The John F. Kennedy School is dedicated to creating a supportive learning environment for all students, including those with certain special learning needs. The school provides accommodations and resources in keeping with our rigorous dual language program, and as broad as possible within staff limitations. JFKS does not offer a full special education program, and in individual cases it is sometimes determined that the special needs of a student would be more effectively met in a monolingual or smaller classroom setting. However, students with special needs do attend JFKS and are supported with a variety of strategies and resources.
Staff and Program Development
It is a JFKS goal to provide improved services for students with special needs due to increased recognition of the importance of integration in German public schools. This is also in accordance with the mandate of the Berlin School Law to help all students reach their full learning potential. JFKS provides regular and ongoing professional development opportunities for its teachers in the areas of special learning needs, differentiation of instruction and use of the most up to date ways to support these students. The school has also sought and received additional funding from the Office of Overseas Schools to broaden its special needs program.
Elementary School
Does your child have a disability or do you suspect s/he does? Here is some basic information about Special Education Services at JFKS and how to access our services.
Overview
- JFKS is able to help students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADD/ADHD), perception processing disorders and milder forms of Asperger Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- The school is also able to serve hearing- and sight-impaired or physically- or mentally-handicapped students, if outside support is provided by the school district, the child’s parents, the health insurance company or the employer of the child’s parents.
- The student support team at JFKS is composed of special education teachers, counselors, and school social workers, each with their own roles and responsibilities in supporting students in need.
Important Things to Know
As a German public school, JFKS is aligned with the German school system of school support when it comes to servicing students with special needs. It is important to note that this system varies greatly from systems found in other countries.
- For all formal accommodation plans, a diagnosis by a medical doctor is required; however, the specific requirements to receive various supports depend on the specific diagnoses. Receiving official status may take up to a year.
- The diagnosis cannot be older than three years.
- Students with weaknesses in math and German language may be eligible for accommodations based on internal assessments conducted by qualified staff members. Parents of students impacted will be notified in such cases.
- The class conference decides which accommodations are appropriate for the particular student, these are documented and the parents receive a copy of the accommodations page. Each of the student’s teachers reviews the accommodations plan and has access to the plans.
Students, teachers, and parents are encouraged to complete this form when there is a concern about emotional, social, or academic development and someone from our student support team will get back to you within two weeks. New students or those admitted for the next school year with identified learning disabilities should also fill out the form (you will need to include proof of your admission to the school in any communications with the student support team).
High School
In the high school at JFKS, services and accommodations for students with a diagnosed learning disability are provided in accordance with Berlin School Law and standard procedures in the United States. Accommodations for the MSA (Mittlerer Schulabschluss, end of 10th grade examination) and Abitur exams are determined by Berlin regulations; AP (Advanced Placement) exam accommodations are regulated by the College Board.
Files of students with special needs (language, Math, AD(H)D, milder forms of Asperger Syndrome / Autism Spectrum Disorder, physical disabilities) from the JFKS Elementary School are managed by the Middle School Counselor (grades 6-9), who is responsible for:
- Making teachers aware of students with special needs at the start of the school year,
- Making sure that psycho-educational and other evaluations are up to date, and counseling parents if more information / evaluation is necessary,
- Calling and facilitating grade level class conferences early in the school year, at which supportive measures and accommodations are decided upon and documented (a principal is present and signs the accommodations form for each student, and parents are informed by letter from the principal)
- Maintaining the accommodations file in Haus Reil
New students with identified learning disabilities are required to submit current psycho-educational or other evaluations, in order to receive accommodations, and are handled according to the above procedure by HS Student Services Coordinator, Mr. Getschow (dgetschow@jfksberlin.org).
