Preparing for Success
The Thrive Program at FMCS is a supplemental academic support program available only to enrolled elementary students with identified learning needs and diagnoses. The program is designed to help students access and participate successfully in the general classroom environment by providing individualized accommodations, small modifications, and targeted support based on each student’s needs.
Students with a documented diagnosis will be provided a 504 Plan when the school and parents determine that a 504 Plan is necessary and appropriate. Accommodations may include preferential or special seating, extended time for tests and assignments, small-group testing, breaks, modified directions or assignments, organizational support, and other reasonable classroom and testing accommodations based on the student’s individual needs.
The Thrive Program is specifically designed to support elementary students who have a 504 Plan and require additional academic support. The resource teacher will work only with students who have an established 504 Plan and whose plan and individual needs indicate that Thrive support is appropriate.
Annual 504 Review and Teacher Communication:
Each student with a 504 Plan will participate in a yearly meeting with the Thrive Team to review the student’s progress, update the 504 Plan as needed, and ensure that the accommodations continue to reflect the student’s current needs. These annual meetings will also ensure that the student’s current classroom teacher(s) are informed of the student’s needs and are aware of the accommodations outlined in the 504 Plan.
The same process will continue into Middle School. Students with 504 Plans will have an annual meeting with the appropriate school team to review and update their plans as needed. Middle School teachers will be informed of each student’s 504 Plan and will be responsible for implementing and following the accommodations outlined in the plan within their classrooms.
Not all students with a 504 Plan will require or benefit from the Thrive Program. Students with documented learning needs and diagnoses will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account their individual needs, recommended accommodations from a medical or mental health professional, and the school’s available support resources.
Current students must have a documented diagnosis from a qualified medical or mental health professional before being referred to the Thrive Program. Students who are currently enrolled and experiencing difficulties in the classroom, but who have not been previously identified or diagnosed, may be referred to the Thrive Coordinator and/or principal by their classroom teacher. If ongoing interventions or additional support are needed, parents will be asked to obtain a psychoeducational evaluation from a qualified third-party provider or a visit to the child’s pediatrician to further assess the student’s needs and inform appropriate recommendations for support.
Once enrolled in Thrive, program interventions are documented and evaluated periodically to determine student progress by the Thrive Coordinator. If there is not adequate educational progress, the school will discuss and recommend additional steps to evaluate and meet student needs. In some instances, with the motivation to best serve and support the child, the school may recommend withdrawal and placement at another institution of learning to better serve the child’s individual needs.
Parentally placed private school students with a disability does not have an individual right to receive some or all of the special education and related services that the student would receive if enrolled in a public school under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended.