All students are expected to complete the academic graduation requirements outlined in this document. The school wishes to be clear with parents and students regarding the accommodations that are available to help students meet with success in our academic program. NYA offers the following academic support to all its students:

• Classroom teachers are available to meet with students for extra help, either individually or in small groups.
• Students who have difficulty with fine motor skills are permitted to use a word processor for major tests and exams.
• On-campus tutoring is available in certain subjects at an additional cost. Also, teachers can recommend off-campus tutors if needed.

In addition, NYA provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, where necessary to enable the student to receive equal educational opportunities and where the requested accommodations may be provided without undue burden to the school. Decisions regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations shall be made on a case-by-case basis by the Upper School Head or Middle School Head, after consultation with the student, the student’s parents, teachers and any appropriately qualified educational evaluators or health care providers. In no case will NYA lower its academic standards or alter essential elements of its curriculum as an accommodation to a student with a disability. Some examples of reasonable accommodations that may be made to a qualified student with a disability include:

• Participation in annual IEP meetings or meetings with evaluators.
• Extended time to complete major tests and exams.
• Oral follow-up by teachers to written testing.
• Use of peer notes while note-taking skills are being developed.
• Oral clarification of written directions on exams or assignments.
• Tape recording of lectures and class discussions.
• Proctored testing in a quiet, separate area.
• Reading aloud the material presented on the board, etc.
• Appropriate seating in the classroom.
• Location of classrooms in accessible areas.

(No one student will need all of these accommodations, and specific accommodations will be based on the nature and extent of the student’s disability after a careful review of the diagnostic information. Other reasonable accommodations may be provided where educationally necessary and where they do not impose an undue burden on the school.)

North Yarmouth Academy does not provide:

• Remedial educational services
• Educational testing

NYA does not employ any certified learning specialists or persons licensed in diagnostic evaluations. Families needing these services should contact their local school district or other qualified evaluator. Any adjustments to the academic program recommended by such testing must be consistent with the academic support services outlined in this document and must be approved by the members of the IEP team and the Division Head.

In addition, North Yarmouth Academy will not, except in extraordinary circumstances, modify graduation requirements or modify course content, course requirements, homework assignments or testing methodologies.

Educational Testing: Occasionally, students without a history of identified learning disabilities encounter academic difficulties. In such cases, a student may be referred by NYA to the Yarmouth school district or a private psychologist for testing in order to obtain a profile of learning strengths and weaknesses. This profile, along with teachers’ classroom observations, grades and input from parents and the student, will be the basis for the development of an educational plan for the student. Such a plan typically includes recommendations for new strategies and for tutorials to help improve academic performance.