Reason to Give
A few years ago, the idea of an inclusive, independent elementary school where students' goals are individualized and the instruction is differentiated, was still a vision. Now, every day at The IDEAL School of Manhattan, that vision is a reality. Students are reaching their full academic potential as a result of our small class sizes, team teaching, personalized learning plans, and individualized curriculum. The halls are filled with beautiful artwork and the sounds of singing, instruments being played, and students performing dramatically as part of our strong creative arts program. Performance and portfolio-based assessments allow students to highlight their interests and abilities. Our community of learners represents true diversity and within this close-knit community, friendships and bonds have formed among our students and parents.
The support and generosity of The IDEAL School's many donors and benefactors make all of this possible. The IDEAL School is a tuition-based program that does not receive any city, state, or federal funding. Each donor's gift makes an immediate impact on the lives of our students enrolled for 2008-2009, and enables us to move closer toward our goal of becoming a pre-kindergarten through 8th Grade school with two fully inclusive classes per grade. Approximately 40% of our current families participate in the school's generous financial aid program, and giving to IDEAL also helps to maintain this economic diversity that we greatly value. A crucial part of the school's mission is to create a model for inclusive educational practices and to help replicate this model across the country. Your investment in our students and school furthers this important societal goal.
The IDEAL School challenges the notion that children with special needs are not capable of learning with their peers or contributing to a classroom and should be segregated. Children learn and play with peers with a range of differences and quickly begin to embrace these differences. Our students see that everyone has strengths and society sees young people with special needs who are confident, capable, fully integrated members of society. Every student gets to be a mentor and leader, so children realize that we can all learn from one another. Friendships form between students regardless of ability, breaking down social barriers. Families learn that everyone is a valued member of the community. By supporting inclusion, your gift helps to break down stereotypes and prejudices and to change the perceptions of individuals with special needs in society at large.
