Special Education - VINE

Valley’s Individual Needs Enhancement (VINE)

At Valley Christian Schools, we believe that all people are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), and that all believers are indispensable to the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:21-27). The mission of Valley Christian Schools is to equip students to be culture changers for Christ by delivering academic excellence, facilitating spiritual growth, and building lifelong community. It is our desire, and we believe God’s will, to reach out and serve all the children that we are able, including those who have learning challenges. Therefore, beginning in August of 2006, Valley Christian High School began offering special education classes and accommodations for students with learning disabilities and other learning challenges.

We offer a program called VINE – Valley’s Individual Needs Enhancement. In VINE students are taught with content and methods that enhance, strengthen, and improve their individual needs so they can be successful in their classes, which in turn will help them to grow to their full God-given potential. However, we recognize that we are not able to service every child with special needs due to limitations on our finances, expertise, size, facilities, etc.

Admission to the VINE program will be based on the extent to which our resources can help your child succeed. Your communication to us about your child’s needs and submission of records and testing information will help us determine our ability to accommodate his/her challenges. In an effort to make the most informed decision regarding our ability to serve a student, testing may be required prior to admission into the VINE program. In general, significant struggles of a behavioral nature are more difficult for our program to accommodate. In addition, non-academic services and therapies (such as speech and occupational therapy) are not provided by Valley Christian Schools and must be arranged by the parent with another organization. Beginning in the 24-25 school year, we will have a Speech Therapist on the Tempe campus who will provide services to students who have a speech language impairment, and who need speech therapy.

As a private school, Valley does not receive government funding for special needs programs. Therefore, we are not legally bound to follow existing educational plans; however, the goals and recommendations contained in IEPs and other education plans will be considered in the development of an Individual Learning Plan as part of the VINE program.

In our desire to do all things to the glory of God, the VINE staff will seek to do everything possible to provide the best education for your child that we are able.

We look forward to what God has in store for us now as we endeavor to meet the needs of even more families. We would count it a privilege to partner with you in providing a Christian education for your child if the Lord leads you in our direction. May the Lord guide you in your decision-making regarding this important part of your child’s life.