faq
If your question is not addressed below, please contact us.
What is a Nonpublic School (NPS)?
The Springstone School has received its validation for Non-Public School (NPS) status. If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and if the IEP team determines that The Springstone School is an appropriate placement, then your school district may pay for your child’s tuition. top
What is your tuition and do you only accept private pay students?
Tuition is $20,000. We accept private pay students and students eligible for services through the IEP process. We do not limit the number of IEP students we serve.
In addition to the application, what else should I include in the packet and what is the review process?
In addition to the application, you should include:
- your child’s most recent grades and the grades for the previous year;
- a psychological/educational evaluation and/or a speech and language assessment;
- a signed release so that we can discuss any materials you have included with the professionals who prepared them;
- your child’s current IEP, if your child is currently receiving special education services;
- your child’s Behavior Intervention Plan, if s/he has one;
- a photo, if you like; and
- any other material you think will help us understand your child and guide us in planning his/her educational and social goals.
For 6th grade, we review applications and conduct interviews in early January. We aim to complete the process by early February. For 7th and 8th grade, we review applications as we receive them and conduct interviews if we have space.top
The Springstone School serves a specific population, how will my child be exposed to mainstream role models and will my child be equipped to attend a mainstream high school?
Unfortunately, bullies tend to be the mainstream role models for our students. Also, families have told us that the norm for their sons and daughters in the mainstream schools has been isolation, which inhibits social and academic growth. We expose our students to a variety of social situations in the communities they will be living and working in as adults in order to practice what they learn at school. We know that when our students leave The Springstone School, they have more options than when they began the program. Those options include returning to mainstream high school. top
How are the classrooms organized?
The students are grouped by grade level. Students don’t change classrooms, but their instructors move from class to class. There is a maximum of eight students per instructor.
Academically, each student will be challenged according to his/her ability. top
Is there a behavioral incentive program, such as a level system or token economy?
We do not use a classroom level system or a token economy. We look at individual student needs and devise goals for each student and a path for each to achieve those goals. top
How do you address behavioral issues?
Above all, we will provide a safe learning environment. Students who are physically aggressive fall outside of the scope of our program. We do understand that many students may have a history of these challenges, but have progressed beyond them. This does not exclude your child from consideration. We look at the whole student and determine whether our program can best serve your child. top
Springstone has computers available to all of the students. All written work is completed on laptop systems at the school and saved on the server. We have found that using a computer as a central organizational tool not only maximizes completed work but also has an effect on the user’s internal organization.
The students’ work will also be accessible to them ( and their parents) via the web from home. We therefore require that your home system be able to access the Internet.
We also strongly believe that different students learn and express themselves in different modalities, and we will not limit our instruction to interacting with a computer. We implement our curriculum through action, writing, speaking and artistic expression. top
8:30 - 3:15, except Wednesday
8:30 - 1:00 on Wednesday top
How are parents involved with Springstone?
Parents are invited to and encouraged to attend parent group meetings. Our parents volunteers to assist with major fundraising events such as our silent auction and wine reception. top
How are students transported to and from Springstone?
Parents or the school districts are responsible for arranging transportation for their child. Many of our families have formed carpools. top
We are run a four-week summer program for new incoming students and those returning students who require more structure during the summer months. Space is limited. top