 Each school year we admit new students in the Fall, based on an intake process that begins during the prior year. The number of openings in the school varies depending on the number of students who are transitioned back to their home school district. We typically have from two to four openings each school year.
When families or school district staff contact us to make a referral, an informational packet about the school is sent along with a set of application materials. Before beginning the application process, we encourage families to schedule a visit to our program and to meet with our educational manager. We regularly schedule these visits on Thursday mornings each week.
During the visit, we discuss the application process in more detail. Basically this process consists of the following steps:
- Parents/potential students visit the program to observe and discuss Bridge School placement.
- Families submit a completed Referral Form and a videotape of the child interacting with familiar people, along with a signed "Exchange of Information" form, requesting all relevant educational records from the student's current educational program.
Bridge School Intake team meets to review the application materials and then develops an action plan, a copy of which is sent to both the family and the home school district. The team determines if:
- the student meets initial screening criteria (the family is then notified of the next steps in the process) or
- further information is needed before proceeding with the intake process; or
- the student is not an appropriate Bridge School candidate.
Staff make arrangements for a visit to the current educational placement (when possible). For students who live outside of the local area, we request a videotape of the child engaged in instructionally-related activities.
Staff complete parent/teacher (child's current teacher) interviews to determine current skills and needs in the educational setting.
Bridge School notifies parents regarding eligibility for the school year. Parents complete the process of determining tuition funding in order to be officially accepted into the program.
Once tuition funding is established (i.e. Bridge School receives notification from a contracting public school district or receives confirmation of scholarship acceptance), parents complete the application process by submitting school enrollment forms.
To request an informational packet including application materials, e-mail Joyce Cameron. Be sure to include your full mailing address.
If you wish to schedule an observation, contact Joyce directly at (650) 696-7295. Please contact her as soon as possible as these times fill up rather quickly during the school year.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact Dr. Vicki Casella, Executive Director.
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