Educational Programs

In essence, all of the Settlement School's work is educational--not just for those who come to learn--but for those who teach as well.

During the early years of the Settlement School, the founders believed that by living among the people of the mountains and engaging in regular interchange with them, the well-educated women who came to teach would benefit as much as those they came to serve. They certainly would have agreed with the mountaineer, who when asked what he thought of all these outsiders coming in to teach, remarked, "[M]ixin' larns both parties."

Educating Children

In 1980, a small group of dedicated parents came together to see if they could help their kids overcome the learning difference, dyslexia. The Settlement School agreed to provide meeting space and support for the fledgling group. Since that time, the Settlement School established the James Still Learning Center for children with dyslexic characteristics to address this critical need. It includes monthly screenings to identify students with dyslexic characteristics, an After-School Program, a Summer Tutorial Program and a Full-Time School.

The Settlement’s primary service area is Eastern and southeastern Kentucky and scholarship monies for the Summer Tutorial Program are targeted to students from this region. In order to help underwrite the cost of summer school, a limited number of students from outside the Settlement’s service area are also accepted. There are no other schools in Central Appalachia offering this type of program. As a result, the school has served students from almost every section of Kentucky and some from Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Children are referred to the Settlement School after being identified by their teachers, parents or others as having dyslexic characteristics. Each child undergoes intensive screening in order to determine if the Settlement's program will meet their specific needs. Children five years or older can enroll in the Summer Tutorial Program. Both it and the After-School Program serve kids through the 12th grade. The Full-Time School only goes through the eighth grade.

Most (95 percent last year) of our summer school students come from the region and many are from low-income families. The Summer Tutorial Program tuition is $2,500 for commuting students and $5,000 for boarding students. In spite of the fact that many students’ families are unable to pay the full tuition, no child has ever been turned away due to lack of funds. This means the Settlement must raise between $100,000-$120,000 in scholarship assistance each summer.

Educating Adults

The Hindman Settlement School's adult literacy efforts began in 1981 with one student and a part-time volunteer tutor. As word spread and the demand increased, additional staff were added. In 1992, the Knott County Adult Learning Center was opened. The school's Adult Literacy and GED Program are making a significant difference in the lives of hundreds of adults. During the past 20 years more than 1,200 adults in Knott County have received their GED.

Non-Discriminatory Policy

The Hindman Settlement School admits people of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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