Support Services

Optimal Learning

The Optimal Learning Program (OLP) offers students with learning differences an opportunity to fully participate, contribute and excel in the classroom. Students who receive Optimal Learning (OL) services are provided with the necessary accommodations to be empowered and reach their fullest academic potential. OLP realizes the importance of addressing each student's needs in the classroom and supports faculty with Differentiated Instruction strategies and content delivery.

The process begins with a student's referral by a classroom teacher or parent. The Child Study Team (CST), consisting of the school’s Principal, the K-12 Counseling-Psychologist, the Counselor(s), the OLP Specialist and the OLP Coordinator, determines which programs offered by the school will most effectively meet the student’s needs and provide opportunities for him/her to reach his/her potential. The OLP Specialist works closely with teachers to differentiate the student’s curriculum and adjust his/her learning experience to suit his/her individual needs.

A full battery of psycho-educational assessments, which are administered by in-house, or non- ACS Athens based psychologists, must be completed prior to enrollment in OL. Based on their findings and subsequent report, standards are set according to the individual needs of the referred student. Effective strategies are developed by the OLP Specialist and are then shared with all teachers working with each student. Small group instruction and cooperative learning activities are incorporated within the student’s curriculum to complement various learning abilities.

The Optimal Learning Program provides three levels of support:

1. OLP Classroom

2. OLP Consultation

3. OLP Support Plan for Instruction, Assessment and Accessibility (SPIAA)

 For new students: enrollment in OLP Classroom, OLP Consultation or OLP SPIAA is determined by the OLP Coordinator and OLP Specialist and recommended through the Admissions letter. 

For returning students: enrollment in OLP Classroom, OLP Consultation or OLP SPIAA is determined by CST and recommended to parents.

OLP Consultation

The Optimal Learning Program Consultation is a support service for students who need support as well as testing accommodations to help them succeed in the regular class; however, these students have achieved higher levels of independence and do not require OLP Classroom time.  The consultation lasts between 15 and 20 minutes and takes place once a week.

 The Optimal Learning Program specialist meets with the student on a brief pull-out basis during a scheduled and convenient time for both. The OLP Specialist is responsible for contacting the student at the beginning of the school year and arranging the regular weekly meeting. 

1. OLP Consultation students receive an ILP, as described above, and are entitled to accommodations, which are specific to each student's needs and stem from the psycho-educational report. Accommodations are stated within the ILP as guidelines for teachers to follow so that individual student needs are met.

2. The OLP Specialist communicates regularly with members of the faculty to monitor each student’s progress.

3. Formal communication with parents takes place at the end of the school year, when the ILP is reviewed, progress is discussed and new goals for the following school year are set. The parents of the newly enrolled students meet with the OLP team at the beginning of the school year. The OLP Specialists also participate in the Parent-Teacher Conferences that take place across all schools (Elementary, Middle and Academy). In addition, communication between the professionals of the Optimal Learning Program and parents is continuous and ongoing throughout the year via phone calls or emails as often as necessary.

Counseling/Advisory Services

The School Psychologist, Dr. Manos Kougioumzoglou, and the Elementary School Counselor, Mr. Demetri Pelidis, work with students individually and/or in groups to assist them in the development of skills for optimizing their strengths. Approaching students holistically will help them overcome emotional, social, and cognitive challenges.  The school psychologist and the counselor work closely with parents and teachers to resolve student issues and are involved in the Child Study Team in order to suggest interventions for any special needs students may have.  Parent consent for counseling must be provided in writing.

Child Study Team (CST)

The Child Study Team monitors and analyzes a full range of student performance, including academic, social-emotional, behavioral and overall well-being. The team determines which programs offered by the school will most effectively meet the student’s needs and provide opportunities for them to reach their potential. CST supports students by creating intervention plans and recommending the next steps for student support and growth.

The Child Study Team (CST) is made up of the Principal, Counselors, K-12 Counseling-Psychologist, the Optimal Learning Specialists, and possibly the Nurse and/or the English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. CST carefully considers input from faculty, staff, and parents on a regular basis. This team meets weekly for continued collaboration about student needs.

For each case, the process begins with a student's referral by a classroom teacher or parent.

In order to design and determine the best possible learning experience for each student, informal observations may involve administrators, educators and specialists throughout the day as needed, inside and outside the classroom.

Elementary Math Studio

The Elementary Math Studio offers students best practices approaches to learning mathematics in an environment that guides and encourages elementary students to develop and achieve their academic potential. During sessions, small groups will be guided to reach conceptual understanding of numeracy skills and will be exposed to mathematical literacy. Students will also have access to various resources to help build confidence, understanding of number sense and foundational math skills.

ESL Foundation Program

Students who are at beginning and intermediate levels of English are enrolled in the ESL program to further develop their English language proficiency. The ESL team works with students during their language learning time on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in the English language. Additional support throughout the day is provided during core classes. The ESL teacher collaborates with each student’s homeroom teacher to ensure alignment of learning, skill building, and consolidation of knowledge. There is an additional fee for this program due to the small size and individualized attention that students receive attending this service.