High School

Student Support Services

The Student Support Services Program at Valley Christian High School serves students that have been identified as having cognitive, medical, psychological, or physical conditions that may interfere with their academic performance. The learning and physical disabilities of these students have been fully documented by the appropriate professionals. This documentation will provide the staff with a clear definition of a student’s strengths and weaknesses and will facilitate the development of an appropriate academic support plan. The Student Support Services counselor will work with a potential student and his/her family during the admission process to determine if Valley Christian High School is an appropriate placement. The goal of the Student Support Services Program is to support students with special needs during high school in order to prepare them to succeed in college and the workplace.

The Student Support Services program is not a pullout or resource program, and does not include remedial special education classes. Thus, the needs of students with severe learning disabilities cannot be met through this program. The student who is best served through Valley Christian’s Student Support Services program is one who is able to succeed in a college-preparatory program with accommodations in the mainstream classroom. The typical classroom accommodations we can provide are as follows:

  • Extended time for assignments and testing
  • Preferential seating
  • Teacher Notes
  • Use of assistive technology and appropriate software programs such as Kurzweil when appropriate
  • Alternative setting for testing
  • Use of appropriate visual aids
The Student Support Services Staff will work collaboratively with teachers, parents, and the student to implement the necessary accommodations in the classroom in order to facilitate academic success.
The Student Support Services counselor at VCHS works with the counselors, teachers, and staff to develop an academic support plan for students with identified learning differences or other conditions which require accommodations and/or modifications to the regular curriculum in order to facilitate academic success.

Services Available:
  • Annual development of a personalized academic support plan
  • Extended time on SAT, ACT, and other standardized testing
  • Access to state-of-the-art technology, including Kurzweil 3000, reading support software
  • Accommodations and/or modifications to the curriculum when deemed appropriate
  • Referrals to clinicians, tutors, and outside agencies specializing in learning differences
Who qualifies for these services?
  • Students who have been assessed by a licensed educational psychologist and/or a medical professional, and have been diagnosed with a learning disability or other handicapping condition
  • Students who are currently receiving support services at their middle or high school
  • Students who are currently experiencing academic difficulties and may be considering further assessments to identify learning disabilities
If you have a student who may fit the above criteria, and they are interested in attending Valley Christian High School, contact:

Heidi Vals Student Support Services Counselor (408) 513-2499 or hvals@vcs.net