Bert Goens Learning Center

www.vbisd.org

70 Students

Other Pre-K - 12th

School Overview

The Bert Goens Learning Center, located in Lawrence, Michigan, is a specialized educational facility operated by the Van Buren Intermediate School District (VBISD). The center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, supportive services for students with significant disabilities or unique learning needs who require an environment beyond what is available in a traditional general education classroom. By focusing on individualized instruction, the school aims to help students develop essential life skills, communication abilities, and academic growth in a structured, compassionate setting.

The facility emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, often integrating therapeutic support with academic programming to address the specific developmental goals of each student. By serving as a central hub within the VBISD, the Bert Goens Learning Center plays a vital role in ensuring that all students in the region—regardless of the complexity of their challenges—have access to high-quality, inclusive educational opportunities that prepare them for greater independence and success within their communities.

Total Students

27.2

Full-Time Teachers

2.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

50.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Bert Goens Learning Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	41
Hispanic	17
Black	4
Two or More	5
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

White
41 (58.6%)
Hispanic
17 (24.3%)
Two or More
5 (7.1%)
Black
4 (5.7%)
American Indian
2 (2.9%)
Pacific Islander
1 (1.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Other
School Type:	Special Education School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Van Buren ISD
Phone:	(269)539-5032
Website:	http://www.vbisd.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 12th
Total Students:	70
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	27.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	2.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	35
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 7

Grade 1 7

Grade 2 4

Grade 3 3

Grade 4 5

Grade 5 4

Grade 6 2

Grade 7 4

Grade 8 1

Grade 9 5

Grade 10 3