The School for Young Children (SYC) took its first class of children with language and learning disabilities in 1983, and the Foundation for the School for Young Children was established in 1984. It was at that time the SYC moved from its initial facility at the University of St. Thomas, stopping briefly at two different locations, and finally arrived at its permanent home at 810 Sul Ross, in the Montrose area in 1990. The school received accreditation through the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools (TAAPS) in 1994, and continues to maintain that status. The school grew from the initial class of six children to its current, and maximum size, of thirty-six students who are divided into six classes of six children in each class. The school is non-graded, but serves children between the ages of 5 1/2 through 12 years of age. All teachers at the School for Young Children are certified in regular and in special education, and many have graduate degrees and certifications in the areas of reading, diagnostician, and mid-management. The director of the SYC holds an M.Ed in special education, is a certified diagnostician and has mid-management certification. The supervisor of the SYC holds a Ph.D. in exceptional child education with a specialty in learning disabilities. All teachers have received training in the following areas:
- Basic Language Skills (Neuhaus Education Center)
- Scientific Spelling (Neuhaus Education Center)
- Scientific Grammar (Neuhaus Education Center)
- Thinking Maps
- Write from the Beginning
The Robert J. Strudler Diagnostic and Remediation Center was added by the Foundation in 2007. The Center offers a full comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation done by state certified educational diagnosticians who work closely with either a clinical psychologist or with a Ph.D in special education.
