Academic Success Program
Academic Success Vision Statement:
To nurture children with special needs in a supportive environment, teaching them with individual strategies that will enhance the way God created them to learn, while promoting independence.
God’s Word says everyone is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), “created
in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), and that the Lord provides a “future and a hope”
(Jeremiah 29:11). We believe this to be true for all students, including those who process
information in a different way.
“The special need child’s humanity, or any child’s humanity for that matter, must
determine the education he receives. If taught slowly, patiently, and systematically, even
those children who are identified with or suspected of having “special learning needs” can
receive a substantial, elevating, and beautiful education. Simple modifications, such as
allowing a slower pace, extra review, and oral answers, will not take away from the
beautiful elements of a classical education. Truth and goodness will prevail despite our
own frailties and those of the students. Everyone has challenges, most of which remain
our entire lives. Our role is not to fix each other but to love and serve one another. With
classical pedagogy and the Holy Spirit working through God’s Holy Word, classical
Christian education, even when simply modified, provides the beautiful means by which
any child can be educated for temporal and eternal life.” (Swope, Cheryl. Simply Classical
Memoria Press, 2013)
CCA Requirements for Eligibility into the Academic Success Program:
● Student must be entering Kindergarten through Eighth grade
● Student must have a mild to high functioning moderate disability that allows them to remain in a regular education setting for a portion of the day. (CCA is not equipped to handle some moderate to severe disabilities. A determination will be made by the CCA Academic Success Team-including Academic Director and Teachers, Parents, Administrator, Regular Education Teachers.)
● Student must complete a grade level entrance exam (administered by Cornerstone Counseling Center) and an Academic Success observation (on site) to show evidence of the ability to function in a regular education classroom unassisted for a portion of the day.
● Eligibility Determination for NC Individual Education Plan (IEP) from a public school or licensed private testing facility dated within the last 3 years.
● A current Eligibility form (ECAT) or Psychological evaluation showing diagnosis from a licensed private testing facility dated within the last 3 years.
● Copy of complete testing results must be submitted to CCA for child’s records
● It is required that testing remain current. If testing is expired and re-evaluation is not completed, the child will forfeit the possibility to remain in the program.
In the Academic Success Program, students will be provided with the individual support
to assist the child in achieving the highest level of individual success possible through a
variety of forms, such as:
● Realistic expectations considering given disability
● Emphasis / Positive reinforcement of strengths
● Ordered / Structured environment: such as but not limited to picture schedules, colored coded materials, check lists
● Modifications: such as, but not limited to, assignments in smaller chunks, extended time to complete assignments, assignments read to students, oral answers accepted, additional review, modified curriculum, etc.
● Accommodations: such as, but not limited to, special lined paper, seat cushions, reading “window” card, pencil gripper, movement during recitations, visual timer, etc.
● Sensory modifications: such as but not limited to noise reduction headphones, slant board, weighted lap belt, visual path or seat assignment
● Behavioral, Emotional and Social support and strategies
● The Academic Success teacher and regular education staff will plan and work closely together. Regular education classroom teachers will be given assistance with accommodations they can use in their class for the Academic Success students to achieve the highest level of success.
Two levels of support that are available through the CCA Academic Success Program:
(Students could receive one or more program options in a school year that the Academic Support Team deems necessary.)
● Focus classes: Students will be pulled out of the regular education classroom into a small group setting where they will be given direct, specialized instruction and academic remediation in the area of Language Arts and/or Math Only, dependent upon their disability. Students will still need to be able to independently function in a regular education setting for a large portion of the day.
Types of Focus Class Settings:
· Independent single grade level classes offered in K, 1st, 2nd
· A combined multiple grade level class offered for 3rd- 5th graders.
● Support classes: Students will remain in the regular education classroom the entire day. The Academic Success Teacher/Assistant will go into the students’ classroom and offer academic support to the students to assist them with individual learning goals and accommodations. This support will offer the Academic Success students the opportunity to achieve the highest individual level of success with the CCA general education curriculum in core academic classes. Support will not be offered in Enhancement Classes (Music, Art, PE, etc.)
● Study Skills & Strategies Classes: Students will be pulled out of the regular education classroom into a small group setting where they will be given direct, specialized instruction and academic remediation in the area of study skills, organization, planning, and social, emotional and behavioral strategies
Type of Strategies Class Setting
· A combined multiple grade level class offered for 6th-8th graders
A student enrolling in the Academic Success program is expected to pay their grade level tuition plus added Academic Success tuition and Fees. Please review the 2023-2024 Academic Support Tuition & Fees as well as the CCA Financial Policy for a detailed breakdown of policies and cost. (You can find it under the tuition tab.)
To enroll in the program, fill out an application and mark you desire to enroll and we will contact you to start the admissions process.
Financial assistance is available from the NC State Education Authority Assistance (NCSEAA) through a program called ESA+ which provides scholarships to the family in the amount of up to $9,000 a year, and will cover expenses related to educating a child with a disability. This grant is offered to the parent and not to Christ Classical Academy.
NCSEAA Dates to Remember: Application for the ESA+ program opens February 1, 2024. The priority deadline is March 1, 2024. The application process will remain open after March 1 for families to submit applications but will be subject to the availability of funds.
If you think you are eligible and would like more information, please visit the NCSEAA
K12 ESA+ Program site at https://www.ncseaa.edu/k12/esa/
2024-2025 Academic Success Tuition and Fee Schedule
I. Registration Fee: The registration fee is paid with student application each year at enrollment $250
II. Book Fee: Covers textbooks, curriculum, classroom reproducible material $250
III. Testing Fee: Entrance Exam is done through Cornerstone Counseling Center – Parents will need to call Cornerstone Counseling Center and set up testing at (828) 322-4941. The Entrance Exam will be paid directly to Cornerstone Counseling Center and is required for acceptance. The address is as follows: 439 1st Ave NW Hickory, NC 28601 (Entrance into TK is exempt from testing but students will be required to test upon entering Kindergarten)
NEW Students & ALL Kindergarten (new and currently enrolled) $225-$305 per student
(Testing Fees vary according to a child’s level & ability and is at the discretion of Cornerstone Counseling Center.)
IV. Observation Fee: New student observation is done on site $50
V. Activity Fee: trips / special activities $55
VI. Notification & Systems Fee: per child $35
VII. Adaptive Educational Materials Fee: support materials to ensure
success in the classroom /educational setting $500
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*The Academic Success Team (including Academic Director and Teachers, Parents, Administrator, Regular Education Teachers) will advise to the classes each child needs through an evaluation of documented disabilities and base upon the observation completed on site.
VIII. Grade Level Tuition:
● Kindergarten-8th Grade: $6743
IX. Academic Success Tuition & Program Options:
(A student can enroll in one or more program option below at the Academic Team’s suggestion)
● Focus Classes (K, 1st, 2nd & 3rd- 5th gr Combo-Pull out for small group instruction for Math and LA Only-dependent upon each child’s documented disabilities) $1200/class
● Support Classes (K-5th grade-Support within Regular educational $800
classroom setting in core subject areas only)
● Study Skills & Strategies Classes (6th-8th gr combo class-Pull out for small group strategies & study skills) $1000
*Students in Support Classes will not receive support in Enhancement classes (Music, Art, PE, etc.).
*The Academic Success Program is incorporated into a full day program, students attend Monday-Thursday 7:50 am-3:00 pm