WHAT IS CAHAL?
CAHAL is a program of self-contained classes for children with learning disabilities from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

WHO STARTED CAHAL & WHY?
CAHAL was organized by local rabbis, principals and community leaders concerned with the challenges presented by children with learning disabilities who were not succeeding in the mainstream class.

WHY DO THE SCHOOLS NEED CAHAL?
Every school has children with learning disabilities. Yet individually, each school cannot provide classes for all of these children, due to financial restraints, shortage of classroom space, or lack of sufficient students to fill a class in each grade. Through CAHAL and the yeshivas’ combined efforts, there is a class for each child.

WHERE ARE CAHAL’S CLASSES LOCATED?
Children suffer emotionally and psychologically when isolated in a "special school." CAHAL attempts to remedy this situation by establishing its classes in the local yeshivas. Learning-disabled children now attend the same school as their friends, neighbors and siblings.

Their classrooms are adjacent to the other rooms, and outwardly appear to be the same. Yet inside the CAHAL room, professional educators utilizing unique, individualized curricula, encourage the children and instill within them the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to succeed.

WHERE DO OUR STUDENTS COME FROM?
The majority of our students are from southwest Nassau County in the community known as the 5-Towns, and the adjacent Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, New York. Students from other Nassau County communities, West Hempstead, Oceanside, Great Neck and Long Beach also attend CAHAL classes. Unable to find suitable programs in their home communities, some students come to us from Queens and Brooklyn.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS CAHAL?
It is not unusual for a child to have some difficulty with class work and/or homework. In most cases, tutorial or resource room support usually helps address these problems. However, for some children, this help does not make a significant difference in enabling the child to achieve success in school. Over time, these children fall further and further behind, and the gap between their skill level and that of the other students in the class increases each day. For these children, CAHAL can often provide the solution.

WHAT IF MY CHILD NEEDS SPECIAL SERVICES?
CAHAL works closely with local school districts arranging and coordinating all related services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and counseling. Our staff members work with the local school district personnel to update student Individual Education Plans (IEP). Services are provided during the school day. The child may be removed from class for specific times during the day or have these therapies done in the classroom.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHEN A CHILD SHOULD BE MAINSTREAMED?
CAHAL utilizes both formal and informal methods of evaluation to determine a) to what degree the child is developing, and b) if he/she is ready to be mainstreamed for any or all subjects. Standardized tests are used, as well as specific diagnostic tests for learning disabled children. Portfolios are maintained, Individual Educational Plans (IEP) updated, and highly detailed report cards issued which delineate the child’s individual growth. A child, however, must be observed in order to gauge true development. Reading, reading comprehension, following instructions, social skills, self-confidence, behavior - these all must be witnessed personally in order to properly evaluate the progress of a child. The favorable teacher to student ratio (1 teacher per 4 children) allows the instructors to monitor each student individually and become acutely aware of a particular strength that deserves encouragement, or weakness that needs remediation.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Due to the small class sizes (maximum of 12 children per class), individualized attention (one teacher for every 4 students), highly trained professional staff and uniquely designed curricula, CAHAL tuition fees are much higher than mainstream yeshiva education. For 2007-08, the fees are:

Tuition assistance is available. Applications can be submitted to our scholarship committee for consideration.