Adolescent Academic Services
Adolescent clients in residential or PHP participate in at least 2.5 academic hours daily. Student are required to be enrolled in an accredited school or online learning program. Most students enroll in a total of two or three classes. Students complete assignments independently with supervision and support from our academic services team.
Our academic services team is led by an education specialist who is a Georgia certified teacher and an education assistant with several years of experience as an educator.
The academic services team works closely with our clinical team and helps teens make progress toward their education goals and strengthen organizational and academic skills. As clients approach graduation from treatment, the education team works with clients, families and schools to help set the student up for success as they return to school and continue working toward their education goals.
Required Documentation from Guardians
Please submit a current transcript and/or progress report to admissions prior to admission. Unofficial copies are fine. If your child has a 504 or IEP and/or any psychological-educational testing documentation, please submit/bring copies of those documents as well.
Guardians must sign an Authorization for Release and Exchange of Information for the student's school of enrollment.
It is helpful if the guardian can provide the guardian login information (or create a tutor account) for their child's school account to allow viewing of assignments, grades, late assignments, etc.
If the client is in a hospital/homebound program and the school requires documentation from Skyland Trail, please email the forms to your admissions counselor prior to admission or to the education specialist after admission.
School Enrollment Requirements
Every client must be enrolled in an accredited school or online learning program while at Skyland Trail. Skyland Trail is not an accredited school and does not issue school credit. School enrollment options include:
- Continuing coursework from client's current school (school of record). School must complete a School Partnership Agreement.
- Enrolling in hospital homebound services through the school district
- Enrolling in the client's school district online school
- Continuing in an online homeschool program
- Taking classes through ADVANTAGES online accredited learning
Partner School Agreement Requirements
- A single point person at the school must be designated to work directly with the Skyland Trail education specialist.
- Students may not leave the Skyland Trail campus. They cannot participate in any face-to-face activities on the school campus. School faculty may not visit the student at Skyland Trail.
- Email communications sent from the school to the student must copy/cc the Skyland Trail education specialist (education-coordinator@skylandtrail.org).
- Due to treatment schedules, students are not able to attend live classes online. However, if lessons are recorded, the student is able to watch recorded material online during hours designated for academic instruction daily. Similarly, online tests or assessments must be available for the student to complete during hours designated for academic instruction at Skyland Trail.
- If lessons are not recorded or available online, schools must provide notes or a study guide.
- Schools must be willing to allow students enrolled in treatment at Skyland Trail additional time to complete assignments. Typically, no more than one week of additional time will be required.
- Any curriculum or materials not available online must be provided to the Skyland Trail education specialist in a timely manner, preferably via email. Students should have enough assignments to work on for 2 to 3 hours each weekday.
- Schools must provide initial assignments within one week of the student’s admission date to Skyland Trail.
Education Assessment
Within five days of admission, the education specialist reviews the client's academic records, consults with parents and the school of enrollment, and completes an educational needs assessment with the client. The educational needs assessment assesses the student's academic needs and strengths to help guide the development of an individualized academic plan. Guardians will receive a call from the education specialist within one week of admission.
Course Selection & Course Load
A full-time course load is not appropriate for students in treatment. We understand that graduation and achieving long-term education goals are important to the student and family. Our first priority is the client's mental and physical health. Our education team will work with the clinical team, client, family and school to select a course load that will help the client continue to make progress toward graduation while supporting, rather than interfering with, therapeutic and wellness goals.
Continuing with school of record or switching to ADVANTAGES digital learning: The Skyland Trail education staff work with schools to select classes. Typically students take two or three core academic classes: language arts/literature, math, and one other academic course (usually social studies or science). Clients may be able to substitute their activity in treatment for a PE, health, or elective credit, though this is not guaranteed and depends on the district and school.
Continuing a homeschool and/or online learning program: Students already enrolled in an online learning program will continue with the same online platforms they have been using for their studies. The number of courses may need to be adjusted. Synchronous (realtime) classes must fall within the client's assigned hours for academic services on their schedule.
AP Classes
AP classes are usually NOT a good fit for students in treatment. However, in some circumstances, a student may take one AP and one on-level class if the school and the Skyland Trail treatment team think it is appropriate. Students are not able to take AP exams while in treatment.
Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment may or not be a good fit for students in treatment, and participation may depend on the school of record. If both schools are willing to sign the school partnership agreement, taking one dual enrollment class may be possible while in treatment. The Skyland Trail education team can help a student complete a dual enrollment application so they are eligible to participate in dual enrollment after leaving treatment.
Academic Services Schedule
During the Treatment Day: Students have two blocks of school time in the learning lab daily, Monday through Friday. Three days a week, they have a 1.5-hour session in the morning and a 1-hour session in the afternoon. Two days a week, they have a 1-hour session in the morning and a 1-hour session in the afternoon.
If students need to meet with school teachers for tutorials, to complete DBAs, or to take tests, Skyland Trail education staff will help arrange a time during the standard academic services schedule for the student to zoom with or talk to instructors. School-related meetings cannot be scheduled outside of academic services hours.
After Treatment Hours: Students can use some of their free time in the evenings to complete non-computer based school work; however, their access to writing utensils is limited, and some students are hesitant to turn in work that is written in marker.
Technology, Internet Access, and Email
In adherence with our program's device-free policy, please do not bring personal or school-issued laptops, chromebooks, or tablets. Computers are provided in the learning lab.
The only time students have access to computers is when they are in the learning lab; therefore, all computer-based assignments must be completed in the learning lab.
Skyland Trail uses Hapara to monitor computer activity. Hapara allows staff to monitor all computers, limit searches, focus learning sessions, and filter keywords.
Students may not access their personal email accounts; however, they may use school accounts to communicate with teachers for classes they are enrolled in. The Skyland Trail education specialist must be copied on all emails between teachers and students. Students who use learning lab computers inappropriately, including to communicate with friends/family, lose their computer privileges for a period of time and may be placed on a wellness plan.
Students may listen to music during designated times. Students may ask education staff to print or scan documents needed for assignments.
Skyland Trail can support access to cloud-based programs and resources as long as the school/family provide correct login information. Skyland Trail cannot purchase or install any software or applications that are not cloud-based.
Communicating with Schools
The Skyland Trail education staff are in frequent communication with schools. Email is the primary means of communication since staff are with the students all day, but scheduled phone calls and/or online meetings are also an option. Education staff can meet with families and teachers or school administrators together to help develop a plan for accommodations, a path to graduation, or to help the client smoothly transition back to school after completing treatment.
Standardized Tests and Proctoring
Skyland Trail education staff are happy to proctor assessments for schools of record. The school will communicate its testing expectations, and staff will follow those parameters. There is one Georgia-certified teacher on staff.
Clients are not able to complete SAT, ACT, or PSAT tests while in treatment. Clients typically are not able to complete standardized tests like MAP testing, Georgia Milestones, or state-required standardized end of course tests.
School Accommodations, IEP, and 504
Skyland Trail educational staff support standard learning accommodations. For students enrolled in classes on ADVANTAGES, staff can also modify assignments and assessments as appropriate.
The Skyland Trail education team is available to help guardians prepare for meetings with the student's school to request or discuss accommodations. Guardians may also request that our education specialist attend a meeting with the school. Results of psychological testing conducted at Skyland Trail may be useful for requesting an IEP as the student returns to school.
What is an IEP?
The difference between IEPs and 504 plans
What is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
Tutoring
Skyland Trail educational staff offer students academic support during academic services hours. Additionally, a math tutor is on-site two hours each week. If a student needs more than what we can offer, Skyland Trail will discuss options with the guardian.
Psychological Testing
During the first two weeks of treatment, adolescent clients participate in psychological testing with our psychological services team. Psychological testing typically takes place over multiple sessions for a total of about 8 to 10 hours. Some assessments will include feedback from parents and guardians.
Adolescents complete several tests, including self-report questionnaires, computerized tasks, and some interactive components. Results of psychological testing are used to clarify a client’s diagnoses and to help match the teen with the most appropriate evidence-based treatment (e.g., medication, goals for individual sessions, academic skills coaching, etc.).
Standard psychological tests may uncover learning, behavioral, emotional, psychiatric, or cognitive challenges as well as identify strengths that a teen may apply to achieving their goals. Results may be used after treatment at Skyland Trail to guide continued mental health treatment in the community or to request specialized services or accommodations from schools or other programs.
What to Bring for School
Please bring what you need to complete your school work, including text books, workbooks, notebooks, novels, agenda/organizers, etc. Bring any notes or handouts you need to complete your work, and remove any staples in advance.
Please bring a list of passwords and login information for online classrooms or learning programs.
In adherence with our program's device-free policy, please do not bring personal or school-issued laptops, chromebooks, or tablets. Computers are provided in the education lab.
Many schools require summer work. If you are admitting during summer semester and your student has reading, practice work, or projects to complete during the summer, please bring that work to Skyland Trail on the day of your teen's admission.
Skyland Trail will provide school supplies including pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils, all kinds of paper, graphing calculators, headphones, composition books, and folders.
Printers and scanners are available when needed to complete assignments.
Please do not bring:
- spiral-bound notebooks unless it is a required text book
- pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers
College Preparation
Please complete any college applications before or after admission. The stress of the application process distracts from therapy work. However, Skyland Trail educational staff can help clients begin to appropriately frame their experience with treatment and living with a mental health disorder as they think about college admissions essays and interviews.
If a student needs to meet with their college counselor, Skyland Trail education staff can arrange a time for an online conference or phone call.
Skyland Trail staff cannot facilitate completing FASFA and other forms that require parent/child interaction.
Summer Semester
During summer break, clients must be enrolled in at least 1 class for academic credit. If the client's school of enrollment offers summer classes, and the school can meet the school partnership requirements, the client may continue with their school of enrollment. If the school of enrollment is not an option during the summer, the client will be enrolled in at least one course through ADVANTAGES. The education team will help the client and guardian select a course that will fulfill academic credits needed for graduation or to advance other education goals.
About Advantages Digital Learning
ADVANTAGES is an online school designed to meet the academic needs of students who require a more flexible learning environment.
- ADVANTAGES is an accredited school that provides transferrable credits and transcripts.
- Students may graduate from ADVANTAGES with a diploma.
- On level, honors, and AP classes are offered.
- Flexible scheduling allows students to enroll in just one class or several.
- Students are able to learn at their own pace and receive flexible deadlines for assignments.
- Students may continue their ADVANTAGES learning program after they leave Skyland Trail for a fee of about $400 per month (plans may vary).
Skyland Trail adolescent residential and PHP clients will be enrolled in ADVANTAGES in the following situations:
- Clients may choose to enroll in ADVANTAGES at admission.
- During the fall and spring semesters, clients who are not enrolled in another accredited school will be enrolled in ADVANTAGES.
- During the fall and spring semesters, if a client’s school of enrollment is not able to meet the School Partnership Requirements, including when schools do not provide assignments within one week of the client’s admission.
- During the summer or extended school holidays, if client is not enrolled in a school or online program, the client will be enrolled in ADVANTAGES for at least one class.
- Clients who are enrolled in another school for academic courses may qualify to receive some elective credits for their time in treatment through ADVANTAGES. For example, some students may receive 1.0 credits for Health & Wellness and/or .5 credits for Art. The client must "enroll" in ADVANTAGES for at least one month to transfer these credits to another school through an official transcript. Skyland Trail cannot issue academic credit.
Review the ADVANTAGES Digital Learning Solutions fact sheet here.