The Saint André Bessette, CSC, Scholar Program is an academic support program for students with identified learning disabilities, other medical conditions that affect learning, and students who have been struggling to demonstrate consistent, academic progress. Most candidates for the program may have an IEP, Service Plan, ICEP, Psychological Evaluation, or a physician’s medical diagnosis.
The Saint Andre Scholar program is a four-year program. Students are individually assessed and placed into academic levels of support by the Andre Center Staff. The course placement assessment is done on a yearly basis. The main goal of the Saint Andre Scholar Program is to build academic independence in the students the program serves. The staff consists of Special Education Learning Specialists and subject-specific content teachers. Academic interventions and accommodations are implemented for students based on individual learning needs supported by documentation.
The Notre Dame Bridge Program is a high school transition intervention for incoming Andre Scholar freshmen. At the completion of the Bridge Program students are placed in the courses that best meet their level of academic ability.
Academic Support Level
Highest Level of Support
Basic Level Courses with the Andre Study Hall
Moderate Level of Support
Courses with an Andre Study Hall
Least Level of Support
College Prep Courses along with drop-in support in an Andre Study Hall
Is the Saint André Scholar Program considered a Special Education Program?
No, however, Notre Dame students who are identified in need of academic learning services will have a Service Plan put in place to support their learning. Maine Township School District 207 works in connection with Notre Dame to identify and continue learning services to Notre Dame students. Notre Dame will determine the services that can be provided on the Notre Dame campus. Students who do not qualify for a Service Plan, but have other forms of educational differences documented, will be academically supported by the Saint Andre Scholar Program as well. Students who have this form of documentation will be placed on an Academic Intervention Monitoring Plan (AIM).
Notre Dame College Prep attempts to provide reasonable accommodations in order to support the student’s participation in his courses and learning experiences. The Director of the Saint Andre Scholar Program, in consultation with the student, student’s teachers, student’s counselor and student’s parent(s), will decide the accommodation(s) that a student receives on a case-by-case basis.
• attending the tutorial center during study hall • preferential seating • extended time on assessments • testing in a separate location • using audio books • foreign language exemption • access to a support study hall for four years if needed
It must be noted that Notre Dame College Prep will determine whether certain accommodations are reasonable with respect to our resources, training of the teachers in the general education classroom, and the perceived fairness and respect for students within a particular course. Notre Dame College Prep can only consider the possibility of an accommodation if a student and his parent/guardian are able to demonstrate a legitimate reason by an appropriate professional qualified to make such a diagnosis and submission of proper documentation.
Is there anything special incoming freshmen need to do?
Incoming Saint André Scholar Program freshmen are required to attend a four-week summer program (Notre Dame Bridge Program) prior to enrollment. Students in the Bridge Program will be placed into the appropriate freshmen courses at the conclusion of the four-week program. The Notre Dame Bridge Program assists with course placement and supports the transition from junior high to high school.