General Information
Gateway School is committed to ensuring that our learning environment is appropriate to maximize the learning potential of the applicant.
Gateway School accepts a student for admission if he/she meets the following criteria:
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- 2 through 15 years of age or currently enrolled in Kindergarten, or Grades 1-8
- 5 years of age or older on September 1 if seeking admission to Kindergarten
- Formal diagnosis or FCI code for one or more of the following primary disabilities: autism, developmental delay, hearing impairment, other health impairment, multiple disabilities, and speech or language impairment
- Present levels of academic performance: 12-18 months through 15 years, Kindergarten, or Grade 1-Grade 8
- Behavioral characteristics such as tantrums, impulsivity, or non-compliance are secondary to the primary disability
- Behavioral characteristics that my refuse admission are self-injurious behaviors, aggression towards others, or other serious maladaptive behaviors
- Cognitive/psychological, educational, and/or speech-language assessments/screenings for the student are available for review
Please note: Gateway School provides a language-based education program and is not appropriate for a student who is diagnosed as emotionally disturbed and/or with severe intellectual disability.
Admission Process
- Education Director reviews referral from the Local School System (LSS), or the application for admission and student records submitted by a parent/guardian submits.
- Education Director schedules a pre-admission phone conference with the parent(s)/guardian.
- Education Director and/or some admissions team members will observe applicant in current school placement.
- Family and child admissions visit at Gateway: during the visit, the admissions team will conduct observations of the child in the environment and a family interview. Child will shadow in a classroom for at least one full school day, 9:00-2:45 for visiting student.
- Gateway’s multi-disciplinary admissions team, which consists of the education director, behavior specialist, occupational therapist, psychologist, speech-language pathologist, and special educator will meet to review the criteria for admission and determine the student’s eligibility for placement in the school.
- Student could be asked to return for a second shadow day at Gateway School if admissions team has more questions.
- The family and LSS will be informed of the school’s decision in writing.
- Student meets criteria: if there is an opening in an appropriate classroom, the parent/guardian and LSS will be informed in writing. An enrollment contract will be forwarded to the parent/guardian or an annual cost sheet will be sent to the Local School System.
- If the student does not meet the criteria: the parent/guardian and/or LSS will be informed by writing
- An agreed upon start date will be determined.