Mardan Center maintains a policy of limited enrollment and selective admissions, recognizing that there is a range of students that the school serves best.  The goal of the admissions process is to determine if the child’s needs will be served most appropriately by attending Mardan.  Mardan has a rolling admissions policy, and students may be accepted into the program at most times during the school year.

PRIVATE PLACEMENT 
For parents looking for an alternative school setting, Mardan accepts students for private placement.  Scholarship funds may be available to assist families with tuition costs if they demonstrate a financial need.  A scholarship application may be submitted by the family when a determination is made that Mardan has an appropriate opening and can meet the child’s needs. 
 
PLACEMENT WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING 
Under the provisions of federal regulations, public school districts may, in some cases, refer special education students to Mardan if they are unable to provide a program that can meet the student’s unique needs.  Mardan is certified by the state Department of Education as an approved non-public program, and contracts with approximately 15 local school districts to provide services for children who were unable to achieve success in a public school setting.  

Mardan will not, as a policy, admit students privately and subsequently encourage parents to seek funding retroactively through their local school district. Mardan will not allocate any staff time for the purpose of, or tuition assistance that may be in support of engaging in adversarial actions by a family against a local school district.  

GENERAL ADMISSIONS PROCESS 
Admission of new students is determined by the Program Director in consultation with other program staff. The admissions process starts with a phone contact by a parent or a referral source, which in some cases may be a public school district.   During this initial screening call, information is gathered to determine if Mardan may potentially serve a child's particular needs. If so, an intake appointment may be scheduled for an in-person conference.  The philosophy and style of the Mardan program are explained to the parents, special needs of the child are further explored, and the parents are given a tour of the facility.  If a review of student records, testing data, and information gathered during the initial interview indicate that the student’s needs may be met at Mardan, then the intake process is continued with an interview with the potential student.  Mardan cannot accept a child for new enrollment without a face-to-face interview with that potential student. 

 

1 Osborn, Irvine, California 92604 • (949) 733-1500  FAX (949) 733-9234
info@mardancenter.org