows students to seek guidance, ask questions, address concerns, and receive timely support when challenges arise.