The Liberty School – a private school that works with students with dyslexia, students who are gifted, or the twice-exceptional (gifted and dyslexic) – has been accredited for the first time.
“It was an incredible amount of work on our part, preparing the documentation and evidence before they sent their external review team,” said Liberty Head of School Christian Holmen. “But it gives outsiders assurances we’re effective, that we’re doing what we said we’re doing, and gives us legitimacy when we’re going for grants. And it can really help families applying for loans for tuition, because sometimes accreditation is required for that.”
The school for grades 1 through 8, founded in 2007, was accredited by AdvancED, which works with more than 32,000 schools and school systems. Full tuition for the intense, often one-on-one instruction at Liberty costs more than $14,000 a year, although more than half the students receive scholarship help.
“They evaluated the school as an effective institution – are we achieving what we say our mission is, are we doing what we claim we’re doing, do we offer a dynamic, effective education for students?” Holmen said. “When their five-person team came, they interviewed staff, students, stakeholders and parents to get a thorough look.”
Liberty has had a high rate of success with its students.
“That was what they were most impressed by, our impact on students, many having been damaged in more traditional schools because the majority are dyslexic, and they have to be taught differently,” he said. “They understood the sense of profound transformation parents saw in their children.”
Evaluators also were impressed by the staff commitment and the amount of individualization in working with the school’s 24 students, he said.
“There is continuous effort to promote personal approaches to learning, resulting in TLS (The Liberty School) looking more like family, where learning occurs in an atmosphere of respect and caring,” the accreditation team said in its report. “Teachers use creative, innovative work to engage students.”
The report suggested improvements in two areas, both of which are underway. One was a long-term sustainable facility, and the school is fundraising to build on a donated site. The other is a refinement of its board organization.
abutler@durangoherald.com
