Padua Franciscan High School offers a premier Learning Support Program (LSS). For over 20 years, Padua has provided this program for those students with learning differences who are able to meet the admissions criteria to be successful in a college preparatory curriculum. Aligned with the diocesan Better Together initiative, the Padua Learning Support Services Program offers an environment of love, care and tailored instruction for students.
The Padua Franciscan Learning Support Services Program provides a limited number of students an additional academic support service having the common goal to ensure all students succeed in Padua's college preparatory curriculum.
The LSS Program includes the following: Specific Learning Disabilities Program, Autism Program, and Speech-language services. Padua has services that meet the needs of students identified having a Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impairments – Minor, Autism, and Speech/Language Impairment. Behavioral supports and academic modifications are not available. The Padua LSS Program does not provide services for students identified as having an Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disability, nor Emotional Disturbance.
The Padua LSS Program includes options for Math, English, Reading, Speech, and General Intervention Support services that require additional fees as determined on an individual basis. These services are determined by the Padua LSS team and based on your child's IEP.
After submitting an Inquiry Form, you will receive an email with login instructions. Log in using the steps provided. NOTE: If you already have (or had) a student at Padua that utilizes MyPad, you will not receive a new username. You will log in as you would for the older student, and in the top left corner of the page you will be able to choose which student profile you are viewing.
Provide a current copy of your child's Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Evaluation Team Report (ETR) or504/Accommodation Plan. Plans can be sent to Mrs. Katie Martin '08.
If Padua has the services available to meet a student’s needs and it is determined that a student has the ability to be successful in our college-prep curriculum, it is our policy for Padua personnel to observe applicants with an IEP and ETR or a 504/SEGO/Accommodation Plan at their school and when they visit (shadow) at Padua. Please complete and return the Student Observation Authorization Form.
You will need to complete the Application Form in MyPad (all students coming from both Catholic and non-Catholic schools must complete the Application Form in MyPad).
Send grade school records to Padua (report cards and records from 6th, 7th and 8th grade). If your student is coming from non-Catholic school, complete the Record Request Form and return it to your child’s school. They will send the records to Padua. If your 8th grader attends a Catholic school, the school will send us the transcripts in January through Digital Academy.
Register and take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) at Padua (8th graders only)
NOTE: Padua does not offer accommodations on Placement Tests. Our LSS team prefers to see students at their baseline. Please reach out to the admissions team if you have any questions.
Specific Learning Disability Program
The LSS Program includes the following: Specific Learning Disabilities Program, Autism Program, and Speech-language services. Padua has services that meet the needs of students identified having a Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impairments – Minor, Autism, and Speech/Language Impairment. Behavioral supports and academic modifications are not available. The Padua LSS Program does not provide services for students identified as having an Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disability, nor Emotional Disturbance.
The purpose of the Specific Learning Disability Program is to educate students to the maximum of their potential, increase the students’ opportunities for success, and to prepare for post-secondary education. The classes are unique in that they are taught to the individual needs, goals, and objectives in their educational plans. Because students’ learning rates and styles vary considerably, the need for flexibility is established with individual student expectations.
Regular English and math class curriculum is followed. Accommodations can be implemented in all classes. Each class will focus on appropriate curriculum based on the needs of the individual student. Students will also have course options for learning support, based on eligibility and placement. This will be determined upon acceptance.
The following classes follow the track of the LSS English Program. Specific areas emphasized include the following:
English 9 – Sentence structure, paragraphs, essays, grammar, reading fluency, reading comprehension, proofreading and vocabulary
English 10 – Paragraphs, essays, speech, reading comprehension, proofreading and vocabulary
English 11 – Paragraph and essay writing, grammar, style, mechanics, proofreading, reading comprehension, literary elements, research reports, college applications, and vocabulary
English 12 – Essay writing, mechanics, proofreading, style, reading comprehension, literary elements, resume writing, and vocabulary
The following classes follow the track of the LSS Mathematics Program. Specific areas emphasized include the following:
Algebra 1A – Variables and equations, absolute values, properties and integers, polynomials, factoring, and applied problems
Algebra IB – Real numbers, ratios and proportions, functions, linear equations, rational and irrational numbers, equations, and quadratic functions
Geometry A – Properties and measurement of points, lines, angles, plane surfaces and solids; problems including theorems, postulate, and corollaries in geometric properties; review of algebra concepts and topics
Math Concepts – Graphing, systems of equations, relations and functions, rational expressions, radicals, quadratic functions and equations, statistics and standard deviation, and logarithmic functions
Goals & Objectives
Students in the Learning Support Services Program have goals and objectives in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that the Intervention Specialist monitors on a quarterly schedule. The Intervention Specialist meets with each individual teacher and discusses possible accommodations appropriate for each class. Common Core Standards will be implemented at each grade level.
Autism Program
The Autism Program at Padua, a student-centered program for individuals on the Autism Spectrum, provides additional social and academic support across the curriculum and throughout a student’s Padua experience. Services include providing speech-language therapy through IEP goals to address specific individual needs, as well as providing support in the areas of social skills, executive functions, and academics. Services are usually provided during regularly scheduled study halls, and can include individual and group sessions. The speech-language pathologist works closely with the classroom teachers, intervention specialists, school counselors, and administrators to promote student success.
Speech-Language Program
The Speech-Language Program at Padua is a curriculum-based therapy program that provides speech-language therapy to meet the needs of students with IEP goals by using a student’s current curriculum. The speech-language services are usually provided during the student’s regularly scheduled study hall, and can include push-in services during classroom activities when appropriate. The speech-language pathologist works closely with the classroom teachers, intervention specialists, school counselors, and administrators to promote student success.
SEGO/504/Accommodation Plans
Accommodation/504 Plans are managed by the Padua Counseling Department. Padua utilizes a comprehensive, case-by-case approach when determining eligibility for services and reasonable accommodations for students requesting Accommodation Plans. Students requesting accommodations from Padua are required to provide documentation regarding their diagnosed impairment(s) and its educational impact.
Please note, a previous IEP/SEGO/504/Accommodation Plan, while helpful in establishing a record of supported accommodations, may not be sufficient enough to establish the presence of a disability at the high school level.
Please contact Mrs. Amanda Ortiz Byrnes in the Counseling Department at (440) 845-2444 x126 with questions.
Can We Serve Your Student?
If your student is interested in coming to Padua, please email, fax or mail a copy of your son/daughter’s IEP and ETR (from 7th or 8th grade) or 504/Accommodation Plan to Katie Martin ’08, Director of Admissions, at kmartin@paduafranciscan.net. Padua will review the paperwork and let you know if we can meet your child’s needs. Please review Learning Support Services Program Admission Policy for more information.
