Specialized Academic Instruction

Abacus Learning knows special education. The core group of teachers and administrators who have built Abacus Learning from the ground up are an even mix of Educational Specialists (credentialed special education teachers) and educators coming from a variety of disciplines.

In our experience, 90- 95% of all students with IEPs have a service called Specialized Academic Instruction or SAI on their IEPs. These are the students we know and have been working with through case management and direct instruction for almost two decades. Most SAI classes offered through public charter schools are very useful, but most are not delivered consistently enough or regularly enough to fully meet the needs of all students with IEPs.

With the tenants of Universal Design in mind, we have designed every class to meet the needs of all students. Bringing differentiated instruction and capitalizing on the unique learning styles of all our students in the virtual setting is a challenge. Toward making each class as meaningful as possible, we rely on the time tested practices of incorporating as many of the senses as possible, posting a clear agenda and clearly stating the instructional objectives and learning goals for each class.

Note to families who have students with IEPs:

As you review our class offerings, please note that we deliberately avoid attaching grade levels to our class titles. Many students are highly conscious of being in classes that are designated as being below their grade level which is a legitimate concern. For example, being a proud 6th grader and being in a 3rd grade math class can have a negative impact on the students’ morale, self-esteem and make a bad situation worse.

Also note that, while the students can see and hear their instructor, they cannot see or be seen by the other students. So, if our proud 6th grader feels that adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators is “below” him or her and feels embarrassed about being in a remedial class, they can be assured that no one sees them or their name.

Free Academic Support!

Everybody knows that there is no such thing as a free lunch, but, for many home school students in California there is such a thing as FREE academic support!

If you attend a home school/independent study charter school in the state of California, your school may provide you with a Learning Fund to pay for enrichment classes and courses. From horseback riding and piano lessons to the academic support Abacus Learning offers, your fund can be spent any way you want with the vendors your school has approved.

Don’t see us on your school’s vendor list? No problem. Contact your school and submit a request to have us added!