Gardner Elementary School

My son is very happy at Doran and he was also in that class where there was sub after sub and then his teacher went on maternity leave. It was frustrating but I also can recognize that the school was trying to find a replacement but they had to work with what they had. Sometimes things just happen that way and although I wasn't happy one bit about it and made that known to Mrs. Pontes they were trying their best to find someone. I hope this school continues to get better like they have recently by moving out of a level 4 to a level 2. If only there was space to build a field right next to the school!

The school unfortunately just doesn't have an appropriate program for children with LD issues. The SLP services are not integrated into the classroom and the sizing of least restrictive classes / mixed classes are far too large. Compounding this is the administrations dismissive attitudes toward finding better ways to teach or improve services for LD kids. They generalize services and complain at IEP meetings that they are 'only a public school' . However, in most cases placement at this school does not meet FAPE standards for LD kids and the district has done little to enable children or parents to improve access to basic education and needed therapy services. instead aids are put in classes for children with severe behavioral issues. I view this as firefighting while the issues for LD kids continue to exponentially grow throughout their entire academic career. Parents are faced with the choice of accepting inappropriate services or paying for a private placement or worse a settlement for FAPE. Basic improvements in teaching how LD kids learn as well as social, speech and sensory therapies are urgently needed in order to improve this school and district.

NECA provides a Christ centered learning environment with a family-like atmosphere. I love this school and would definitely recommend it.