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Switzer
Learning
Center
improves
the
lives of
those
challenged
by
learning,
social,
and
emotional
difficulties
by
maximizing
their
educational
competence
and
psychological
well-being.
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Switzer
Learning
Center’s Goal
is to enable
those who are
experiencing
difficulties
with learning,
social and
emotional
adjustments:
-
Gain greater
insight into
their
difficulties,
and be more
tolerant of
learning,
behavioral
and
individual
differences;
-
Recognize
that they
have
strengths
that they
can use to
compensate
for
weaknesses;
-
Learn ways
to deal with
the negative
emotions and
low-self
esteem
developed
from years
of
unsuccessful
struggling;
-
Develop a
sense of
trust and
optimism
that
sustains
motivation
to learn and
apply
alternative
approaches
and
strategies
so that they
can be
successful
and happy in
school and
beyond.
With these new
tools, more than
5,000 Switzer
Center students
have turned
stumbling blocks
into
stepping-stones
to achieve
personal
competencies and
academic
successes
unobtainable in
conventional
academic
settings.
Please read our
non-discrimination
statement.
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Switzer Center
is a California nonprofit
501(c) (3) public benefit
tax-exempt corporation that
was founded in 1966 by Dr.
Janet Switzer, a pioneer in
the field of educational
therapy. Switzer Center
currently operates a special
education K-12th grade
nonpublic school, a
nonpublic agency, and a
diagnostic/treatment clinic
for students 5 through 22
years of age and their
parents or guardians, and
adults with severe learning
and emotional disabilities.
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Switzer Learning
Center’s
special education school
provides a
personalized academic
program in a therapeutic
environment for a
maximum of 144
students. Currently,
Switzer Center School
has one elementary, one
middle school, one
junior high and six high
school classrooms. more Each
of Switzer Center’s coed
classrooms has a maximum
of 12 students taught by
a credentialed special
education teacher and an
instructional aide.
Students are referred by
their school districts
because their public
schools are unable to
provide the specialized
services needed for
these children with
exceptional needs to be
academically and
socially successful.
Since Switzer School
students are legally
“public school students”
they must meet all the
same educational
curriculum and testing
requirements as their
peers in public schools.
Students attending
Switzer Center have one
or more of the following
handicapping
conditions: specific
learning disabilities
(e.g. dyslexia, reading,
mathematics, written
expression, motor
skills, communication,
memory, or attention
deficit and disruptive
behavior disorders),
severe emotional
disturbances
(schizophrenia, mood,
anxiety, adjustment,
personality disorders),
social and relational
difficulties, problems
related to physical or
sexual abuse or neglect,
or other health
impairments. While the
school population
varies, generally the
school is comprised of
approximately 34%
African Americans, 26%
Latino, 36% European
American, and 4% Asian
American students.
Approximately 35% of our
students live in
non-traditional home
environments (foster
care, group homes, or in
kinship care), 20% live
in below poverty level
households, and 14% have
learned English as a
second language.
All
students work towards
achieving their own
personalized academic,
classroom, social,
emotional, behavioral,
vocational and
transitional goals and
objectives. In
addition, every student
receives counseling
twice a week, and many
also receive speech and
language therapy,
educational therapy,
sensory-motor training,
and adaptive physical
education. Students may
also participate in
structured or
multi-sensory reading
programs, or dual enroll
with their home school,
El Camino College, or
Southern California
Regional Occupational
Center for vocational
training.
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