Mission

The Learning Center believes each child…

• has the potential to succeed;
• deserves quality educational opportunities;
• needs a multidisciplinary plan that focuses on strengths and capabilities, while targeting academic, social, and therapeutic weaknesses;

Philosophy

The Learning Center believes that students excel when they are provided with individualized instruction, a strengths-based approach to learning and a safe, nurturing environment.

Progressive Pediatric Developmental Center (PPDC) is a non-profit 501(c)3 tax exempt organization incorporated in November 2009. PPDC was founded on the premise that children with disabilities and their families need one main location that encompasses quality therapies and interventions, progressive and life-skills education, and behavioral services. The ultimate goal of Progressive Pediatric Developmental Center is to provide all services needed by children with disabilities and their families.

Curricula, Evaluation, and Documentation

The Learning Center utilizes a variety of curriculum to meet the varying abilities of our students. We assess each child at the beginning of the school year across all therapy and educational domains through informal means and with the use of standardized testing. Some of the assessment tools that are utilized include:

• MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)
• Kaufman Test Of Educational Achievement, Third Edition (KTEA™-III)
• Hawaii Early Learning Profile 3-6 (HELP)
• Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT™-2)
• Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, 6th Edition (VMI)
• Gross Motor Scale
• Goldman Fristoe II (GFTA)
• Oral Written Language Scales (OWLS)
• Beckman Oral Motor Assessment
• Clinical Assessment of Articulation and Phonology (CAAP)
• Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF)

We have two processes for outlining academic and therapeutic goals for the school year.

1. Our teachers create an Individualized Developmental Plan (IDP) for each student. Within the IDP, specific academic and transition goals are listed. Parents are an essential part of the multi-disciplinary team and meetings are scheduled to discuss goals for the current school year.
   
   
2. Our therapists create a Multi-Disciplinary Therapy Plan (MTP) for each student. The MTP summarizes each discipline’s evaluation (Occupational, Physical, Speech and Music Therapy). Goals are listed and recommendations given based on the strengths and needs of each student. It is the parent’s ultimate decision on which therapies are selected for the given school year.

Academic progress is gained through the teachers’ use of a variety of methods of instruction and curriculum use. The following are some of the resources utilized:

• PAES (Practical Assessment Exploration System)
• Unique Learning System
• Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and Common Core Curriculum Standards
• CPALMS
• Life Centered Education through the Council for Exceptional Children
• BrainQuest
• BrainPop
• IXL
• Super Teacher
• National Geographic Science

Underlying all growth is each child’s need to feel safe and emotionally ready to learn. Our teachers are trained in Conscious Discipline®. To give you a glimpse of the Conscious Discipline model, an excerpt from the book, “Conscious Discipline® Building Resilient Classrooms” (page 16) by Dr. Becky A. Bailey, is provided. “Conscious Discipline is based on a Brain State Model that empowers us to shift from educational systems grounded in controlling others to cultures of learning based on safety, connection and problem solving. Conscious Discipline is organized around the Seven Powers for Conscious Adults that help the adult to manage her internal state (safety), the creation of the School Family that utilizes connection to foster cooperation and optimal brain development (connection), and the Seven Skills of Discipline that empower the adult with strategies to teach children to self-regulate and problem solve (problem-solving)."



Click here to learn more about Conscious Discipline