Extension and Support - Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

Students learn in different ways and at different paces.

Our Support & Extension Programs are designed to appropriately challenge and support students; to grow academically while building confidence and independence as learners.

Learning Support and English as Additional Language (EAL) programs equip students with the skills and strategies to access the curriculum independently. Academic support and extension are collaborative and responsive, with teachers and specialists working together to identify needs, implement targeted strategies, and monitor progress over time.

Student Support Services includes Counseling, Learning Support, Enrichment & Extension, and English as an Additional Language (EAL).

Enrichment & Extension

At CAISL, extension focuses on deepening learning rather than accelerating through content.

Students may enter the Enrichment and Extension Program through the admissions identification process or by meeting the eligibility criteria outlined in the "Student Support Guidebook". Students may receive enrichment or extension support in specific units, classes, or grade levels, with participation reviewed at the end of each cycle.

The Student Support Team collaborates with teachers to design differentiated learning experiences that promote deeper understanding and challenge students to extend their abilities while remaining engaged and motivated.

Learning Support

CAISL provides learning support to ensure all students’ learning experiences are accessible, engaging, and appropriately challenging.

Learning Support is designed for students with mild learning difficulties. Students must be able to function within the regular classroom and work toward successful completion of CAISL’s academic requirements. Support may include:

Small group instruction
Regular progress monitoring
Formal accommodations
Executive functioning support
Literacy support

CAISL develops an Educational and/or Health Plan when parents provide a psychoeducational assessment or medical documentation confirming a diagnosed need. The Plan outlines appropriate school-based accommodations and is reviewed annually by parents and the Support Services Team. Updated psychoeducational evaluations are required every three years.

Our Approach to Languages: Guidebook

First page of the PDF file: Languages_at_CAISL

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Language support is available in the form of English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes. Support is tailored to individual needs and may include small-group instruction, additional scaffolding and learning materials, immersion strategies, sheltered classes, and ongoing monitoring. The goal is to build language confidence while ensuring students remain fully engaged in classroom learning.

At CAISL, all classes are taught in English, and Portuguese is a core subject - both as a native language and as a foreign language.

English Proficiency Requirements for High School

English Proficiency Requirements for High School

Students who wish admission to CAISL’s High School but who are not yet academically fluent in English may be admitted under the following conditions:

Grades 11 and 12

All students who enter in Grades 11 or 12 need to be fluent in English. Students must demonstrate through CAISL testing prior to admission their ability to work in an academic program where English is the medium of instruction in all courses.

Grade 10

Entry in September

To enter Grade 10, a student must demonstrate an advanced level of English academic ability, at minimum, as determined by CAISL’s admissions testing. Based on this test and on the student's academic history, the CAISL Admission Team and the English Language Coordinator must have confidence that one year of intensive instruction in English will allow the student to progress to 11th Grade with an appropriate level of English fluency.

Entry mid-year

Students may be admitted mid-way through 10th but because the time they would be able to spend in intensive instruction in English would be reduced, the expectation of English fluency, as determined by admissions testing and historic records, is higher.

Grade 9

Entry in September

Students may be admitted to Grade 9 for the start of school in September if they already have basic familiarity with English in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. To enter Grade 9, a student must demonstrate an intermediate level of English academic ability, at minimum, as determined by CAISL’s admissions testing. Based on this test and on the student's academic history, the CAISL Admission Team and the English Language Coordinator must have confidence that two years (Grades 9 and 10) of intensive instruction in English will allow the student to progress to 11th Grade with an appropriate level of English fluency.

Entry mid-year

Students may be admitted mid-way through 9th but because the time they would be able to spend in intensive instruction in English would be reduced, the expectation of English fluency, as determined by admissions testing and historic records, is higher.

Grade 8

Students may enter Grade 8 with little or no prior experience of English and without admissions testing if they will start classes in September. Students who wish to enter Grade 8 after the school year has started will take an admissions test to ensure that they have acquired at minimum an appropriate level of English and will be able to enter Grade 9 the next year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Role do Parents Have in Support?
Is there an Additional Cost for Support?

What Role do Parents Have in Support?

CAISL recognizes the vital input parents provide about their child's life outside of school and their interests, enthusiasms, and approach to learning.

Parents can help the CAISL faculty to support the child better by providing on-going information about the child and what the Parent is seeing at home, such as:

Likes, dislikes, personality
Interests, talents, abilities
Family relationships and dynamics (including extended family and pets)
Peer relationships and dynamics
Family routines and schedules
Physical and emotional history

Parents should also:

speak with the child's teacher(s) about goals that have been set,
collaborate regarding progress and
propose changes in goals, strategies and/or resources or support where they see a need.

Additionally, parents are expected to maintain a close collaboration with the school, disclosing information and providing updated reports, with their child's best interest in mind.

Is there an Additional Cost for Support?

CAISL charges no additional fees for Learning Support Services.

Parents need to provide the educational-psychological testing required by the school. Additionally, CAISL does not have on staff the services of Speech Therapy or Occupational Therapy and parents will need to provide these if there is need. CAISL can assist a family is finding such support within the community.

2025-2026StudentSupportServicesFINAL (PDF)