Admissions

Choosing an appropriate placement for your child is a very important decision.

At the Benedictine School, we provide comprehensive, lifelong, individual programming for individuals with disabilities. Many of our parents consider us "a prep school for life's challenges." Benedictine is a fully approved, nonsectarian service provider meeting the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities without regard to racial, ethnic or religious background.

We would be glad to assist you in determining if Benedictine is the right choice for your child or adult. Our Admissions Office will contact you in response to the form below. Or, you may contact Benedictine's Admissions Coordinator, Cindy Thornton at 410-634-2112 - extension 1130, email

Please give us some information about your potential student by completing our information form.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

The Benedictine School accepts male and female referrals, ages 5-21 with mild-severe intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and autism.

We are a non-graded, 12 month school and provide both day and residential programming. The Benedictine School is an equal opportunity facility and places no restrictions on the applicant’s race, color, creed, or national origin.

Referrals may be made by various Boards of Education, Social Services, other human service agencies, private professionals or parents. After all referral records have been received and reviewed, the Admissions Committee determines if the referral is an appropriate candidate for the school program. If the referral is an appropriate candidate, an interview with the student, parents, and/or agency representative is conducted by a team representing the projected needs of the student. The Admissions Committee may also require a visit of 1-5 days at The Benedictine School prior to acceptance if they determine the need for better insight into the child.

Once the interview process has been completed, the Admissions Committee meets to render a decision. Each referral is reviewed on an individual basis to insure appropriate accommodations can be made.


THE BENEDICTINE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS CRITERIA AND POLICY

The Benedictine School accepts male and female referrals, ages 5-21 (IEP grades K-12) with mild-severe intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and autism.

Behavioral characteristics of students appropriate for admission may include those with limited or no communication skills. Also appropriate are prospective students with limited adaptive behaviors in some, or all of the following areas:

  • self-care
    		•
  • functional academics
    		•
  • health and safety
    		•
  • social skills
    		•
  • home living
    		•
  • community use
    		•
  • self-direction
    		•
  • work
    		•
  • leisure
    		•   

    Impulsivity, short attention span, poor judgment, resistance to change and in making transitions, difficulty developing relationships with people, repetitive and stereotypical behavior, obsessive insistence on sameness of routine, etc. are typical behavioral characteristics of our referral population as well.

    We are a non-graded, twelve-month school and provide both day and residential programming.

    The Benedictine School is an equal opportunity facility and places no restrictions on the applicant’s race, color, creed, or national origin.

    Placements are based on assessed cognitive abilities, social and emotional needs, physical size, and age.

    Referrals may be made by various Boards of Education, Social Services, other human service agencies, private professionals or parents.

    While each student is reviewed and evaluated on an individual basis, the following programming needs are not available at The Benedictine School:

    • Programming which requires a secure facility
    • Programming for substance abuse treatment
    • Programming for the deaf/blind
    • Programming for severe sex offenders
    • Programming for fire starters
    • Programming for severe physical handicaps
    • Programming for severe medical needs

    The Admissions Committee receives and reviews the following referral information:

    • Completed Benedictine School Application Form (including fee)
    • Current IEP
    • Most Recent School Progress Reports
    • Recent Psychological Evaluation/Review (must be within one year)
    • Recent Psychiatric Evaluation (if appropriate)
    • Social History
    • Medical Information (including updated immunization records)
    • Current Clinical Therapy Evaluations (OT, PT, Speech), if appropriate
    • Current Functional Behavioral Assessment/Behavior Plan
    • Other Assessment Information, as appropriate

    After all referral records have been received and reviewed, the Admissions Committee determines if the referral is an appropriate candidate for the school program. If the referral is an appropriate candidate, an interview with the student, parents, and/or agency representative is scheduled. If possible at the time of the interview, an informal evaluation of the student will be conducted by a team representing the projected needs of the student. The Admissions Committee may also require a visit of 1 – 5 days at The Benedictine School prior to acceptance if they determine the need for better insight into the child.

    Once the interview process has been completed, the Admissions Committee meets to render a decision. Each referral is reviewed on an individual basis to insure appropriate accommodations can be made. Following a decision and prior to admission, a parent/staff team meeting will be scheduled.

    (Revised April 2010)