Exceptional Learning Institute: A Holistic Approach to Education

Exceptional Learning Institute (ELI) is an approved private school offering a unique, individualized, and comprehensive approach to education. Working hand-in-hand with the Behavioral Foundation Centers (BFC), ELI aims to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of each child, fostering a love of learning and promoting independence.

Individualized Education: Meeting Each Child's Unique Needs

At ELI, the core philosophy revolves around the understanding that every child learns differently. Recognizing that children thrive when taught at their cognitive level, ELI creates individually tailored academic paths that are continually adapted to meet their evolving needs. This personalized approach ensures that students remain engaged and challenged, fostering optimal learning and growth.

Fluid and Adaptive Learning Plans

Individual educational plans for students are fluid, adapting not only to a child’s interests but also to their varying skill levels across different subjects. For instance, a student might be working at a basic level in writing, a remedial level in reading and social studies, yet be on-level in math and science. This nuanced approach allows ELI to cater to the whole child, educating them beyond core academic subjects and addressing their unique strengths and weaknesses.

Strength-Based, Passion-Based Learning

To cultivate a child’s interest in learning, ELI employs a strength-based, passion-based holistic learning approach. Instruction is delivered through two primary methods:

Thematic Approach: Each week features a new theme, enabling children to explore all subjects through a unifying lens.
Passion-Based Learning: Even traditional subjects like math are taught by connecting them to a child’s passions. For example, if a child loves Peppa Pig, their math lessons might revolve around Peppa Pig-related scenarios. As their interests evolve, the teaching methods adapt accordingly.

Holistic Development: Nurturing the Whole Child

ELI takes a comprehensive approach to education, addressing the academic, social, emotional, and ethical needs of each student by integrating them into the curriculum. This holistic model aims to create an ideal learning environment where children can optimize their potential, become more independent learners, and ultimately achieve success in school and as self-advocates.

Read also: Big Dreams in Education

Community Based Instruction

To further enhance learning and development, ELI utilizes Community Based Instruction (CBI). CBI provides students with “real life experience” and hands-on learning opportunities to practice critical skills in a community, non-school environment. By immersing children in real-world settings, CBI allows them to see, hear, smell, and do things that a traditional classroom cannot offer. This approach exposes students to unexpected obstacles, fostering problem-solving skills on a greater level while providing a safe and supportive environment.

School Values and Ethical Conduct

ELI is committed to upholding strong values and ethical standards, prioritizing the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. The school places the student at the center of its mission, focusing on the development of each student’s potential.

Reporting Misconduct and Child Abuse

All employees of ELI are expected to maintain the highest degree of ethical conduct, respecting colleagues, students, parents, and the community. This includes an obligation to report any misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, or school administrators that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors.

Furthermore, all employees and agents have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. The school provides clear guidelines on recognizing signs of physical abuse (e.g., unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or broken bones), sexual abuse (e.g., torn, stained, or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in the genital area), and neglect (e.g., unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, appearing underweight).

ELI ensures liability protections for any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency.

Practical Information for Parents

Eligibility and Enrollment

ELI currently services all elementary grade levels from K-5th grade. To enroll, parents must complete an enrollment application. Eligibility for the ELI classroom is determined based on a child’s ability to actively participate within a funded level of supports.

For children who may not initially qualify for the ELI classroom, ELI offers push-in services. This involves an educator coming to the child in the ABA clinic or home environment (in person or via Zoom) for short sessions (30-60 minutes, depending on the child’s tolerance) to provide educational training, supports, and communication with parents on a daily basis. This ensures that every child can access individualized educational supports until they are ready for a larger group environment.

Tuition and Funding

The majority of students receive full tuition coverage through state scholarship programs. ELI currently accepts the Gardiner FES-UA scholarship, which can be applied for through StepupforStudents.org. While the school is not a McKay provider at this time, it is actively working towards that qualification. Prices can vary depending on the amount of support a child requires.

Daily Schedule and Curriculum

The ELI school day runs from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm and includes instructional time in Math, Reading, Writing/Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies daily. The schedule also includes one snack and one lunch period per day, as well as two movement/recess times and one special area (e.g., P.E., art, music, or other specialty courses).

Each child's curriculum is individualized to their skill level in each area, meaning a child may be working on first-grade materials in math but kindergarten materials in language arts. The school utilizes standards-based grading, providing a list of the standards necessary to complete each grade level in each subject area. Reports on a child’s progress on those standards are provided on a quarterly basis. Ongoing testing is administered periodically to assess a child’s skill level and progress.

Read also: Unlocking Youth Opportunities

Parent Communication and Involvement

ELI values open communication with parents. All teachers have daily contact with parents via a digital platform (Class Dojo) as well as through their child’s binder of work. While research does not support the need for mandatory homework, ELI understands that many parents would like to practice with their children at home and provides resources to support this.

Parents are expected to supply a backpack, lunchbox, snacks, and lunch for their child on a daily basis, as well as any toileting supplies they might need and/or an extra set of clothes to keep in the classroom.

Calendar and Closures

The ELI school year is year-round with four weeks of closures: the week of spring break as determined by the Volusia County public school system, the week of July 4th, the week of Thanksgiving, and the week of Christmas. The school is also closed for national holidays (New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day). Unless BFC is closed, students can continue with their ABA services on days that the school is closed.

Health and Safety Protocols

ELI follows extensive protocols to minimize the spread of viruses and bacteria, including hand washing, sanitization, and the use of PPE. Per the Department of Health, shot/immunization records are required for all students. If the school closes due to COVID-19, materials will be sent home for the children to work on.

Related Services

ELI does not directly provide specialized therapy services. However, ELI and BFC are working to develop relationships with local service providers to offer those services within their environments through medical authorizations. ELI solely partners with BFC to provide consistency, maintain HIPAA privacy practices, and provide a fully integrated experience.

ELI is an approved private school through the Department of Education. The school is located at 689 DELTONA BLVD DELTONA FL 32725-8019. The IRS ruling year is 2021, and the EIN is 84-3169621.

tags: #exceptional #learning #institute #overview