Southern Raised Learning: Nurturing Unique Learners in a Supportive Environment

Southern Raised Learning is a K-12 private school located in Peachtree City, Georgia, dedicated to serving students with diverse learning needs. Understanding the challenges faced by children with social, academic, and mild behavioral challenges, Southern Raised Learning offers a supportive and individualized learning environment.

Accreditation and Scholarship Programs

Southern Raised Learning is fully accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC), which is recognized by the Georgia Department of Education. This accreditation ensures a high-quality academic foundation for all students.

The school also participates in the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) program, also known as SB10. Students with an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan from their public school may qualify for scholarship funding through the GSNS Program, which can be applied toward tuition at Southern Raised Learning. The program is administered by the Georgia Department of Education.

In addition to the GSNS program, Southern Raised Learning partners with the Georgia Student Scholarship Organization (GASSO) to provide additional tuition assistance opportunities for families. Through this state-approved program, Georgia taxpayers can redirect a portion of their state income tax to fund private school scholarships for eligible students.

If a child doesn’t have an IEP or 504 plan but does have a documented medical diagnosis, they may qualify for the GA Medical Waiver.

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Philosophy: A Village Approach to Education

At Southern Raised Learning, the belief is that enrolling a child means enrolling their family. Recognizing that it takes a village to nurture and educate a child with unique learning needs, the school proudly partners with parents to ensure every student’s success. This collaborative approach fosters a strong support system for both students and their families.

Individualized and Small Group Instruction

Southern Raised Learning offers an academic foundation that allows flexibility for individualized and small group instruction. With a 1:4 teacher-student ratio, students receive personalized attention and support tailored to their specific needs. This close attention allows teachers to closely monitor progress and adapt teaching methods as needed.

Curriculum: Research-Based and Hands-On

The curriculum at Southern Raised Learning is research-based and recognizes the diverse educational needs of its students. It integrates cooperative, hands-on learning across all subject areas. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of concepts and promotes engagement in the learning process.

Reading and Language Arts:

Voyager Sopris Learning: A comprehensive, research-based reading and language arts program that builds critical thinking and literacy skills. Lessons integrate comprehension, vocabulary, and writing to ensure long-term academic success.
Edmark Reading: This whole-word reading program is designed to ensure that every student experiences success. Through carefully sequenced lessons, repetition, and an errorless learning approach, students master word recognition while building fluency and confidence.
Handwriting Without Tears: This curriculum develops fine motor and literacy readiness through multisensory, systematic instruction. Its engaging, hands-on lessons help students build handwriting fluency and confidence.
Read Well: A comprehensive, research-based reading program that strengthens phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Its flexible design allows for whole-group, small-group, and individualized instruction tailored to each learner’s needs.

Mathematics:

Saxon Math Program: Following the Common Core Standards, the Saxon Math Program presents concepts in a clear, organized, and sequential manner. The use of concrete manipulatives and a hands-on approach is vital to concept mastery at every level. Daily twenty-minute reinforcement activities strengthen new skills and promote long-term understanding.
TouchMath: This program uses a visual and tactile approach to help students strengthen number recognition, number concepts, and number sense. Through its proven, multisensory methodology, students build accuracy, confidence, and fluency in mathematics.
Hand2Mind: This provides a manipulative-based, interactive approach that helps students progress from concrete understanding to abstract thinking. Through hands-on lessons and visual supports, students enhance number sense, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning.

Social Skills and Social-Emotional Learning:

Positive Action: Social skills programming is both interactive and engaging. The school builds in numerous opportunities for students to practice their social skills across the curriculum. They also encourage parents to promote social opportunities where their skills can be used outside of the school setting. Skills like social functioning, listening, responsibility, personal space, and emotions are a few of the valuable social skills explored.
The Unthinkables: This series is integrated as a fun and engaging social-emotional learning program that helps students identify and manage unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.

Social Studies and Science curriculum is thoughtfully integrated with reading, math, and social skills to create meaningful, connected learning experiences.

Fostering Confidence and a Love of Learning

Through creative arts, problem-solving, and social-emotional skill-building, students develop confidence, self-esteem, and a love of learning. Southern Raised Learning strives to create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and empowered to reach their full potential.

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Additional Resources for Special Needs Education in Georgia

While Southern Raised Learning provides a comprehensive program, it's beneficial to be aware of other resources available in Georgia for children with special needs. These resources, provided by independent organizations, are not affiliated with FOCUS, but can be valuable for families seeking additional support.

Early Intervention and Preschool Programs:

AASD’s (Clarkston) Preschool and Pre-K programs: Serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Georgia. They follow a Bilingual language policy, and use both Spoken English and ASL in the classroom, matching each student’s individual language preferences.
Atlanta Public School Preschool Special Education Program (Atlanta): Serves children (ages 3-5) diagnosed as having mild, moderate, or severe disabilities.
Aveanna Pediatric Day Health Care Center Services (Atlanta): These centers are designed for children with complex medical needs.
Easterseals (Many locations): The largest provider of Inclusive Early Education and Care services to children ages 6 weeks to five years in Georgia.
Elaine Clark Center (Chamblee): Supports children ages six weeks to five years old to explore, learn, play, and grow socially in a developmentally appropriate environment.
Emmy’s Academy (Marietta): Provides an early learning environment with low student-to-teacher ratios, accepting all children regardless of diagnosis or special circumstances ages 6 weeks through 6 years old.
Frazer Center (Atlanta): A high-quality early education program with an inclusive philosophy that brings together children with and without disabilities.
Head Start and Early Head Start programs: Provide early childhood and family development services for children birth to five years old, pregnant women, and families.
Louise and Brett Samsky Preschool (Atlanta): A collaboration of Marcus Autism Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Emory University, operating as both a school and a place of research on preschool education.
Trainers Childcare Services (Norcross): Offers assistance for special-needs children with their development.

Schools Specializing in Specific Learning Needs:

Cumberland Academy of Georgia (Atlanta): A fully accredited private school specializing in the needs of children with Asperger’s Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, high functioning autism, PDD-NOS, and learning disabilities.
Friendship Forest Academy (Lawrenceville): Committed to creating a safe environment where neurodivergent children can learn, explore, discover, and create.
Hirsch Academy Students (Decatur): Caters to students with sensory, motor, and learning differences, including Autism, ADHD, and various other developmental differences.
Margaret Harris Comprehensive School (Age 3-21; Atlanta): A self-contained special education school for students with severe and multiple disabilities and grades P-12.
MDE (Marietta): A not-for-profit, private school established in 2009 as a full-service k-12 educational center for students with language-based learning disabilities.
Our World School (McDonough): A private, non-profit school for children in grades K-12 who have been diagnosed with special needs, including but not limited to, autism, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, ADHD and other medical/learning disabilities.
Porter Academy (Roswell): Focuses on creating a program that is tailored to each student’s specific academic, developmental, and social-emotional needs.
Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett (Lawrenceville): A nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization.

Advocacy and Legal Support:

Allison B. Vrolijk, LLC Special Education Attorney: Provides legal advocacy for children with special needs.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society: Provides services only for residents of the five-county metro Atlanta area.
Debbie Dobbs Advocacy, LLC: Assists families to help their children receive a Free Appropriate Public Education.
Education in Bloom: A consulting practice specializing in helping families navigate special education services and supports.
Heather Wright, M. IEP Guru: Offers expertise in IEP development and advocacy.
Dr. Mary Jo Ray-Jewett, OTD, OTR/L, BCASE: Provides occupational therapy and special education consulting services.
Jean M. Estes, ESQ. Special Education Law: Specializes in representation of student interests in Section 504 plan meetings, IEP and BIP meetings, Manifestation Determination Review meetings, mediations, and in Juvenile Court proceedings.
Family Voice Atlanta: Helps families effectively advocate for their child’s educational needs.
Mother Hen: Provides information and resources for parents of children who struggle in school.
The Preston Law Firm: Janet Preston is an expert in special education law and has represented students with disabilities in public schools across the metro Atlanta area since 2010.

Online Learning:

Thrive International Academy: Offers customized tutoring, mentoring, and homeschooling through an online platform that caters to the unique needs of children with disabilities.

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