Student Support Services

To support a student’s academic or social-emotional well-being, Student Support Services will help coordinate services by offering support from an MCDS Learning Specialist and/or counselor as well as may recommend further support at an additional cost. This might include counseling from an outside clinician, speech therapy, occupational therapy and/or tutoring. Tutoring support often can be offered on-campus. The team gathers information and develops an appropriate plan that may include the following services:

• Small group or individual academic support
• Small group or individual counseling
• Classroom accommodations, such as preferential seating, extended time, behavior modification plan, and other learning tools

If a student's tuition is set at below the top of the index, MCDS covers the costs for services such as one-to-one support at the same rate as the student's indexed tuition rate.  

For support services initiated by the family and not recommended as necessary by MCDS, these costs do not qualify under the indexed tuition policy.  If you have questions about costs that are covered under the indexed tuition policy, please contact Keets Young.

When a child struggles or does not seem to be making progress in a particular area, Student Support Services works with the classroom teacher to identify and address concerns. School screenings, informal assessments, standardized tests, observations, and student work guide our interventions.

At each grade level, the team meets regularly to gather information and to design and implement a support plan. Teams consist of teachers/advisors, division head, counselors, and learning specialists. The school team and parents communicate regularly to monitor progress.

We respect parents as key observers and advocates for their child. Parents are encouraged to contact the child’s teacher/advisor with any concerns. In addition, parents may contact the appropriate grade level learning specialist, Lower or Upper School counselor, and/or division head.

The school counselor’s role is to ensure the wellbeing of all students through direct and indirect services. The counselor meets with students one-to-one or in groups to address issues of concern. They consult with faculty, staff, parents, division heads, and outside professionals to address students' social, emotional, and behavioral needs. The counselor monitors student progress and maintains communication with parents, teachers, and other professionals. Parents or students may request counseling services or outside referrals. Parental consent is needed if a student wants to see a counselor on more than an occasional basis.

MCDS is committed to serving the needs of all students. While we do our best to support students with mild to moderate challenges, the services we provide may not adequately support the needs of a particular student. When necessary, we refer families for outside intervention. In rare circumstances, after careful consideration and consultation with families and outside professionals, it may be in the best interest of the student to be placed in a more appropriate educational setting. MCDS provides information and support to help families find an alternate school.

Specialists/tutors are highly trained in specific areas of education and/or programs designed to address the individual learning needs of students, including but not limited to speech, reading, writing, math, organization, attention, memory, and self-advocacy. SSS staff carefully matches individual students with specialists/tutors whose experience and education best meet their specific learning needs. Specialists/tutors collaborate and work very closely with parents, student support services, and teachers. 

Communication is a priority and can be readily available as needs arise. Additionally, if a student is enrolled in tutoring or the Transitions program, families will receive periodic written reports detailing goals, progress and recommendations. 

Counselors and learning specialists work with teachers and families to monitor any support put in place for a child and help make decisions about changes to that support. The duration of support depends on the progress and needs of the child, and the need for support can change over time. Some students require a short intervention, while others have more complex profiles and continue to benefit from additional support. The need for support will be reviewed on an on-going basis.

When SSS initiates the referral for a student whose tuition is set at below the top of the index, MCDS covers the costs for services at the same rate as the student's indexed tuition rate. Referrals initiated by the family and not approved as necessary by MCDS do not qualify to be covered under the indexed tuition policy. 

If you have questions regarding indexed tuition, please contact the Indexed Tuition Office.

Throughout the school year, teachers and/or members of SSS administer various screenings and assessments to all students to help determine academic readiness/achievement and to monitor student progress. The school will share results with parents when there is a concern.

In addition, the school routinely administers two standardized tests. Each February, we administer the Educational Records Bureau-Comprehensive Testing Program 5 (ERB – CTP 5) to grades 3-7. In the spring of 7th grade and the fall of 8th grade, the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is administered. The computerized test results are emailed to parents.

When there are concerns that require more extensive and in depth evaluation than our observation and school screenings/assessments provide, we may recommend a formal evaluation. Professionals outside of MCDS administer these types of evaluations, which may include speech and language, occupational therapy, psycho-educational and neuropsychological batteries. Resources and contact numbers of evaluators are provided.

MCDS encourages parents to share evaluation results with us so that we can provide and monitor effective support. The cost of these outside evaluations is not included in tuition, but, if recommended by a learning specialist, is supported by MCDS at the same rate as the family’s indexed tuition. If the cost of a formal evaluation is a hardship, please contact Keets Young in the Indexed Tuition Office.

MCDS is committed to supporting students with a wide variety of needs, regardless of whether or not they have been diagnosed with a learning disability. Each year, approximately 20% of MCDS students receive some type of support during the academic year, which reflects learning needs in the general population.