1. Parent meeting with Program Director
2. Review of application materials by admission team
3. Three-day visit by prospective student

• Pre-K Services
• A Unique Autism Program
• Services for Students with Global Developmental Delays and Multiple Disabilities
• Services for Students with Multiple Disabilities and Challenging Behavior
• Services for Young Adolescents
• A Transition-Oriented High School Program
• Extended School Year Services
• In-home Support Services

• We believe the best decisions are those made by a team - with the parents as an equal participant.
• Students are typically referred by their local school district's Child Study Team.
• The process of admission begins when the local public school district sends student records, including the most recent evaluations and the student's IEP. The student, parent(s) and case manager are then invited to visit Hawkswood School to observe the most appropriate class, given the student's age and social-educational needs. At Hawkswood, we never screen a student out based on school records.
• Admission to Hawkswood is a collaborative process in which the parent, the local school district and Hawkswood staff discuss the unique needs of the student and determine how the program at Hawkswood might meet those needs. Consensus about admissions is generally reached within 24 hours.
• Child Study Team and parent visits to see the school program are scheduled throughout the year.

1. While there are no geographic restrictions, students from the Western Maryland region (Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties) will be given first priority;
2.  Males and females who are eleven years of age through age twenty-one may be admitted with specific age ranges noted for the various programs;
3. Students must be U.S. citizens, or must be in possession of a current and valid green card or passport;
4. Students should have the intellectual and the physical capacity to participate in the social, recreational and educational programs. Students admitted to The Jefferson School should be able to benefit from the academic program which is designed to serve students with academic abilities ranging from grade six through grade twelve. Children of borderline intelligence whose potential for higher functioning that has been compromised by their emotional state maybe accepted. Deviation from these criteria must be approved by the Medical Director who will document the rationale in the student’s clinical record;
5. Students will be considered for admission whose behaviors have significantly affected their ability to benefit from less restrictive educational settings;
6. Students will be considered for admission whose academic performance and ability to profit from instruction has been significantly affected by their behavior;
7. Students must be approved or in the process of approval by the LEA for full day special education services (for our day school program). (Residential students- without such approval must have a commitment to fund the educational component of the program by the referring agency in writing upon admission);
8. Families of students must be willing and accessible to participate in treatment and the discharge planning program. In those cases where there is no family or where the student is under agency guardianship, there must be an agreed upon commitment of the agency to be actively involved in the students ongoing care and education, as well as discharge planning for placement;
9. Admission will generally not be considered for students who at the time of referral and/or admission: (a) are in acute stages of suicidal or psychotic behavior or need detoxification from chemical intoxication/addiction; (b) have a history of repeated violence or have utilized a weapon, or (c) have a sole diagnosis of a developmental disability, brain damage, or autism. The admissions team will consider admission on a case-by-case basis.

1. Primary diagnosis of substance abuse;
2. Fire setting;
3. Recent charges involving use of a weapon (1 year).

1. Students from the Western Maryland region (Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties) are primarily enrolled.
2. Students must be U.S. citizens, or must be in possession of a current and valid residence visa or passport.
3. Students should have the intellectual and the physical capacity to participate in the social, recreational and educational programs.  Students admitted to The Jefferson School at Finan Center should be able to benefit from the academic program which is designed to serve students with academic abilities ranging from kindergarten and grades one through grade twelve and non-graded ages five through twenty-one. Deviation from these criteria must be approved by the Medical Director who will document the rationale in the student’s clinical record.
4. Students will be considered for admission whose behaviors have educational settings.
5. Students will be considered for admission whose academic performance and ability to profit from instruction has been significantly affected by their behavior.
6. Students must be approved or in the process of approval by the LSS for full day special education services.  The referring agency must indicate, in writing, commitment to fund the educational component of the program.
7. Families of students must be willing and accessible to participate in the pre-admission interview and an active treatment and discharge planning program.  In those cases where there is no family or where the student is under agency guardianship, there must be an agreed upon commitment of the agency to be actively involved in the student’s ongoing care and education, as well as discharge planning for placement.
8. Admission will generally not be considered for students who at the time of referral and/or admission: (a) are in acute stages of suicidal or psychotic behavior or need detoxification from chemical intoxication/addiction; (b) have a history of repeated violence or have utilized a weapon.  The admissions team will consider admission on a case-by-case basis.
9. The Jefferson School at Finan Center does not discriminate in its admission policies or practices on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, or ethnic origin.
10. Students must have a primary disability as determined by the LSS’ IEP team of emotional disability or autism spectrum disorder or be considered a general education student.

1. Primary diagnosis of substance abuse;
2. Fire setting;
3. Recent charges involving use of a weapon (1 year).

Kennedy Krieger School Programs: Powder Mill Campus

Powder Mill Campus Website

ax - apraxia

as - Asperger's syndrome

asd - autism spectrum disorder

aut - autism

bd - behavior disorder

cd - communication delays

cog - cognitive delays/impairment

devdis - developmental disabilities

ec - educational disabilities

id – intellectual disabilities

lang - language disorder

ld - learning disabilities

mul - multiple disabilities

mdssi - multiple disability severe sensory impairment

nv - nonverbal

nvld - nonverbal learning disabilities

pdd-nos - pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified

sii – sensory integration impairment

spd - sensory Processing Disorder

si - speech impairment

selc – social/emotional learning challenges

• South Dakota DOE for the two Specialty Schools July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 for certification (issued yearly).  Site Visit completed 1/5/2017 and good through 1/5/2022
• South Dakota DHS for the Intermediate Care Facility (Children's Residential) last complete 5/5/2018 and is valid for 1 year
• Iowa DHS for Intermediate Care Facility (Children's Residential) last completed 9/26/18 and is valid for 1 year