About the Learning Center

Columbus Torah Academy aims to provide personalized instruction and assessment opportunities for students with diverse learning needs to ensure adequate progress and success. Every child who needs personalized support will be provided with individualized attention through CTA’s Student Academic Supports. Students may be behind grade level and in need of remediation, or may have exceptional needs in a variety of other ways. The Learning Center (LC) provides academic support and intervention in CTA’s Lower School (grades K-6).

The LC is staffed by two fully-licensed Intervention Specialists and one ESL (English as a Second Language) Teacher. Operating within the CTA school day, the LC staff collaborate with general studies and Judaic studies teachers to provide students with effective strategies and instruction to promote success in their learning process. In addition, The LC staff manages the identification, classification, and progression of students in need of special education and/or related services. 

The LC provides intervention in the least restrictive environment based on the individual needs of each student. Intervention could take place in an individualized setting, in a small group setting, or a whole group setting depending on how a given student learns best. The LC believes every part of the CTA’s dual curriculum program is important, and seeks to minimize disruption of other coursework in our scheduling of intervention. 

Services Provided by the CTA Academic Interventions Team

The LC is committed to providing equitable access to learning, resources, and materials to best support each learner and their individual needs. The LC may provide the following services and interventions, or facilitate the following accommodations and modifications based on the learner’s individual needs.

In the Lower School, CTA has two Intervention Specialists and one ESL teacher who provide support to students through individualized learning, small group learning, and whole group learning. In the Upper School, CTA has one Intervention Specialist who provides support to students through supported study halls and collaboration with classroom teachers.  

Services & Interventions:

• Individualized instruction
• Speech Therapy on consult as needed
• Occupational Therapy on consult as needed
• Emotional regulation and support with school counselor or interventionist upon request
• Provide a space and time conducive to telehealth therapy
• English language instruction

Accommodations & Modifications:

• Extended time on classwork, assignments, and/or assessments. (Must have a formal evaluation to receive small group testing for MAP State Testing.)
• Flexible seating
• Sensory-friendly spaces
• Use of supported instructional materials for classwork, assignments, and/or assessments
• Small group or individual instruction
• Small group testing
• Quiet testing place upon request when proctoring available
• Use of a calculator for classwork, assignments, and/or assessments
• Adjusted learning targets
• Adjusted materials
• Assistive Technology

Progress Reporting Timeline

The Intervention Specialists will communicate progress five-six times per year to the families of the learners who receive services through CTA’s LC. For Lower School students, progress will be reported three times with CTA school report cards and twice through interim progress monitoring updates. Over the course of the school year, this is approximately every 6-8 weeks, which is considered best practice in education for intervals at which to analyze student progress.

For English Language Learners, the ESL teacher will use the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) Screener as soon as students enroll, and will follow up to measure progress using the OELPA itself every year until proficiency across the four domains assessed is reached. The four domains are reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

For more questions regarding our Learning Center Policies and Procedures, or to inquire about IEPs or Special Needs Scholarships, please contact the Lower School Principal at cborro@torahacademy.org