As a Catholic high school committed to offering comprehensive academic programs for all learners, Totino-Grace offers several support services for students who struggle with their learning. One of those services is Learning Lab, a course that makes it possible for many students who experience difficulty in learning to achieve success in the classroom. Developed in 1976 by Brother Michael Rivers, the Learning Lab is not a "special education" program by strict definition. While some students in Learning Lab do have diagnosed disabilities that interfere with their ability to learn and that may qualify them for special services in a public school system, other students are in the program because of difficulty with academic motivation or organization.
Students who qualify for Learning Lab are scheduled into this elective course for one period per day. The Learning Lab teachers, who are licensed Special Education instructors, work with students in a 1:6 classroom setting to provide academic assistance for the students’ core subjects and to teach study skills and test-taking strategies.
The Learning Lab teachers monitor the students' progress in their many subjects, and act as communication liaisons between classroom teachers and parents. If Learning Lab students have an Individual Accommodation Plan (504), the Learning Lab teachers also monitor that plan and provide teachers with a variety of methods to encourage academic success for their students.
Initial placement in Learning Lab is based on qualifying Placement Exam scores and completion of a Learning Lab application by parents. Continued enrollment in Learning Lab is based on a student's individual learning needs and academic performance. Initial placement of students in Learning Lab is overseen by the Academic Office and School Counseling Services. For more information, contact School Counseling at 763-586-6302.