Admission Information

Students are referred to the Jean Garvin School through Individualized Edcuation Planning Teams which are a part of the Chittenden County B.E.S.T. Consortium. Typically the team has exhausted all options within the mainstream setting and are discussing a change in placement. After careful review of the admission criteria below and with approval from the Special Education Coordinator, should a team within the Consortium deem it appropriate to move forward, a referral packet may be requested by calling 488-6767.

Consortium members include the Burlington School District, Chittenden Central Supervisory Union, Chittenden South Supervisory Union, Colchester School District, Milton School District and South Burlington School District.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

The Jean Garvin School serves male and female students in grades 7-11. Typically, students are referred because they have not been able to adapt to the behavioral and learning expectations of the public school environment due to chronic, serious difficulties in the student's social, emotional and behavioral functioning.

One or more of the following behavioral symptoms may qualify a student for admission to the program:

Oppositional and defiant behavior
Verbal and physical aggression
Social and relationship-building skills deficits
Anxiety and depression
Suicidal thoughts and/or actions
Impulsivity, hyperactivity, and distractibility
Autism spectrum disorders

In combination with one or more of the above symptoms, the following conditions may be present in students admitted, contingent upon evaluation of the program's capacity to meet the student's needs prior to admission:

Specific learning disabilities
Eating disorders
Developmental disabilities
Speech and language impairments
Mild to moderate hearing, vision, orthopedic and health impairments

Contra indicators: In contrast to the above inclusionary criteria, the behaviors or disorders listed below would prohibit admission to the program until a clear plan is in place to address concerns:

Severe mental illness which seriously limits reality-based functioning
Drug and/or alcohol addiction which is active and untreated
Severe developmental disabilities (I.Q. <50)
Physical disabilities and/or psycho physiological disorders that require intensive nursing care or medical management
Aggressive or destructive behavior targeting individuals and property not connected to the student's care or immediate environment (i.e., is there indication that the student's behavior poses a significant risk to the local community through random violence)
Perpetration of violent offenses (e.g., major fire-setting, sexual assault, physical or weapons related assault)

Concerns regarding any of the above behaviors will be discussed with the referral source and, at times, the student's team. Admission will be considered when a viable plan of support and treatment is identified and in place. There may be occasions when a student is admitted on a probationary status while the program assesses appropriateness.

The appropriateness of a student for admission to the program is determined through careful analysis of educational records, evaluation materials, and measures completed specifically for the purpose of referral and screening (e.g., standardized behavioral checklists), communication between the program staff and the referring school, and student visit and interview.