Frequently Asked Questions

Jill Stowell, founder and executive director, opened Stowell Learning Center in 1984. For over 40 years, Jill and the Stowell Learning Center team have brought the latest and most effective programs to the children, teens and adults they serve.

Jill is continuously searching for the best programs to meet the ever-changing learning challenges our students face. Stowell Learning Center evolves with the times. It does not stay stagnant, but changes as the needs of our students change.

Because of her dynamic thinking and passion for helping students, Jill is an invaluable resource to, and well respected by, other professionals in the learning disabilities community. Today Stowell Learning Center serves families from its centers in Chino, Irvine and Pasadena, California.

We work with children, teens and adults. Most of our students are school-age children, but it’s never too late: adults come to us to make reading, attention and work easier too.

We have a wonderful staff of energetic, enthusiastic people working with our students. Most of our clinicians fall into one of three categories. They are either working towards their bachelor's degree in the fields of teaching, speech, or child psychology, have their bachelor's degree, or have their bachelor's and are working towards their teaching credentials or masters degree. Several of our senior staff are Dyslexia Remediation Specialists.

All of our staff has been thoroughly trained in all of the programs developed and used by our founder, Jill Stowell. We continuously hold in-service training on new programs or disabilities.

Training is constant at the learning center. We continually seek to better understand our students and provide the absolute best programming options for them. Clinicians are well supervised by senior staff and are guided with each and every student. We meet on a weekly basis to troubleshoot, discuss programs and provide staff development.

Jill Stowell taught for seven years in public schools, in both regular and special education. She holds California teaching credentials in elementary education and learning handicaps, an MS degree in Education, a California Resource Specialist Certificate, and Dyslexia Remediation Specialist Certification. She is a national trainer for many of the programs used at Stowell Learning Center and is well respected in the teaching community.

Typically students and parents will begin to see changes within just a few weeks. Our goal for each student is that he or she becomes the most comfortable, efficient, and independent learner he or she can be. How long this process takes will depend on the number and severity of the student’s learning challenges and how often the student attends.

We do not have a set program guarantee. What we do guarantee is that we will do everything we can to help each student become the best learner and most successful student they can be. If we feel that we cannot help, we will work with the family to try to find someone who can.

Each student has a unique set of learning strengths and challenges. Therefore, students progress at different rates. We are working towards making permanent changes in the way students process information and learn.

We do not just want to band-aid the issues.

Permanent changes that bring success in learning require remediation that directly deals with the underlying processing skills. Our programs and methods are designed to work on developing a solid foundation for independent and successful learning.

Yes! The center was originally opened to serve the dyslexic population. We have many different strategies and programs that specifically address the unique and varied needs of dyslexic students of all ages. Several of our senior staff are Dyslexia Remediation Specialists.

Learn more: Dyslexia at Stowell Learning Center

Yes. Attention problems often come from weak underlying skills, such as retained primitive reflexes, auditory or visual processing, or processing speed. Our assessment looks at what’s underneath, and our programs build those skills directly. If what we find points toward true ADHD or something that needs medical care, we’ll tell you that too. Read more: Is It Really ADHD?

Yes. We work with many children on the autism spectrum, including those previously diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. We decide this on a student-by-student basis. Depending on the child’s needs and the family’s goals, we may be able to help. After an initial assessment, we will determine whether we are the right place for your child. If we feel we can help, we will work closely with you to create a program for your child.

Every student works one-to-one with their own clinician at an individual station, in a warm, encouraging setting. Some programs use specialized materials or equipment, and some, like PATH, are computer-based, always guided by the clinician. We also have a fun room, where students do movement and balance activities for programs like Core Learning Skills Training. Students love the relationships they build with their clinicians and the success they feel, even while working on their hardest areas.

Because our programs build the underlying thinking skills that make learning efficient, consistent practice is key. To keep costs down for families, we often partner with parents on short practice at home between sessions. We see parents as our teaching partners, and we give them the coaching and materials they need.

Tutoring works on schoolwork, the content a student is learning right now. We work on the underlying learning skills that make schoolwork hard in the first place, like processing speed, memory, attention, and auditory and visual processing. When those skills are strong, students can learn the content on their own. Read more: Why Tutoring Doesn’t Work

Yes. Working one-to-one allows us to provide the intensity, individualization, and specific feedback needed to make significant changes in a short amount of time. Each student will have a specific schedule and clinician or team of clinicians that they work with on a regular basis.

No. We have been working with students for over 40 years and have found that the absolute best way to make the needed changes and provide a personal, positive, and enjoyable experience for students is to work one-to-one.

One-to-one training is a requirement of many of the programs and strategies we use. In order to make real, lasting changes in the brain, students must be challenged. Working one-to-one allows us to stretch students’ thinking, in a very supportive, encouraging, and confidence-building environment.

Yes. We work closely with parents and communicate with schools, so everyone supporting your child is working toward the same goals.

The first step is a free call with a Learning Specialist. This gives you a chance to get all of your questions answered and schedule a Functional Evaluation.

A Functional Evaluation is required for all new students. Testing is available in person at our Chino, Irvine and Pasadena centers or remotely.

More information is available on our page: Enrollment Process and Timeline

Yes! We’re always happy to show families around. Tours of our Chino, Irvine and Pasadena centers are by appointment, so we can make sure someone is free to walk you through and answer your questions. Call us at (877) 774-0444 or schedule a free call with a Learning Specialist to set up a time.

Yes. You can schedule a free call with a Learning Specialist on this page: Speak to a Learning Specialist. You can also call us at (877) 774-0444.

Assessment is required for admission to any Stowell Learning Center program. We never want to guess about what is going on with a student. We want to know exactly what the challenges look like for your child so that we can make the best recommendations for correcting them.

We never want to over-test students, but we do need to spend time with your child in order to see what the challenges actually look like.

We are happy to review any records/reports that you have as a part of the assessment process. This may allow us to do less testing with your child, but will actually take about the same amount of time for us, so in most cases, the assessment fee will be the same.

The assessment can be done in person at one of our centers or remotely.

Every plan is built around your child, so the cost depends on the schedule we recommend after the assessment. A Learning Specialist can walk you through the options on a free call. Financing is available, and you can learn more on our Financing page.