We feel that every student, every individual, can have a meaningful, satisfying school experience. We feel that a school needs to be as responsive to the needs of its learners as it is decisive in its curriculum. We feel that active involvement in a community is essential to well-being.
A recent, major study found that, while almost all regular education students reported that they respond orally to teachers’ questions during class, one in five students with learning disabilities reported never or rarely responding to questions during class. Furthermore, half of all students with learning disabilities reported never making presentations to the class ¹.
The inclusion model, in which students with disabilities are grouped with regular education classes and receive supplemental support, has been proven to increase test scores among students with learning disabilities. Our students study curriculum similar to that of Texas’ public schools, and make comparable academic gains. However, we also believe at Odyssey that feeling empowered and acknowledged as a member of an active, vibrant learning community is an equal priority.
We believe that success is a habit that can be acquired and learned. When students experience academic success, they are emboldened to take on new challenges. We believe that success is a steady upward climb that requires the engagement of the whole child: intellectually, emotionally, and physically.
