0:00:00.630,0:00:02.779 - [Announcer] Now, how[br]one school has succeeded 0:00:02.779,0:00:04.670 in reducing the odds that a student 0:00:04.670,0:00:07.355 with learning disabilities may drop out. 0:00:07.355,0:00:10.092 Past studies have found[br]that these students drop out 0:00:10.092,0:00:12.650 at more than twice the[br]rate of their classmates. 0:00:12.650,0:00:15.531 NewsHour health correspondent,[br]Betty Ann Bowser reports 0:00:15.531,0:00:18.381 on what can be done in the[br]classroom to prevent that. 0:00:18.381,0:00:23.260 It's for our series, The[br]American Graduate Project. 0:00:23.260,0:00:27.330 - The up steps up, and[br]the down steps down. 0:00:27.330,0:00:28.690 - [Betty] On a recent Friday morning 0:00:28.690,0:00:32.351 at the Henderson Inclusion[br]Elementary School in Boston, 0:00:32.351,0:00:36.715 there was organized chaos[br]as nearly 250 students 0:00:36.715,0:00:39.232 crowded into the auditorium. 0:00:39.232,0:00:41.065 Then, it was showtime. 0:00:42.036,0:00:44.179 (drums banging) 0:00:44.179,0:00:45.412 The students were celebrating 0:00:45.412,0:00:47.947 African-American History Month, 0:00:47.947,0:00:50.208 but the show was also a celebration 0:00:50.208,0:00:52.491 of a unique public school 0:00:52.491,0:00:55.568 where 1/3 of the student body is disabled, 0:00:55.568,0:00:58.672 and where all the children[br]are educated together 0:00:58.672,0:01:00.672 in an inclusive setting. 0:01:02.225,0:01:05.701 Dr. Tom Hehir is a professor[br]at the Harvard Graduate School 0:01:05.701,0:01:08.966 of Education and one of the[br]country's leading experts 0:01:08.966,0:01:10.715 on special education. 0:01:10.715,0:01:12.977 - It is not unusual that[br]some kids don't walk. 0:01:12.977,0:01:15.187 It's not unusual that[br]some kids don't talk. 0:01:15.187,0:01:18.272 It's not unusual that some kids struggle 0:01:18.272,0:01:22.396 learning how to read[br]or process information. 0:01:22.396,0:01:23.729 That's the norm, 0:01:25.181,0:01:30.064 and so that philosophy carries[br]through to the whole school. 0:01:30.064,0:01:31.051 (indistinct chatter) 0:01:31.051,0:01:33.564 - [Betty] For the kids[br]with learning disabilities, 0:01:33.564,0:01:37.657 what goes on in the classroom[br]is especially important. 0:01:37.657,0:01:39.793 Using federal government data, 0:01:39.793,0:01:43.136 the National Center for[br]Learning Disabilities says, 0:01:43.136,0:01:47.382 "20% of children with LD[br]drop out of high school 0:01:47.382,0:01:50.924 "versus 8% of the general population." 0:01:50.924,0:01:52.489 And the center reports 0:01:52.489,0:01:56.397 that half of secondary[br]school students with LD 0:01:56.397,0:01:59.377 perform more than three grade levels below 0:01:59.377,0:02:01.415 where they should be. 0:02:01.415,0:02:03.697 - Not only is it more likely that kids 0:02:03.697,0:02:06.534 with learning disabilities are[br]going to drop out of school, 0:02:06.534,0:02:09.734 it's also less likely they're[br]gonna reengage in education. 0:02:09.734,0:02:13.270 That's associated with[br]unemployment, low wages, 0:02:13.270,0:02:17.074 and there is evidence that[br]there is increased likelihood 0:02:17.074,0:02:20.324 of getting in trouble in the community. 0:02:21.855,0:02:24.438 And those are all bad outcomes. 0:02:25.287,0:02:26.418 - [Betty] So the emphasis at Henderson 0:02:26.418,0:02:28.767 is on early intervention, 0:02:28.767,0:02:32.047 and a big part of that is technology. 0:02:32.047,0:02:35.944 - You have to calm yourself[br]down, take a few breaths-- 0:02:35.944,0:02:37.992 - [Betty] Former principal,[br]Dr. Bill Henderson 0:02:37.992,0:02:40.949 realized more than 20 years ago 0:02:40.949,0:02:44.509 how technology could help LD kids. 0:02:44.509,0:02:47.429 At the time, he was going blind, 0:02:47.429,0:02:50.069 and had to learn braille from scratch. 0:02:50.069,0:02:52.853 That gave him special insights. 0:02:52.853,0:02:56.699 - When we read, most[br]people with their eyes, 0:02:56.699,0:02:59.599 I now with my ears or with my fingers, 0:02:59.599,0:03:00.516 you have to 0:03:01.454,0:03:04.548 figure out what the text print 0:03:04.548,0:03:07.002 or braille docs are[br]saying; that's decoding. 0:03:07.002,0:03:07.835 (indistinct chatter) 0:03:07.835,0:03:10.813 Many children who have[br]specific learning disabilities, 0:03:10.813,0:03:12.994 in particular, dyslexia, 0:03:12.994,0:03:17.161 have to put extra energies and[br]efforts into decoding text. 0:03:18.129,0:03:19.737 You cannot read as much material. 0:03:19.737,0:03:23.119 You can't keep up with grade[br]level and rigorous material. 0:03:23.119,0:03:24.660 - What I wanted to show you in this was-- 0:03:24.660,0:03:27.090 - [Betty] Current[br]principal, Tricia Lampron, 0:03:27.090,0:03:30.974 showed us how one second grader[br]with learning disabilities 0:03:30.974,0:03:34.278 showed his comprehension[br]of a story he'd read, 0:03:34.278,0:03:36.248 writing in longhand. 0:03:36.248,0:03:39.671 - [Tricia] He wrote, not very[br]neatly, "Rosa helped Blanca, 0:03:39.671,0:03:42.741 "and Blanca helped Rosa.[br]I can be nice to others." 0:03:42.741,0:03:46.314 He did exactly what the[br]prompt asked him to do, 0:03:46.314,0:03:49.303 but obviously he has a[br]difficult time with spelling, 0:03:49.303,0:03:53.948 handwriting; and is that a[br]benchmark second grade response? 0:03:53.948,0:03:55.436 I would say no it isn't. 0:03:55.436,0:03:57.230 - [Betty] Then, on another page, 0:03:57.230,0:04:01.348 she showed us what the same[br]student wrote using a computer 0:04:01.348,0:04:04.756 to explain his comprehension[br]of another story. 0:04:04.756,0:04:06.356 - [Tricia] He uses a text reader 0:04:06.356,0:04:08.366 and a word prompting software, 0:04:08.366,0:04:10.852 and the word prompting software helps him 0:04:10.852,0:04:13.892 to produce something more on grade-level, 0:04:13.892,0:04:15.467 and definitely more thorough. 0:04:15.467,0:04:17.269 - [Betty] Every classroom is abuzz 0:04:17.269,0:04:19.909 with these kinds of teaching devices, 0:04:19.909,0:04:24.053 computers, iPads, digital audio programs, 0:04:24.053,0:04:27.733 They allow students to learn[br]a variety of different ways 0:04:27.733,0:04:29.574 and at their own pace. 0:04:29.574,0:04:30.772 (indistinct chatter) 0:04:30.772,0:04:35.108 Two teachers are assigned to[br]each class, working as a team. 0:04:35.108,0:04:37.734 One is a general classroom professional, 0:04:37.734,0:04:40.806 the other is a special education teacher. 0:04:40.806,0:04:44.449 Together, they brainstorm[br]what works for each student. 0:04:44.449,0:04:48.263 - Boys are in the field with the cattle. 0:04:48.263,0:04:51.546 - [Betty] This second grade[br]classroom of 23 students 0:04:51.546,0:04:53.842 has seven disabled kids in it, 0:04:53.842,0:04:57.297 and each one works at their own speed. 0:04:57.297,0:05:00.746 So for dyslexic kids, like Ronan Gorman, 0:05:00.746,0:05:04.500 comprehending text means[br]using a traditional text book, 0:05:04.500,0:05:06.500 an iPad, and headphones. 0:05:07.473,0:05:10.001 Principal Lampron explained: 0:05:10.001,0:05:11.970 - Ronan can listen to the book, 0:05:11.970,0:05:15.023 also while he's reading[br]along with the book. 0:05:15.023,0:05:18.592 So sometimes he may use the[br]book separately from the iPad, 0:05:18.592,0:05:21.211 or he can read it in digital format. 0:05:21.211,0:05:24.240 And what digital format[br]allows students to do 0:05:24.240,0:05:27.057 is listen as well as read along. 0:05:27.057,0:05:28.116 - [Teacher] That's Ronan right here. 0:05:28.116,0:05:30.736 - [Betty] Nine year old Ronan[br]had been held back twice 0:05:30.736,0:05:34.213 before he entered[br]Henderson last September. 0:05:34.213,0:05:38.711 His parents said he was unhappy[br]and feeling like a failure. 0:05:38.711,0:05:42.109 His dad, Jerry, was especially[br]upset by all of this 0:05:42.109,0:05:46.005 because like Ronan, he too is dyslexic. 0:05:46.005,0:05:49.402 But in few short months,[br]things have turned around. 0:05:49.402,0:05:50.235 (laughing) 0:05:50.235,0:05:53.364 - It's almost emotional for[br]me to talk about it because 0:05:53.364,0:05:57.099 seeing him now, seeing[br]him from where he was, 0:05:57.099,0:06:00.413 and seeing me where I was at that age, 0:06:00.413,0:06:04.580 he's doing what I used to[br]do when I was 14; he's nine. 0:06:05.483,0:06:07.888 So it's just phenomenal. 0:06:07.888,0:06:10.405 - Mm-hmm, first of all, he smiles a lot. 0:06:10.405,0:06:13.497 He goes to bed every night[br]with about five piles of books, 0:06:13.497,0:06:16.892 which he always did,[br]but he reads them now, 0:06:16.892,0:06:17.769 and he used to say to me, 0:06:17.769,0:06:19.555 "I'm never gonna learn how to read this." 0:06:19.555,0:06:21.650 - Hellow there fifth graders. 0:06:21.650,0:06:24.270 - [Students] Hi, Principal Henderson! 0:06:24.270,0:06:26.097 - [Betty] When Bill[br]Henderson was principal, 0:06:26.097,0:06:30.516 he realized if kids like[br]Ronan didn't get help early, 0:06:30.516,0:06:32.783 they would fail later on. 0:06:32.783,0:06:35.716 So he came up with the team teaching idea 0:06:35.716,0:06:38.915 and introduced a robust arts program. 0:06:38.915,0:06:41.155 - The arts were terrific for kids 0:06:41.155,0:06:43.754 with print disabilities and dyslexia. 0:06:43.754,0:06:47.633 There are many outstanding[br]artists, and visual artists, 0:06:47.633,0:06:51.248 and dancers and singers who[br]have significant dyslexia, 0:06:51.248,0:06:54.699 and they have a chance to[br]shine and show their skills 0:06:54.699,0:06:57.009 and their talents in a different medium, 0:06:57.009,0:07:00.354 and print isn't always the[br]easiest way for them to do that. 0:07:00.354,0:07:01.187 - 38 0:07:01.187,0:07:02.020 - [Betty] The Henderson School 0:07:02.020,0:07:04.075 has a full-time music teacher, 0:07:04.075,0:07:07.026 several occupational therapists, 0:07:07.026,0:07:10.794 a teacher who specializes[br]in sensory therapy, 0:07:10.794,0:07:14.018 and on the day we were in[br]the second grade classroom, 0:07:14.018,0:07:17.418 there were five different[br]teaching professionals 0:07:17.418,0:07:19.882 helping just 23 students. 0:07:19.882,0:07:22.255 All that costs money. 0:07:22.255,0:07:23.790 Under federal law, 0:07:23.790,0:07:26.727 a child identified with[br]learning disabilities, 0:07:26.727,0:07:30.246 must receive a free and[br]appropriate public education 0:07:30.246,0:07:31.913 up to the age of 18. 0:07:32.822,0:07:35.566 Generally, the more disabled a child is, 0:07:35.566,0:07:39.702 the more money is allocated[br]for his or her education. 0:07:39.702,0:07:41.631 But Harvard's Hehir says 0:07:41.631,0:07:43.412 there are many places in the country 0:07:43.412,0:07:45.796 that don't spend that money wisely 0:07:45.796,0:07:49.963 by segregating LD kids in[br]special education classrooms, 0:07:50.817,0:07:53.791 which costs more than spreading it around 0:07:53.791,0:07:55.469 in inclusive settings. 0:07:55.469,0:07:58.041 - There are a large group[br]of kids who still are 0:07:58.041,0:08:01.624 inappropriately separated[br]from their peers, 0:08:02.664,0:08:03.581 and also... 0:08:05.456,0:08:09.108 The kids who are getting[br]the better programs 0:08:09.108,0:08:12.796 are much more apt to be middle[br]and upper-middle class kids. 0:08:12.796,0:08:17.084 The low-income kids are much[br]more apt to be segregated. 0:08:17.084,0:08:18.192 - Soria.[br]- Trust. 0:08:18.192,0:08:19.624 - Trust, excellent. 0:08:19.624,0:08:20.767 - [Betty] There are no figures 0:08:20.767,0:08:25.180 on how many students go on[br]to graduate from high school, 0:08:25.180,0:08:28.088 but both Lampron and[br]Henderson have followed many 0:08:28.088,0:08:31.389 of their former students[br]through the years, 0:08:31.389,0:08:33.924 and say most of them are doing well. 0:08:33.924,0:08:38.008 - If we want kids to[br]graduate from high school, 0:08:38.008,0:08:40.648 then having a strong foundation 0:08:40.648,0:08:43.648 at the elementary level is critical. 0:08:43.648,0:08:47.104 And for kids with significant[br]learning disabilities, 0:08:47.104,0:08:50.496 and significant attention[br]deficit disorders, 0:08:50.496,0:08:54.368 having technologies[br]providing accommodations 0:08:54.368,0:08:56.285 for reading and writing are critical. 0:08:56.285,0:08:58.270 (indistinct chatter) 0:08:58.270,0:09:00.111 - [Betty] There are hundreds of children 0:09:00.111,0:09:04.053 on the waiting list to get[br]into the Henderson School, 0:09:04.053,0:09:07.491 and they aren't just[br]students with disabilities. 0:09:07.491,0:09:08.358 (students clapping) 0:09:08.358,0:09:12.231 Through the years, the reputation[br]of the school has grown. 0:09:12.231,0:09:15.417 And today, it's held[br]up as a national model 0:09:15.417,0:09:18.015 of what early intervention can do 0:09:18.015,0:09:21.119 for children with learning disabilities. 0:09:21.119,0:09:24.036 (children singing) 0:09:30.222,0:09:32.932 - [Announcer] American Graduate[br]is a public media initiative 0:09:32.932,0:09:35.668 funded by the Corporation[br]for Public Broadcasting. 0:09:35.668,0:09:39.096 On our website, we introduce[br]you to a one-time dropout 0:09:39.096,0:09:41.588 whose now a Harvard graduate student. 0:09:41.588,0:09:44.240 Find out what advice he[br]offers students and parents 0:09:44.240,0:09:46.720 dealing with learning disabilities.