Pace School currently serves children ages 5 to 15 in kindergarten through ninth grade. Pace School has a rolling admissions process and accepts applications throughout the school year. A referral must come through the child or youth's home school district's department of special education. Pace School is licensed to serve students educationally diagnosed with one of the following:
- Emotional disturbance
- Autism
- Pervasive developmental delay
Referral Process When referring a student for placement at Pace School, the home school district must submit:
- Current Evaluation Report identifying the student's current cognitive and academic functioning levels, area of exceptionality, educational history, documentation of prior less restrictive educational placement and evidence to support the need for the Approved Private School level of service.
- Current Individual Education Program (IEP).
- Current psychiatric history and treatment information identifying symptom severity warranting this level of care, present and past treatment history and documentation of prior less restrictive treatment options.
After the above information has been provided:
- The Admissions Committee meets weekly to review referrals. Most decisions are made within one week.
- A letter is sent to the school district indicating whether the student is accepted, or if additional information is required.
- If accepted, the Intake Coordinator contacts the school district to coordinate a time for psychiatric assessment and the Individualized Education Plan.
- The Intake Coordinator sets up an interview and assessment with the family, including a tour of the program, registration, psychiatric evaluation and IEP meeting.
- A start date is set. Depending on transportation coordination, this can occur as soon as three business days.
Enrolled students may also be eligible for Pace School's ESY program.