Diocese of Scranton Catholic Schools
Holy Family Academy - Imago Dei Program
Diocesan Individualized Instruction (II) Program
2025
Honoring God’s image, nurturing each child’s promise.
Mission Statement
“Honoring each child as a unique image-bearer of God, the Imago Dei Program at Holy Family Academy
provides tailored academic and spiritual support that nurtures the whole child – mind, heart, and spirit.
Rooted in the belief that every student is created in God’s image (Gen 1:27), we partner with families to
foster confidence, independence, and compassion. Through a Christ-centered, flexible, and inclusive
approach, we inspire learners to discover their gifts, grow in faith, and begin a lifelong journey of learning
and service.
Background
The Diocese of Scranton Catholic Schools began Individualized Instruction programming in 1988 at
several diocesan schools. This Kindergarten – 12th grade program was designed to meet the unique needs
and learning styles of individual students so they could strive to reach their full potential. The Individualized Instruction (II) program continues to be a success in providing personalized learning plans
and flexible pacing that’s centered on student faith formation and moral development.
In 2024, Holy Family Academy began developing an Individualized Instruction program to expand
additional Catholic school opportunities to families in the Hazleton area. With their generous support and
financial contributions, Krista and Paul DeAngelo, helped make this initiative a reality at Holy Family
Academy. Paul and Krista are deeply connected in the autism community and are passionate about
supporting parents of children with autism to live happy and productive lives. Holy Family Academy is
extremely grateful to the DeAngelos in sharing of their time and talent in furthering Catholic education in
the Hazleton area.
Goal
The goal of the Imago Dei Program is to honor the God-given dignity of each child by providing
individualized, faith-based support that nurtures academic growth, spiritual development, and a strong
sense of belonging within the Holy Family Academy community. The program aims to:
• Celebrate inherent dignity – Affirming every student is “made in the image of God” (Gen 1:27)
through respectful and compassionate instruction.
• Provide individualized support – Implementing tailored academic plans, differentiated pacing,
and multi-modal teaching to meet learners where they are.
• Engage the whole child – Nurturing the mind, heart, and spirit in collaboration with families and
the Holy Family Academy community.
• Foster inclusive belonging – Integrating students into grade-level activities to build community,
peer relationships, and a culture of solidarity.
• Empower future promise – Equipping students with the skills, confidence, and support to
flourish academically, socially and in virtue.
Imago Dei Program Admission Criteria
The Imago Dei Program at Holy Family Academy serves students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade who
benefit from individualized academic and developmental support. Admission is based on the child’s
needs, the school’s capacity, and available resources.
To be considered for admission, students must:
1. Have a documented learning, developmental, or support need, as identified through:
a. Educational or psychological evaluations (e.g. Individualized Educational Plan, private
testing, pediatric reports)
2. Demonstrate the ability to participate meaningfully in a Catholic school environment, with
or without reasonable accommodations, including:
a. Engagement in classroom routines with support
b. Potential for academic and/or developmental progress
c. Respect for peers and adult guidance
3. Show readiness for a structured learning environment, including:
a. Ability to follow basic school routines
b. Emerging self-regulation skills
c. Developmentally appropriate communication (verbal or assisted)
4. Have families who are committed to:
a. Partnering with school in faith and formation
b. Supporting their child’s growth in collaboration with educators
c. Participating in regular communication and progress meetings
5. Meet Holy Family Academy’s general admission standards, including alignment with the
mission, values, and expectations of the school community.
Additional Support Needs
If additional support is needed for functions such as Speech, Hearing, Vision, Physical Therapy, or
Occupational Therapy, etc., the parents must present the frequency of this outside service and provide
documentation. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians of the child to secure and maintain these
services for their child.
Behavioral support services, including access to 1:1 behavior technicians, may be available through a
contracted provider based on the individual needs of the child and the availability of services. These
supports are designed to assist students in developing appropriate behaviors, provide assistance to stay on
task and self-regulation skills within the school environment. The placement of a behavior technician is
determined through a collaborative process involving the school, family, and service provider.
Special Criteria
• Students must be able to maintain adequate levels of personal hygiene as it pertains to their age.
Students must be able to demonstrate continence in bowel and bladder movements.
• Students must be able to feed themselves independently.
• Students must be able to navigate stairs.
• Students must demonstrate psychological and social behavior appropriate for maintaining
discipline in the general education classrooms, as determined through evaluation. At no time
should student behaviors impede the learning or safety of other students. This will be determined
by evaluation results as well as teacher and principal input.
• Student must not require medical care or monitoring during the school day that exceeds the
capacity of school staff. The Imago Dei Program is not equipped to serve students with medically
fragile conditions or those requiring the regular administration of medication, medical devices, or
specialized nursing care during school hours.
Imago Dei Program Admission Procedure
Admission to the Imago Dei Program follows a thoughtful and prayerful process to ensure the school can
meet each child’s individual needs in a way that honors their dignity and supports their success.
STEP 1: Initial Inquiry
Parents/guardians complete the Imago Dei Inquiry Form and submit any relevant documentation such as:
• IEP or 504 Plan
• Educational or psychological evaluations
• Therapy or medical reports
STEP 2: Review of Records
The school’s Student Support Team reviews submitted documentation and consults with parents to gain a
deeper understanding of the child’s strengths and needs.
STEP 3: Parent Meeting
Families meet with the principal or support team to discuss the student’s background, goals, potential
placement. This meeting fosters collaboration and ensures mutual understanding.
STEP 4: Student Observation or Screening (if applicable)
Depending on the age and situation, Holy Family Academy may invite the child for a brief visit, informal
observation, or developmental screening.
STEP 5: Determination
The admissions team determines whether the Imago Dei Program can meet the child’s needs within the
scope of available resources. The decision is guided by what is best for the student and overall school
community.
STEP 6: Enrollment
If accepted, the family will receive an enrollment packet and may be asked to participate in creating a
personalized learning support plan in partnership with the school team.
Note: Admission to the Imago Dei Program is limited based on staffing, space, and available services.
Holy Family Academy remains committed to serving all children in the spirit of the Gospel, as resources
allow.
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Imago Dei Programming
The Imago Dei Program is an inclusive educational program designed to meet the specific learning needs
of Kindergarten through 2nd grade students at Holy Family Academy. The amount of time a student
spends, or students spend in the Imago Dei classroom will vary based on the student’s needs. When it
comes to placement into a general education classroom, the final decision is up to the discretion of the
Imago Dei teacher and Holy Family Academy’s principal.
Based on the student’s placement, the student will be given a progress report or a combination of progress
report and report card. As each student in the Imago Dei Program is working on different skills, the
progress report will communicate how the student is progressing with skills being taught to him/her
specifically.
Progress Monitoring, Assessments, and Progress Reports
Students will be monitored to determine progress daily/weekly/monthly – as the teacher sees accordingly.
The results of the progress monitoring sessions will inform the teacher’s instruction for each child, based
on his/her needs. The assessment results will be sent home with the quarterly progress reports.
If applicable, the NWEA MAP Growth Assessments in Reading and Math will be administered to
students three times a year (fall, winter, and spring). The student’s NWEA MAP Growth assessment
results will be provided to parents. The Imago Dei teacher will utilize the NWEA results to further guide
instruction to meet each student’s academic needs.
Individualized progress reports and/or report cards, NWEA assessments (if applicable), and other
evaluation data will be used to determine student placement for the following school year. This will be
discussed at a Parent/Teacher conference meetings in the fall and spring.
I have read all of the above information about the Imago Dei Program
at Holy Family Academy and will abide by the Diocesan, School, and Program policies. I would like to
have my child considered for enrollment into the Imago Dei Program at Holy Family Academy:
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