TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - For the very first time ever, nationwide research is exploring ways to identify children with learning disabilities early and help them get the attention they need in school.
And it's all being done at Florida State University.
WTXL spoke with a Tallahassee mother who thinks this research can change the game for children who learn at their own level.
Hunter is one student who loves going to school now that he's in the right learning environment.
"Third grade was a tough year. We almost didn't make it through it. But we decided to pull him out of public school and put him in private school. He has done leaps and bounds. He loves going to school," said Timberly Johnson, Hunter's mother.
That's because he's coming to the Achieve Academy, where each student learns in a way that's unique.
Dr. Adrienne Peters started this school three years ago to focus on helping special needs students.
"All children can learn. They just learn differently. So I wanted to see if these children, if put in an environment that provided them one-on-one instruction, taught them at the level that they were currently at, would we see learning gains, would we see behavioral changes," said Dr.Peters.
She found the answer is yes. Johnson says her son, Hunter, reads and does math on a 5th grade level right where he's supposed to be.
"They teach specific to where these kids are at, and it makes my life as a parent with a disability child so much easier. School is not a stress for us," said Johnson.
One of the things they do here at The Achieve Academy is limiting the learning group sizes so teachers can focus on each student's strengths and build upon them in all core curriculum areas.
The innovative work being done at FSU aims for earlier identification of children who will struggle in school and for quicker intervention.
Research that The Achieve Academy and other schools like it are eager to apply to students' lives.
"Many times we don't know where to go. We don't know where to find materials, strategies, or other educators that may be doing some of the same things we're doing to help kids with special needs. So this gives us a one stop shop," said Dr. Peters.
