The Vanguard School (Pennsylvania)

The Vanguard School is an approved private school in Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The school is located 22 miles northwest of Philadelphia^[1] on the campus of Valley Forge Educational Services.^[2]

The Vanguard School is an Approved Private School providing programs for and licensed to accept students, 4–21 years of age, with a Pennsylvania Department of Special Education exceptionality of autism, speech-language disorders, emotional disturbance and/or other health impairment (OHI).

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has authorized The Vanguard School to receive funding from school districts and the state to provide an appropriate education to students with disabilities.^[3] The School serves students from more than 56 school districts from 9 counties.

Every Vanguard School student has an individualized education program (IEP) created in concert with the home school district and parents to provide each student with appropriate services and therapies to meet his or her individual needs.

About the School

The Vanguard School has four program levels: PreK/K, K-1, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. The school provides on-site related services (i.e., occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy), enrichment, counseling, and social skills development, tailored to the needs of each child and integrated into the school day. Services and programs offered include guidance counseling, adaptive physical education, psychological services, nursing services, behavioral consultation and programming, and reading therapy.

The Vanguard Transition Center, for students 18-21, prepares students for their futures through post-secondary education (including a college support program), career development, and social and life skills development.

The school admits students on an ongoing basis through the year.

Ancillary Programs

The Career Development and Transition Program offers students opportunities for post-secondary education and employment experiences in the community. Components include classes emphasizing vocational and social skills, an on-campus work experience program, community based vocational training and work experience, and a college support group.

An Extended School Year (ESY) program is offered through Valley Forge Educational Services’ Summer Matters division. ESY is a program for eligible students from Vanguard School and neighboring school districts and is designed to maintain skills and to reduce academic and behavioral regression during the summer months through incorporating academic, social, behavioral, and vocational needs of students from individual IEP goals.^[4]

The Program of Adventure-Based Counseling Experiences (PACE), is an adventure-based counseling program utilizing an outdoor ropes course, games, group problem-solving initiatives and trust activities. As an avenue for personal, social and developmental satisfaction, PACE enhances a person’s “resiliency” in coping with peer pressure, managing conflict and gaining confidence.^[5]

History

The Vanguard School was founded in 1959 by child psychologist Dr. Milton Brutten and was originally located in Haverford, Pennsylvania. In 1962, the Lower School transferred to a newly purchased campus on North Valley Road in Malvern. Vanguard became the first private school in the Commonwealth approved under PA Act 318 to receive tuition assistance for children whose needs could not be served in their local public schools.^[6] The Vanguard Concept was then set up 1964-1969 in Lake Wales, Florida as a boarding school as the Vanguard School (Florida) and as day schools in Coconut Grove (Vanguard School of Coconut Grove) and Fort Lauderdale, Florida and other locations. These schools are no longer affiliated with Vanguard (PA).^[7][8]

References

External links

• The Vanguard School

Coordinates: 40°03′40″N 75°29′18″W / 40.061059°N 75.488433°W / 40.061059; -75.488433