Center for Academic Achievement
The Center for Academic Achievement (CAA) opened in 2004 to address the needs of neurodiverse students. It is designed to recognize and enhance the potential of students with mild-to-moderate learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum, giftedness, and mental health conditions which impact learning.
The CAA provides a safe, positive environment for students to receive individualized assistance with their academics and develop skills to help them achieve long-term success. Our staff of dedicated learning specialists is here to support students with growth in executive functioning and study skills as well as building confidence in their strengths and abilities.
The CAA fosters the academic success of our students, whether it is through a formal SSM Accommodation Plan or fee-based CAA tutoring. We teach students academic skills and learning strategies that will help them make the most of their time at SSM and become independent and confident life-long learners.
Accommodations
SSM is committed to helping students with mild-to-moderate learning differences achieve success in their academics. If a student has a professionally-diagnosed learning difference, attention disorder, severe anxiety, or other condition which impacts their academic ability, they may qualify for accommodations at SSM. Our CAA team works with these students and their classroom teachers to ensure their academic needs are met through supports appropriate to their specific challenges.
In order to be eligible for accommodations, families must provide formal documentation from a qualified professional. From there, the CAA will create an SSM Accommodation Plan, which will be shared with the student, their teachers, advisor, and parents.
Common Accommodations Available at SSM:
Students who qualify for accommodations due to a diagnosed learning difference will receive a personalized SSM Accommodation Plan, which defines what type of additional support they are eligible to receive in their classes. SSM does not offer modifications which change the nature or reduce the rigor of the academic program. The focus of our SSM Accommodation Plans is to provide the support students need to meet the same requirements as their peers.
The specific accommodations a student receives depend on their individual learning profile. Here are some common accommodations students might receive through the CAA:
- 50% extended time on tests
- Testing in a quiet, non-distracting environment
- Ability to type instead of hand-write certain assignments
- Preferential seating in class
- Frequent check-ins during class work time
How to Request Accommodations:
In order for a student to be eligible for an SSM Accommodation Plan, families must submit proper documentation of a learning difference. The student’s most recent evaluation should be from within the last three years.
This documentation can be one of the following:
- A neuropsychological evaluation report
- A psychoeducational evaluation report
- An IEP (Individualized Education Program) evaluation report
- Other similar reports from a qualified professional
The report must include:
- A clear diagnosis of a learning disability or other condition (recognized by the DSM-V)
- Background information about the student’s medical, developmental, and school history
- A description of how the condition affects the student’s learning
- Recommended supports or accommodations for school
Standardized Testing Accommodations
Many high school students will take standardized tests such as the ACT or College Board tests as they prepare for college applications. The CAA can help families and students apply for accommodations for those assessments.
Below are a few notes to keep in mind as you prepare for standardized tests:
- Only the accommodations listed in a student’s SSM Accommodation Plan can be submitted to College Board and ACT.
- An SSM Accommodation Plan does not guarantee that a student will be approved for accommodations on non-SSM assessments. College Board and ACT each have their own eligibility criteria and make their own determinations regarding accommodations.
- Pay attention to the deadlines of accommodation requests for your desired test date. Both College Board and ACT typically require several weeks to review accommodation applications.
- The CAA does not offer test preparation for standardized tests. Please refer to College Board and ACT’s website for information and test prep resources.
To ensure a smooth process, please communicate with the CAA director in advance about any College Board or ACT tests your student plans to take this year if they hope to receive accommodations.
Students without a Diagnosed Learning Difference
If your student does not have a diagnosed learning disability but still needs additional support to be successful at SSM, please contact the CAA. We will work with you and the student to determine the specific areas of concern, collaborate with teachers to provide short-term interventions, and also help you find options for diagnostic testing if it is warranted. SSM does not offer diagnostic testing, but we can provide names of test centers in Minnesota and assist with transportation to appointments for neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations if they are scheduled on a school day.
CAA Tutoring
Students enrolled in fee-based CAA tutoring services receive individualized, concentrated instruction which is specifically tailored to their diagnosed learning disability and educational needs. Our highly-qualified learning specialists use their expertise and knowledge of a student’s strengths and abilities to help them discover new ways of overcoming challenges and becoming more independent learners. Tutoring is scheduled during the school day and appears as a class in the student’s schedule. Students come to the CAA during their assigned period to work with our learning specialists on current classwork and preparation for upcoming tests.
Spots in our tutoring program are limited, and preference is given to students currently receiving formal accommodations for a learning difference.
SSM offers two levels of CAA tutoring. Please see the Fees and Tuition page to see the current cost of each option.
- Full-Time Tutoring: Students work in the CAA for a 45-minute period every day that school is in session. This is best for students transitioning into SSM’s rigorous, college-prep curriculum, for students who need help building consistent habits and study skills, and for students who need individualized assistance in multiple subject areas.
- Part-Time Tutoring: Students work in the CAA for a 45-minute period two days each week. This is best for students who already have strong organization/time management skills but still benefit from regular meetings with our learning specialists to target specific skills or classes.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or wish to enroll your student in CAA tutoring or see if they might qualify for accommodations, please contact Marissa Wentz, CAA Director, at marissa.wentz@s-sm.org or at (507)333-1553.