QUICK FACTS

Max Student Ratio: 3:1
Grades: K-12
Co-Educational
CDE Certified NPS

Kinship Academy is a nurturing learning environment that engages the whole child academically, socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. The curriculum responds to individual student learning needs by offering a variety of educational approaches: using children’s natural interests to build strengths and remediate weaknesses. The focus is on building a solid personal foundation of knowledge and skills and a love of learning. We use the zones of regulation model for social-emotional development, and the Michelle Garcia Winner approach of Social Thinking.

OUR VISION

Our students won’t just survive school, they will thrive and harness their creativity, innovativeness, and unique abilities to share with their communities and the world. We help them see they have many choices for how they can show up in the world, in their academics and social-emotional learning.

OUR MISSION

Kinship Academy strives to provide strength-based, individualized education to students in grades K-12 struggling with mild to moderate disabilities such as:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) including High-Functioning Autism (HFA), Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NLD)

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Learning Disabilities

OUR METHOD

  • Multi-Age & Multi-Ability

    • Individualized academic instruction within a consistent educational environment

    • Staff communicates with professionals to help student achieve and maintain stability

    • Support Peer Modeling

    • Provide Low Student Ratio (3:1)

    • Develop students’ sense of belonging & empathy for themselves and others (Social-Emotional Learning)

    • Build a community

    • Students are supportive and accepted/accepting

    • 3 Group Meetings: morning, mid-day, afternoon where Individualized goals are part of group plan for the day

    • Integrate Social Learning in every environment.

    • Daily Social Learning class

    • Support the Home/School Partnership and Communication

    • Nurture a caring and compassionate environment

    • Facilitate Social Awareness

  • Credentialed and Experienced Staff

    • Recognize and leverage developmental stages

    • Flexibility and collaboration amongst staff

    • Teach via multi-sensory

    • Apply the Scientific Method to teaching and learning daily

    • Social-Emotional Learning tools

    • Provide appropriate and in-the-moment intervention

    • Incorporate strategies from various research-based programs; no two students are alike

    • Positive feedback to encourage open minds

    • Support transitioning into larger environments

    • Access to Certified Speech, OT and Consoluning

    • On site behavioral specialist and interventionist

    • Certified from the California Department of Education as a Non-public school

  • Individualized Teaching and Learning

    • Make the abstract concrete via Experiential Learning (field trips, role playing, hands-on activities, etc.)

    • Structure free time for success (free time choices pre-determined by staff)

    • Specifically support Executive Functioning and Social Emotional learning

    • Apply creative methodologies to teaching Common Core

    • Customize and adapt Homework to fit the child and family

Services

  • Speech and Language

    • Our speech and language services are offered by speech language pathologists (SLPs), who are experts in communication.

    • SLPs assess student abilities and work with our teachers to develop strong communication skills.

    • Students work with SLPs individually, or in group sessions with other students.

    • SLPs look at many components of speech including reading, writing, articulation, fluency, and literacy.

  • Counseling

    • Counselors support students in their social-emotional development.

    • School staff and counselors work together to identify challenges and implement individualized program changes to best support student development through evidence-based practices.

  • Occupational Therapy

    • Our occupational therapists (OTs) work on developing fine and gross motor skills to increase success in daily life.

    • Fine motor skills involve small muscle movements. Writing, drawing, typing, building with small blocks, and using scissors are fine motor tasks.

    • Gross motor skills involve large muscles. Sitting upright, running, jumping, using a bicycle, and riding a scooter are gross motor skills.