Special Needs Programs More than ever before, Catholic schools are seeking ways to effectively address the learning differences and the myriad special needs of students that affect learning.
Some special needs are directly related to learning.
Others have a different focus, but nevertheless have a significant impact on learning. Whether a school can address a specific special need depends upon the extent it can make adjustments in the instructional process, the resources it has available, and the obligation to balance the individual and the common good. The goal of addressing special needs should be to enable students to more successfully learn the regular curriculum of the school in the regular classroom setting. For nearly ten years, the Catholic Education Office has recommended the learning consultant model as the most effective way to address special needs directly related to the learning process. The learning consultant works primarily with classroom teachers to help them understand the special learning needs of specific students and to help them design or select alternative instructional methods, materials, or activities that hold promise of meeting those needs.