[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 54 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING LEARNINGSPRING SCHOOL

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 11, 2016

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, as a father and a former school teacher I can 
safely say there is nothing more beautiful, or more fulfilling, than 
watching a child learn and grow. Schools that cultivate that growth, 
and allow their students to reach above and beyond their potential are 
an incredible asset to any community, and for 15 years the 
LearningSpring School in New York City has done exactly that.
  The story of LearningSpring, or LSS as it is commonly known, is as 
special and unique as the population it serves. In the fall of 2000, a 
group of parents were faced with finding appropriate placements for 
their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Disappointed with 
the options presented to them, these parents decided to create their 
own school, one that would address all of their children's academic, 
social, emotional, and therapeutic needs. Their school would also be 
designed to incorporate the families of the children as an important 
partner in the education of their child. The parents determined they 
needed to start a foundation, not just a school, to achieve all they 
had set out to achieve, and in the fall of 2001, the LearningSpring 
Foundation opened its first program, the LearningSpring Elementary 
School.
  Fifteen years later, LearningSpring has flourished into one of the 
top schools in the city. The LSS model celebrates the fact that the 
children in the program are bright, but in need of an educational 
environment that isn't exclusively focused on academic performance. 
This holistic approach to education is one of the reasons LSS has been 
a tremendous success, helping hundreds of graduates with ASD prepare to 
live wonderful, happy, and independent lives.
  I have personally seen all of the wonderful work LSS does, and I have 
always been incredibly impressed with their approach to education. This 
year, LSS is celebrating their 15th Anniversary at their LearningSpring 
Blossoms celebration, honoring their 2002 Seedling Trustees. I want to 
congratulate those honorees and the entire LearningSpring community on 
the occasion.

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