Lake Michigan Catholic Schools recognizes the beauty and potential inherent within each student. In an effort to foster continued growth, the school embraces the challenge to provide assistance and programs to serve students with special needs according to the resources available within/to the school. Parents are considered an integral part of the process.

Lake Michigan Catholic Schools provides for a normal range of learning differences and serves students whose instructional program requires minimal adjustments. The system does not offer direct special education instruction. It does, however, provide administrative services to coordinate with resident public schools for the screening and diagnostic evaluation of students and the development of an Adjusted Educational Plan (“AEP”), or Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or a 504 Accommodation Plan, and/or a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). Direct special education services are provided by the public school district in which the child resides with input and support from the Lake Michigan Catholic Schools.

Adjustments that allow a student access to the general curriculum, but do not fundamentally lower the standard or expectation of the course, are available to students on an individual basis determined by learning needs and a documented disability. Adjustments do not release students from demonstrating the required knowledge. Rather, adjustments provide students with disabilities the support they need to demonstrate what they know and understand.

Lake Michigan Catholic Schools strives to address and make appropriate adjustments for special learning needs, but in some cases it may not be feasible. If the system does not have the resources to address the need that has emerged, if an appropriate education requires more than minimal adjustments, if the student seriously disrupts other students’ learning, or if the student puts the safety of staff or other students at risk, enrollment may be terminated. In such cases, Lake Michigan Catholic Schools will attempt to assist families in finding appropriate alternatives.