QUESTIONS ALL PARENTS WILL ASK

1. What type of students do you accept?
We accept students, with at least average ability, who have attention, auditory, or visual processing difficulties which effect their classroom performance in reading, math, spelling or language arts areas. These students are diagnosed as specific learning disabled. The Vanguard School of Coconut Grove admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, andactivities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

2. Do you accept retarded, autistic or emotionally disturbed students?
No, retarded (MR/EMR), autistic and emotionally disturbed (ED) are not accepted.

3. What is the "average" length of stay?
We are not able to calculate an "average length of stay"; however, we have had students a minimum of one year and a maximum of eight years. Many matriculate at two, three and four years.

4. What determines how long a student stays at Vanguard?
Students' length of stay is determined by the age of the child upon enrollment, their intellectual ability, their strengths, the degree and number of difficulties their self concept and degree of cooperation, and the level of parental/other professional involvement.

5. How will you determine what my child needs academically?
The needs of the individual child are determined by the findings of the clinical psychologist during the psycho-educational evaluation, by teacher observation, and through the individual educational prescription (IEP), which is developed by our staff.

6. How will I know how my child is doing at school?
For parent/teacher conferences are scheduled (November, February, April & June) each year; at which time, teachers report, on a direct, personal basis, the progress of each child. A written annual report is sent in June also. The parents and school may request conferences at any time.

7. Are Vanguard teachers state certified or specially trained?
Vanguard techers are certified in learning disabilities, varying exceptionalities, special education, or in special aread; such as, reading, physical education, speech, and art. All staff participate in an ongoing, extensive in-service training program.

8. How do you know when my child will be able to leave Vanguard?
Students are constantly being evaluated via formal and informal testing, through parent/teacher observations, as well as by periodic psycho-educational evaluations which help determine if a child is ready for re-entry to a more traditional program. The school cooperates with the parents in the transfer of their child to a more traditional program and assists in any way possible.

9. What is the purpose of the school?
Vanguard's purpose is to develop its students emotionally, socially and academically to their fullest potential and to return the students to a more traditional school as soon as possible.

10. What do your follow-up surveys show concerning your students after they leave?
The vast majority of the students leave Vanguard and go on successfully to traditional education in public, parochial and private schools. We have had three alumni who have become Eagle Scouts. A significant number of students have entered and graduated from colleges throughout the country. Most notable are lawyers, teachers, and businessmen.