School for Early Development and Achievement Inc

Notes from the nonprofit

MCFI Children's Programs address our community's growing need for innovative early education and treatment for high risk children with special needs (because of developmental delays and severe economic disadvantage). We offer a full spectrum of professional services to help children with disabilities; profound medical issues and special needs reach their full potential. Collectively, these programs provide a continuum of care for children and their families in need of medical and educational interventions.

The School for Early Development and Achievement (SEDA): MCFI’s School for Early Development & Achievement, founded in 2001, is a free and inclusive public school chartered through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It accepts Milwaukee children in K3 to second grade with or without disabilities. It is the only Charter School in Wisconsin serving a significant population of children identified with developmental disabilities. The program’s purpose is to ensure students receive the educational foundation they need to succeed in the third grade and beyond, especially in the core subjects of literacy and math. It is designed to be a model for other educational programs serving children with disabilities. SEDA offers an individualized educational plan for every child that is tailored to each child’s unique needs. The certified staff includes teachers, therapists and aides. The school offers families support and resources from the day their child is enrolled in the SEDA program.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of children enrolled in SEDA attained the individualized goals set in their school plan. Academic achievements are measured using well-established assessment tools: the Measures of Academic Progress, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Learning Skills, the Qualitative Reading Inventory and the Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening.