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SPECIAL PROGRAM
The American School of Madrid (ASM) has limited resources for children with special needs. Depending on the specific needs, ASM may be able to provide some support in order to assist in ensuring the student with special needs can successfully attend ASM for the duration of the family’s expected stay in Madrid. Support is provided mainly for academic and English language learner needs. Minimal support is available for students with behavioral or emotional needs. Although Spain has both psychiatrists and psychologists, ASM has found that they do not work in the same way as you would find in the United States. In addition, some medications that assist students with emotional and behavioral difficulties that are available in the United States are not available in Spain.
english as-a-second language & immersion english
This program is for students who have demonstrated high academic skills in their native language. The emphasis is placed on developing students' oral and written communications skills in English to enable them to reach a proficiency in the language within an accelerated time frame. The objective is to prepare them to continue their studies in the broad-based, university-oriented secondary school curriculum of ASM.
ESL classes for non-native English-speaking children between the ages of 8 - 16, are offered in the summer.
optimal match
The American School of Madrid does have an Optimal Match program designed to provide students with minor learning differences with an appropriate curriculum which matches his or her demonstrated pace of learning. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools each have a Student Study team comprised of faculty, teaching specialists, administrators, coordinators, and counselors that meet regularly to help coordinate the resources that are available to best meet student needs.
Learning resource center
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is the ASM Lower School support program which provides services for students in Grades 1 - 6 who need specialized instruction to learn basic skills and succeed in the regular classroom.
expercience spain program
This is a program which accommodates high school students (sophomores, juniors and seniors) from the U.S. and around the world during the fall or spring semesters, or both. Participants study a normal U.S. secondary school college-entrance program while immersing themselves in the wide variety of cultural opportunities that Spain, and Madrid in particular, offer.
APPLYING
Prior to applying to ASM, parents with children with special needs are requested to submit all pertinent documentation to ASM in order that the admissions committee can carefully analyze them to determine whether or not ASM has an appropriate program for their child(ren). Documentation that may be helpful would include Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), educational evaluation reports, 504 plans, evaluations from psychologists, doctor’s evaluations, teacher recommendations, etc.