Grades K – 5

Elementary

Foundations that stick: reading, math, self-regulation, and the social skills that make learning together possible.

Our elementary classrooms are calm, structured, and alive with multi-sensory learning. We build foundational literacy and numeracy using research-backed frameworks — Reading Milestone, Touch Math, Handwriting Without Tears — while weaving in sensory breaks, the Alert Program, and daily therapy integration so students stay regulated and available for learning.

Each child's day is shaped by their IEP. Some students work on pre-literacy decoding while others are ready for chapter books; the structure of the classroom makes both possible in the same community.

What this looks like day-to-day

  • Small, consistent classroom groupings
  • Morning meeting and sensory check-in
  • Multi-sensory reading & math blocks
  • Push-in therapy with OT, Speech, Alert Program
  • Specials: Art, PE, Martial Arts
  • Structured lunch & unstructured play skills
Grades 6 – 8

Middle School

The bridge years: deeper content, emerging independence, and the self-advocacy skills that set students up for high school.

Middle school at Learning Links is where students begin to drive more of their own learning. Reading and math instruction shift toward grade-level content using Reading Street, Houghton Mifflin, Momentum Math, and Math Connect — always differentiated to the student, never the other way around.

Executive function — planning, organizing, following multi-step tasks — becomes a named part of the curriculum. Therapists and teachers coach students to recognize their own sensory needs, ask for help, and use coping strategies proactively.

Academic frameworks used

  • Reading Street
  • Houghton Mifflin
  • Momentum Math
  • Math Connect (McGraw Hill)
  • Scott Foresman Science
  • Continued OT & Speech support
Grades 9 – 12

High School

Rigorous where it needs to be, supportive where it has to be — and always pointed at what comes next.

Our high school program aligns to Florida standards while staying rigorously individualized. Students work toward a high school diploma or certificate of completion based on their IEP pathway, with options for career exploration, internships, and community-based learning built in alongside core academics.

Starting in 9th grade, transition planning is woven into every year. By 11th and 12th grade, we're actively preparing students for the post-secondary world — whether that's college with supports, vocational programs, our own STEPS program, or supported employment.

Transition preparation

  • Career interest inventories
  • Job-site visits & shadowing
  • Daily living skills instruction
  • Self-advocacy & disclosure coaching
  • Community access training
  • Family transition meetings annually
Signature Program
Post-Secondary

STEPS Transition Program

Our signature post-secondary pathway. Designed from scratch for young adults who are ready to build lives of meaning, contribution, and as much independence as possible.

STEPS extends the Learning Links community past high school into real adult-world readiness. Students in STEPS are treated as the young adults they are — with schedules, responsibilities, and expectations built around work, independent living, and community participation.

The program runs in parallel with the rest of the school so STEPS students maintain peer relationships they've had for years, while spending significant time outside the classroom in real-world settings: worksites, grocery stores, gyms, public transit, and local businesses.

Three pillars of the STEPS program

Every STEPS student's week is built around these three areas, with the balance tuned to their individual goals and family priorities.

Vocational Training On-site job skills, workplace behavior, resume building, and structured community worksite rotations with job coaches.
Daily Living Skills Cooking, money management, hygiene, household tasks, transportation, scheduling, and self-care routines practiced weekly.
Community Integration Community outings, recreation, civic engagement, and the social skills needed to navigate adult relationships and settings.

What graduates go on to do

  • Supported employment placements
  • Continued vocational certifications
  • Day programs & community services
  • Volunteering & civic participation
  • Independent or supported living
  • Lifelong Learning Links community ties
Curriculum Frameworks

Proven frameworks, individualized delivery.

Every teacher at Learning Links is trained in the frameworks below. We don't pick one program and force students into it — we match the framework to the learner.

Reading & Literacy

Reading Milestone Literacy Reading Street Houghton Mifflin Wright Group Phonics

Math

Momentum Math Math Connect (McGraw Hill) Touch Math

Other core

Handwriting Without Tears Scott Foresman Science Alert Program (sensory)

Every student has an annually-updated IEP.

Developed collaboratively with teachers, therapists, and parents — ensuring each child's program evolves with them, year over year.

In-House Therapies

A full therapeutic team, on campus.

All Learning Links therapies are delivered by state-licensed professionals, in-house — so students never miss instruction, and therapists collaborate directly with the teachers who know each child best.

Speech Therapy

Language, articulation, pragmatics, and alternative communication (AAC) supports. Integrated into classroom routines, not siloed in a pull-out room.

State-licensed SLP

Occupational Therapy

Fine motor skills, handwriting, self-care, self-regulation, and sensory integration — woven into the school day, not just scheduled blocks.

State-licensed OT

Alert Program

An evidence-based sensory self-regulation curriculum. Students learn to recognize their own "engine level" and proactively manage it — a lifelong skill.

Integrated school-wide

Physical Education

Daily movement, coordination, body awareness, and structured team play — adapted for different abilities and sensory profiles.

Certified PE instructor

Martial Arts

Focus, discipline, impulse control, and body awareness through structured, respectful practice. A favorite among our students.

On-site instructor

Art

Expression, fine motor development, and sensory exploration through varied media. A place where different learners often shine first.

Integrated art program

Ready to see it in action?

The best way to understand our programs is to walk the halls and meet the team. Tours are available year-round.

Start admissions Call (305) 271-3500