Frequently asked questions
I have questions about programs and materials.
I have questions regarding support for my child.
FAQs FOR EDUCATORS
Program Options
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Delivering SMARTER Intervention (DSI)
This program is our done-for-you Science of Reading (SOR) aligned and READ Act-approved program including Instructor Manuals, Student Workbooks, and comprehensive additional resources following a ccope & sequence for K-12 instruction, with games for each lesson. This program also comes with Progress Monitoring Assessments and a comprehensive training program to get you comfortable with a structured SOR approach to literacy instruction! Learn more here.
5 Core Components of Literacy (5CCL) Activity Library
This library is provided as a monthly or annual membership with SOR-aligned resources to support your literacy instruction. New monthly themed activities are released at the beginning of each month. Plus there is a library full of resources that are always available. We recommend this program for educators looking for SOR-aligned activities to supplement their current curriculum! Learn more here.
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Absolutely! We’d love to run through the program with you. Schedule a time to connect with our team here!
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You can find individual lessons and activities on TPT here.
However…
The only place where you can find our comprehensive curriculum and programming PLUS a built-in community to support you through your journey is in our Delivering SMARTER Intervention Program.
Or…
If you aren’t looking for a comprehensive curriculum overall but want the most cost-effective solution to adding to your Science of Reading aligned resources, join us in our 5 Core Components of Literacy Library here.
Technical Questions
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If you have already signed up for a program with us (at any time!) then you already have your login information, as all of your materials are part of one library.
Log in here with the same email with which you signed up, enter your password, and you will find all of your program materials in your library.
If you forgot your password, click “Forgot Password” to reset it!
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The most common issue folks run into is that the browser cache or browsing data is corrupted and/or there is a firewall issue caused by network settings or anti-virus software.
Most Common Fix
✨We suggest clearing the cache of your browser and/or making sure your browser is up to date.
Additional Troubleshooting Options
➡️ If you have anti-virus software on your computer/phone, please make sure that the SMARTER site (and our Kajabi hosting site) is on the safe list. We have noticed that a recent McAfee update has created issues for some users.
➡️ If you're connecting through a school/business computer or network, please make sure the IT team has added the SMARTER Intervention site and our hosting platform (https://ascend-smartalec.mykajabi.com/) to their safe list.
➡️ If the issue persists, please try restarting your computer and/or using a different browser to access the site to see if that resolves the issue
Please email us if you're still unable to access the site after performing these steps, at info@ascendlearningcenter.com
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Box is our hosting site and it provides access to program materials and documents that can be downloaded. If you’re a member you will have access to these resources and you do not download the Box App or create an account.
When you click to download a resource from the program, you may see a screen that looks like you need to sign up for Box. You don't need to. When you clicked the link, the files were downloaded to your computer download file (this file location will depend on how you have set up your computer and/or browser downloads). You may need to unzip the folder to extract the individual files.
If you continue to have issues related to our Box hosting service, please email us at info@ascendlearningcenter.com.
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All of the lessons are provided in PDF format for a print-and-go option. We also provide PowerPoint files for the digital interactive lessons. To keep digital pieces interactive, do not enter slideshow mode. Leave the file in “edit” mode to keep the pieces moveable and text boxes available for typing.
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If you would like to convert the digital lesson files from PowerPoint to Google Slides, follow the instructions below.
First, download the digital lesson from your library.
Next, open your Google Drive. You can open your downloads on your computer and drag and drop the lesson into your Drive!
For a step-by-step outline of this process, check out this blog!
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This is an optional resource for our intervention and special education teachers (+ SLPs) to look at student performance.
For more information on digital data tracking, check out our blog here! This blog will lead you to our full data tracking series, as well as walk through how to data track digitally!
Payment Questions
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Schools can pay with a credit card, submit purchase orders, and request a quote using our school purchasing page.
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We offer discounts for school or clinic purchases of 5 or more licenses. If you would like to submit a purchase order or get a quote for your school, you can do so at our school purchase page.
The program is available for individual purchase here.
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To update your credit card information for an ongoing payment plan or membership, please follow these steps:
2. Click on your Avatar in the top right corner of the page
3. Click 'Settings' from the dropdown
4. Click 'Billing Info' in the top right corner of the page
5. Click 'Update' next to the currently listed credit card
6. Complete the prompt to enter the updated card information.
7. Last, click ‘Update Card’ to apply and keep the changes
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If you purchased the Delivering SMARTER Intervention (DSI) program using the payment plan option, then you must complete 6 or 12 monthly payments, depending on the payment plan duration you signed up for.
Please note that payment plans are not a membership subscription and must be finished in order to complete your purchase of the DSI program.
If you are not sure how many you have left, feel free to reach out to us at info@ascendlearningcenter.com and we can get that answer for you!
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5CCL Activity Library
If you want to take a break from the 5 Core Components of Literacy Library for any reason, we are more than happy to help you with that!
Please contact us via email at info@ascendlearningcenter.com to let us know you would like to cancel. Please include the name and email address associated with your account, and we will take care of the rest! You will receive an email confirming your cancellation.
Delivering SMARTER Intervention (DSI)
The program has a 30-day guarantee window from the date of purchase. If you are still in your 30-day window, contact us at info@ascendlearningcenter.com to request a refund. Please include the name and email address associated with your account, and we will take care of the rest!
Refunds cannot be issued, and payment plans can not be canceled after the 30-day guarantee window. Please see our Terms and Conditions.
Professional Development Questions
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Free Trainings
We offer a certificate of completion to people who attend the training live. Stick around through the end of the training and we will share the link!
Delivering SMARTER Intervention Implementation Training
Upon completion of all video modules (excluding coaching calls) and passing scores for all quizzes, you will automatically be sent a certificate of completion for Continuing Maintenance Hours (CMH) or Professional Development (PD) clock hours.
If you have completed all training modules and have passed all the quizzes but you have not received your certificate of completion, please send us an email at info@ascendlearningcenter.com.
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Teachers
We provide professional contact hour certificates that you can submit as part of your ongoing license renewal to your licensing/department of education.
SLPs
We do not send certificates directly to ASHA but will provide a certificate of completion for Continuing Maintenance Hours (CMHs). ASHA will allow you to use these types of CMHs for all 30 of your continuing education hours, you just have to fill out a form at the end of your certification cycle to state which CMHs you attended. For more information about how CMHs work, click here.
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We offer both in-person and online professional development opportunities. To learn more about what we can offer, or to request a quote for training, please visit our professional development page.
We also host an in-person conference, the SMARTER Intervention Summit. To learn more, visit the SMARTER Intervention Summit page.
Printed Materials Questions
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You can buy printed materials at our online store.
For DSI Members
Delivering SMARTER Intervention (DSI) student workbooks, instructor manuals, and other member-exclusive products are available through the member-only shop. If you're a member, you can access the member-only shop by logging into DSI and clicking the link on the SMARTER Intervention program page.
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If you would like a quote (including tax-exempt requests) for your school, please complete the quote request form.
If your school has already prepared a purchase order, it can be submitted here.
If your school needs a copy of our W-9 to set us up as a vendor, you can get a copy here.
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We currently ship to:
The United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), United States Military APO addresses, and Canada
International Shipping:
We do not currently ship overseas (unless the address is a Military APO as stated above). If you would like to place an overseas order, please contact us at info@ascendlearningcenter.com to receive a custom quote with international shipping.
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We use flat-rate shipping, which means the cost for shipping remains the same, regardless of the amount or type of products being purchased. Shipping costs are applied at checkout.
Some exclusions may apply for large and/or custom orders. Please see our Shipping Policy for more details.
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Printed materials have a 30-day return policy for damaged products only. We do not offer returns for other reasons. Please refer to our Refund Policy for printed materials.
Return requests must be received within 30 days of receiving your item(s). Requests can be sent to info@ascendlearningcenter.com.
FAQs FOR FAMILIES
Assessment & Testing Questions
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You can learn all about the evaluation and assessment process here, but in short:
1) Free Consultation
Set up a time for a free consultation where we will learn more about your child and help you gain clarity on next steps.
2) 1:1 Assessment
If an evaluation is the best next step, we will get you scheduled for the one-on-one assessment with your child (usually within 2-4 weeks).
3) Gathering Info
We will send a few documents your way for you to fill out before your child's appointment.
4) Come to the Clinic
Your child will come in to our clinic to work with our team.
5) Evaluation Report
We will review the data and compile the comprehensive evaluation report and get that sent over (usually within 1-2 weeks).
6) Follow-up Meeting
After you've had a chance to review, we will schedule a follow-up meeting with you so we can review the results and put together a plan for your next steps. You’ll also get a toolkit of resources that will help you support your child immediately!
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Yes, we diagnose dyslexia using a complex battery of assessments. We will provide you with a comprehensive report including the ICD-10 code to qualify for 504 Plan services through the school or for programs such as Learning Ally that require a "medical diagnosis."
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Yes, we diagnose dysgraphia using a complex battery of assessments. We will provide you with a comprehensive report regarding the findings within two weeks of your appointment.
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Yes, we diagnose dyscalculia using a complex battery of assessments. We will provide you with a comprehensive report regarding the findings within two weeks of your appointment.
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No. We do not diagnose ADHD, Autism, or specific speech-language disorders but do have a wonderful referral network that we would be happy to connect you with. Send us an email, at info@ascendlearningcenter.com.
Academic Intervention Questions
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We don't have a specific program we use for every child as every child is unique and needs an individualized plan. However, we do use specific systematic, multisensory approaches for reading, writing, math, and executive functioning intervention.
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We use our SMARTER Intervention curriculum utilizing a structured and systematic literacy approach. This program has been approved by the Colorado Department of Education and is used by schools and invention clinics across the country.
The SMARTER Intervention program blends the Orton-Gillingham methodology with applied skills (vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension) and engaging games in order to keep the sessions fun and make sure the skills are generalizing. Every level combines necessary skill development in reading skills and reciprocal spelling and writing skills.
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We use an individualized approach that is specifically designed as a cumulative, systematic progression of skills that focuses on mastery of numeric operations and applied problem-solving through word problems.
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We use an independently designed program based on developing skills and strategies to support planning, organization, time management, task initiation, self-control, and more in a systematic and explicit fashion combined with the SMARTS Executive Functioning program developed by Lynn Meltzer, Ph.D
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We do not provide in-home therapy services. We provide therapy services in our office, as well as online for those looking for a convenient therapy option.
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Absolutely! Online therapy can be as effective as in person. We use digital interactive resources to engage students during the session and address all the same lesson components a student would receive in an in-person setting.
Account & Billing Questions
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Unfortunately, educational services are typically not covered by insurance. We are happy to provide you with the documentation you need to request insurance reimbursement but we do not carry National Provider numbers nor do we bill insurance directly.
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Absolutely, we can provide the required documentation in order for you to submit for your flex spending or health savings account (HSA).
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We keep a credit card on file for all sessions that bills automatically. If you need to change your credit card let us know and we can take care of that for you.