The Hillside School is proud to announce that the School has been awarded reaccreditation for grades K-8 from The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools.
The School is among the 100 schools and school systems in 11 states and Puerto Rico and seven countries that have earned accreditation or reaccreditation, the gold standard for measuring and advancing school improvement.
Hillside is an independent school for bright children who also have language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia. As the only school of its kind in the greater Lehigh Valley, its students come from nine counties and more than 20 school districts. “Our goal is to provide our students with a high-quality educational experience and to prepare them for success in school and throughout life,” said Donna Henry, Head of School.
Accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards.
The 12 Standards for Accreditation are: mission; governance and leadership; school improvement planning; finances; facilities; school organization and staff; health and safety; educational program; assessment and evidence of student learning; student services; student life and activities, and information resources.
Mrs. Henry further explained that the accreditation process began over a year ago with a self-study that required input from school leaders, teachers, and parents. Following the self-study, two Accreditation Officers from Middle States conducted an on-site visit to examine school operations and interview stakeholders.
The Hillside School was invited to participate in MSA’s Sustaining Excellence Protocol which requires it to conduct primary research and host a colloquium for the surrounding school community at large. The colloquium titled “Effective Writing Instruction” is slated for spring 2019. It will allow Hillside to share results of its research and corresponding program development.
About The Hillside School
The Hillside School is an independent school for students in kindergarten through 8th grade with language-based learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia, as well as other disabilities that affect learning, i.e. auditory and visual processing disorders, working memory deficits, ADHD, sensory processing disorders. They provide explicit multi-sensory and differentiated instruction embedded with strategies that allow students to experience success. Through integrated academic experiences that focus on individual strengths, students acquire an understanding of learning as a process and utilize assistive technology to help surmount areas of weakness and to augment the curriculum. The nurturing environment of The Hillside School fosters self-awareness, builds self-esteem and promotes self-advocacy skills for use beyond their walls.
Information Provided By:
The Hillside School
Lindsey Seltzer, Communications and Development Associate
2697 Brookside Road
Macungie, PA 18062
lseltzer@hillsideschool.org
