Welcome Prospective Families

What does it cost? If you follow the process below there will be no out of pocket expense to your family to join our family at CWA!

How does my Child get to school? Once enrolled, the home district will arrange transportation to and from CWA.

Districts and parents should contact Clare Woods Academy (CWA) for a description of classroom availability to determine if their student’s age and ability is a match. If it is determined that CWA may have an appropriate classroom available for the student, then districts are asked to send a formal referral packet including a copy of the student’s most recent IEP. Interested parents and those seeking private pay placement will be able to schedule a formal tour of the facility. Virtual tours are available below.

After the referral packet has been received, the CWA intake coordinator reviews the paperwork to determine initial approval to continue with the admissions process.  The school district is notified regarding CWA’s approval and the family is asked to schedule a formal visit at our school.  Once the family has visited the school, the placing school district notifies CWA of their continued interest and the admissions/intake process begins.  An observation at the current educational placement is then requested and a visit at CWA is scheduled.  Parents are asked to schedule a time to meet with a the Principal and with the student’s team. 

After the CWA team has determined that CWA may be an appropriate placement for the student, the placing school district is notified and the parents are requested to submit a formal application. Parents should complete the student application and other CWA admissions forms as well as other pertinent educational, medical, speech/language, occupational, mental health reports from the previous two years.

A visit is scheduled for the parents and child prior to enrollment.

When it is determined that CWA is an appropriate placement for a student by the placing district and CWA, the district will hold an IEP to note a change in educational placement to CWA. This meeting is conducted at the home school or at CWA, depending on the district. CWA may or may not be requested to attend.

An IEP review meeting is held 30 days after a student begins at CWA, to update the student’s goals appropriate to the placement. At this time, related therapy service minutes will be finalized for the school year. There will be opportunity for parents to share strengths and weaknesses as well as concerns for educational programming. Also, information regarding the child’s profile, environmental modifications and all other educational modifications will be listed in the accommodations section of the IEP. An individualized regulatory support plan will also be created.