Individualized Academic Program (IAP)

ROA is an accredited school that provides several select academic tracks. Programming begins with the development of an Individualized Academic Program (IAP). The IAP is designed with parents and guardians to meet the needs of each particular student. Specific needs and wants may include: scheduling alternatives, self-paced programs, co-op programs, supports to address learning difficulties, social skills or counseling. Intensive daily supports and therapies are available. Accommodations can be made for life situations that require educational alternatives.

Academic Programs

River Oaks Academy serves students from Kindergarten through twelfth (K-12) grades. The school is approved by the Texas Education Agency and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. These credentials indicate that our academic programs follow requirements of State rules, federal law and accreditation standards. We elect to be independently audited every three years in order to maintain the strength of the program. All tracks are offered in a small classroom environment. Consistent with this approach and these credentials the following academic programs are offered:

• Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) – This track offers the State of Texas required curriculum. The extensive knowledge elements at each grade level can be found on the Texas Education Agency website (www.tea.state.tx.us).
• College Prep – This track offers the State of Texas recommended curriculum for gaining entry into colleges and universities. The requirements of this track can be found in the Texas Education Code at Subchapter E §74.53. Recommended High School Program.
• Business and Vocational Prep – In addition to the TEKS, this track focuses on modern day business and job skills. Part of its focus is on computer applications and technological equipment.
• Life Skills – FACES program – This track offers life skills training for those with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, Mental Retardation, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

ADD Summer Camp

River Oaks Academy offers a specialized Summer Camp for children/adolescents (ages 5 to 15) with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and ADHD),  emotional or behavioral problems. More information here.

Academic Support Programs

River Oaks Academy also offers specialized programming for those with learning differences, particular styles and behavioral health needs. These programs include the possibility for college admission or vocational training.

• Learning Differences. Some students require specific strategies to compensate for learning differences or learning disabilities. These problems typically affect reading, writing and arithmetic and therefore secondarily affect most other areas of academic learning. There is a wide and frustrating range of good and bad theories and approaches to helping students with learning differences. The one that fits your child may not be the one fits another. Our IAP approach seeks to find the strategies that work for each child. More information on this issue can be found at the Learning Disabilities of America web site at http://www.ldaamerica.org.
• Learning Styles. Some students have different learning styles that typically include visual, auditory, and multi-sensory learners. ROA carries or finds the curriculum that fits your child’s needs. We offer textbooks on tape, video series learning and on-line learning among others to enhance the teaching and learning opportunities.
• Social and Behavioral Supports. Some students have a need to develop social skills and emotional or behavioral control skills. These students may be diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder. ROA has licensed therapists and specialists who provide planned interventions and develop classroom strategies to help students develop ways of managing themselves and staying focused on their school work.

Evaluation and Treatment Services

Outpatient services. Some ROA students take advantage of confidential individual, group or family therapies to help their educational aspirations. Goals may include improvement in social functioning, communication skills, family and peer relationships, self-esteem and academic performance.

Day treatment services. ROA operates a JCAHO (Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited day treatment and intensive outpatient (IOP) program for those in need of intensive therapy services. These services include psychiatric services, daily individual and group therapy and twice-weekly family therapy. Case management services help families find the community resources and transition services they need to be able to stabilize the home environment and engage their student in productive leisure time activities. Students often attend the school program while receiving these services in order to keep up with their schoolwork.