The Educational Support Services (ESS) were created in 1995 to provide assistance for teachers, students and parents to encourage students to achieve their God-designed potential to the highest academic level and their fullest capabilities.

As a covenantal school, KDS recognizes that our families have children with a wide range of learning needs. Supports may be available to students identified with unique learning challenges, including mild to moderate learning disabilities, attention and sensory deficits, as well as the academically talented. Highly-trained, experienced faculty provide a wide variety of strategies and resources known to utilize and enhance the student's strengths while addressing academic, physical, and socio-emotional needs. Educational Support Services offers three tiers of support: the Reading Support Program, the Individualized Support Plan (ISP), and the Academic Support Plan.

The Reading Support Program in grades Kindergarten through third is designed to serve students with mild deficits in academic skills, most notably reading. The reading support teacher assesses educational needs and provides support in designing and implementing instructional strategies and interventions intended to remediate areas of academic need. The S.P.I.R.E. program (Specialized Reading for Individualized Reading Excellence, School Specialty) is used to supplement classroom instruction or to provide an alternative approach to reading instruction through small groups. Students may be eligible for resource services without an individually-administered educational evaluation, however an Individualized Support Plan (ISP) may be developed for students with formal testing.

Students enrolled at KDS who have a psychoeducational evaluation may receive an Individualized Support Plan (ISP) if classroom accommodations are needed. The ISP is developed collaboratively by the student’s teachers, case manager, and parents to ensure it accurately reflects the student’s needs and supports their success. Each plan outlines specific accommodations and is reviewed annually to ensure it remains aligned with the student’s current needs. The case manager also works closely with teachers to implement targeted instructional strategies and provide ongoing support.

By fourth grade, we have found that the need for foundational reading support typically diminishes, as most students are reading at or above grade level and no longer require phonological intervention. However, their needs often shift toward more advanced literacy support, focusing on reading comprehension, writing, and grammar. Additionally, as the math curriculum becomes increasingly rigorous in the upper grades, we believe it is important to offer enhanced support in this area as well. In response to these evolving academic demands, we are committed to providing more targeted support for all KDS students with current psycho-educational evaluations.

• All students with current psycho-educational evaluations will have the opportunity to opt-in to these additional supports.

• Support will be offered in Math and Literacy, based on need and teacher recommendation.

• The base cost for one academic support (Math or Literacy) is $1,800. An additional academic support (Math or Literacy) is $875.  Study Skills will be included with either option.

•    Students with current testing will continue to receive an Individual Support Plan (ISP) and classroom accommodations, whether or not they participate in this extra support.

Kirk Day School offers complimentary speech and language screenings by a certified SPL professional upon teacher recommendation.

Accelerated instruction is available upon teacher recommendation and specific assessment* to provide the capable student the opportunity to receive instruction at an advanced skill level. There are currently two subjects available for accelerated instruction to students in grades fourth through sixth: 

Accelerated Math

●      Grade 4: Saxon Intermediate 5, HMH

●      Grade 5: Saxon Course I, HMH

●      Grade 6: Saxon Course II, HMH

Accelerated Spelling

●      Grade 4: Wordly Wise Level 6, School Specialty; Classical Roots Book 6 , School Specialty

●      Grade 5: Wordly Wise Level 7, School Specialty; Classical Roots Book A , School Specialty

●      Grade 6: Wordly Wise Level 8, School Specialty; Classical Roots Book B , School Specialty

*May be determined by formal psycho-educational evaluation, standardized achievement test and  curriculum-based cumulative assessments.

Related Therapy

Educational Support Services does not currently provide occupational therapy through KDS faculty. However, KDS does work with parents to provide room for private therapists to work with students during the school day as space allows. Therapy is also available at no charge through the S.N.A.P. after-school program with the Special School District of St. Louis County.  ESS offers sensory support to accommodate individualized needs, in addition to referral assistance for parents seeking therapeutic screenings, evaluations and contract services.

Eligibility

Educational Support Services are available to students who possess cognitive abilities within the average to above average range and have a primary educational need in the areas of learning disabilities, language disorders, attention or sensory deficits, or superior achievement potential as demonstrated through an individually-administered educational evaluation.

Application Process

Students must be accepted into KDS through the regular enrollment process. Copies of all previous academic information and the most recent educational (and related) evaluations must be reviewed by the Admission Committee. Application may be made at any time, however, early application is advised, due to limited enrollment in the program. Current KDS students are given first consideration, and new students will be accepted as space is available.