Student Support Services

At Graded, Student Support Services are designed to meet the diverse needs of our learners by fostering social-emotional well-being, supporting academic growth, and promoting English language development. Through an inclusive, collaborative approach, we strive to ensure that every student has the tools, strategies, and support needed to thrive.

Our Student Support Services team—including Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Counseling, English Language Learners (ELL), Intervention, and Optimal Learning Services (OLS)—works closely with teachers, families, and school leadership to provide coordinated support for students. Graded uses a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework to organize services across three levels of support.

Tier 1: Universal Supports (Available to All Students)
All students benefit from high-quality, inclusive classroom instruction. Classroom teachers implement evidence-based instructional strategies and collaborate with specialists to ensure all learners have meaningful access to the curriculum.

Tier 2: Targeted Supports (For Students Requiring Additional Assistance)
Students who need additional support may participate in targeted, short-term interventions delivered in small groups or receive specialized assistance through pull-out or in-class support, depending on their individual needs.

Tier 3: Intensive Supports (For Students Requiring Intensive Individualized Support)
Students with more complex or ongoing needs receive individualized support coordinated by Student Support Services specialists. Services are tailored to each student’s strengths, goals, and learning profile through collaboration with teachers and families.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Counseling

Graded’s SEL Counseling program supports students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Our counselors work alongside OLS, ELL, and Intervention specialists as part of the broader Student Support Services team to provide coordinated, student-centered support.

This multidisciplinary approach ensures that students receive services tailored to their unique strengths and needs while promoting continuity of care throughout their educational journey at Graded.

For more detailed information, please refer to our Guide to SEL Counseling at Graded.

English Language Learners (ELL)

Graded’s English Language Learners (ELL) Program values linguistic diversity and is committed to fostering belonging for all students. We empower multilingual learners to develop the language skills necessary to access the curriculum, participate fully in school life, and reach their academic potential.

Instruction supports both social and academic language development while honoring students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Student placement and services are determined using multiple sources of evidence, including the WIDA Framework, classroom performance, and teacher input. This comprehensive approach also informs decisions about students’ readiness to transition out of ELL services.

Lower School
In the Lower School, students receive support through a combination of in-class and pull-out instruction.

In-class support: ELL teachers collaborate and may co-teach with classroom teachers to ensure instruction is accessible to multilingual learners through whole-group, small-group, and individualized support.
Pull-out support: Students receive focused language instruction in small groups outside the homeroom classroom to strengthen targeted language skills.

Middle School and High School
In the Middle School and High School, students receive support through in-class services and/or English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses. ELL teachers collaborate with subject-area teachers to make academic content accessible while supporting students’ language development. Support may include co-teaching, small-group instruction, individualized language coaching, and targeted strategies aligned with classroom learning objectives.

For more detailed information, please refer to our Guide to ELL at Graded.

Optimal Learning Services (OLS)

The Optimal Learning Services (OLS) Program promotes equitable access to learning and values neurodiversity as an essential part of our inclusive community. OLS specialists partner with students, families, and teachers to help each learner maximize their strengths while addressing areas of challenge.

Students who qualify for OLS may receive support through one or more of the following services:

Direct Services: Students with a Student Support Plan receive individualized instruction based on specific goals, accommodations, or modifications. Support may be provided through in-class services or an academic support class offering intervention, remediation, and instruction aligned with grade-level standards or individualized learning goals.
Consultation and Accommodation Plans: Students with documented Accommodation Plans receive classroom accommodations that are primarily implemented by classroom teachers, with ongoing consultation from OLS specialists.
Monitoring: Students who have previously received services or have a documented diagnosis but do not currently require direct support continue to be monitored to ensure their ongoing success.

For more detailed information, please refer to our Guide to OLS at Graded.