Adolescent Academic Services
Residential and PHP clients are required to be enrolled in an accredited school or online learning program in fall, spring, and summer semesters. They receive a maximum of 2.5 hours of academic support each weekday from the Skyland Trail education services team. The team includes Georgia certified teachers.
The academic services team works closely with our clinical team and helps teens make progress toward their education goals and strengthen academic skills. As clients approach discharge 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
As part of the admissions process, please complete a Skyland Trail Release of Information (ROI) for the client’s current school district. Please also provide a current student transcript (unofficial is acceptable). If you are considering withdrawing from the client’s current school of record, please download or obtain a progress report for courses in progress. If your child has a 504 or IEP and/or any psychological-educational testing documentation, please provide copies of those documents as well.
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.
School Enrollment Requirements
Skyland Trail residential and PHP adolescent clients are required to be enrolled in a school or online learning program while in treatment, including fall, spring and summer semesters. Skyland Trail is not an accredited school and does not issue school credit. School enrollment options include:
- Remain enrolled in current school: Clients may remain enrolled in their current public or private school. Subject to confirmed commitment from the school.
- Hospital/Homebound Services
- District or State Online School
- Accredited Online School
- ADVANTAGES School International (through Skyland Trail)
About Advantages School International
ADVANTAGES is an online school designed to meet the academic needs of students who require a more flexible learning environment. Skyland Trail clients not enrolled in any other school or online learning program during the fall, spring, and/or summer semesters will be enrolled in ADVANTAGES. ADVANTAGES is an accredited school that provides transferrable credits and transcripts. ADVANTAGES is available to Skyland Trail adolescent residential and PHP clients for $180 per month while enrolled in treatment. Note that financial aid awards do not apply to ADVANTAGES online learning fees.
Education Assessment
Our education services team will review the client’s academic record and complete an educational needs assessment. Our education services team will support client communications with educators throughout treatment.
Student Schedule
Residential clients may not leave the Skyland Trail campus, and day treatment clients may not leave campus during the treatment day (approximately 8:30 AM-3:30 PM M-F). School faculty may not visit the student at Skyland Trail.
Students typically have two blocks of school time in the learning lab daily, Monday through Friday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Due to treatment schedules, students typically are not able to attend live (synchronous) classes. However, if lessons are recorded, the student is able to watch recorded material online during hours designated for academic instruction daily.
Course Selection
A full-time course load is not appropriate for clients in treatment. Students typically take two to three classes during fall and spring semesters and one to two classes during summer semester. When possible, we prioritize core classes required for graduation. AP classes typically are not a good fit for clients in treatment. (Depending on the circumstances, students admitting to treatment mid-semester may be able to complete some courses in progress.)
Communication with Schools
Our education services team will communicate either with the school’s designated representative or directly with teachers. Emails to students must copy Skyland Trail’s education services team. If students need to meet with teachers for tutorials, to complete DBAs, or to take tests, Skyland’s education staff will help arrange phone or virtual meetings during Skyland Trail education hours.
Assignments and Homework
Students have access to computers, textbooks, workbooks, and other school supplies only during education hours. Students are only able to work on school assignments about two hours each weekday. Students can access any cloud-based platforms on our learning lab computers. Any curriculum or materials not available online must be transmitted via email.
Testing and Assessments
Clients cannot take any College Board exams or state-required tests while in treatment. Skyland's Georgia-certified teachers can proctor course curriculum assessments on behalf of the school of record.
Extracurricular Activities
While enrolled in residential treatment, clients cannot participate in school extracurricular activities, including sports, music, clubs, academic teams, dances/socials, or ceremonies.
Credit for Treatment Activities
Clients may be able to earn elective credit for Health, PE, and Art through their participation in daily treatment activities. Ask the education services team for more information.
Tutoring
Skyland Trail educational staff offer students academic support during academic services hours. If a student needs more than what we can offer, Skyland Trail will discuss options with the guardian.
Technology, Internet Access, and Email
In adherence with our program's device-free policy, do not bring personal or school-issued laptops, chromebooks, tablets, or calculators. Computers and calculators are provided in the learning lab.
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.
Students must provide Skyland Trail education services team login information to their student portals and online applications. Guardians are encouraged to share this information with education services as soon as a plan for school enrollment during treatment has been approved.
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 their current teachers. The Skyland Trail education services team must be copied on all emails between teachers and students. Students who use learning lab computers inappropriately lose their computer privileges for a period of time and may be placed on a wellness plan.
Students may ask education staff to print or scan documents needed for assignments.
What to Bring for School
Please bring the following:
- passwords and login information for online classrooms or learning programs
- textbooks, workbooks, novels
- notebooks needed for current classes
- agenda/organizers
- notes or handouts for current classe (remove any staples or paperclips in advance)
- summer assignments (materials to complete assigned summer reading, packets, or projects)
Any spiral-bound materials will be collected at admission and kept in the learning lab for use during learning lab hours.
Skyland Trail will provide computers and school supplies including pens, pencils, markers, highlighters, colored pencils, all kinds of paper, graphing calculators, rulers, headphones, composition books, journals, and folders. Printers and scanners are available when needed to complete assignments.
Do NOT bring:
- personal or school-issued laptops, chromebooks, or tablets
- calculators
- pens, pencils, colored pencils, highlighters, or markers
- glue or tape
- erasers
- scissors or paper cutters
- headphones
- paperclips or binder clips
- staples or staplers
- hole punchers or pencil sharpeners
- rulers or protractors
- backpacks or totebags
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 school meetings concerning a student's accommodations. Guardians may also request that a member or our education services team attend meetings with the school. Results of psychological testing conducted at Skyland Trail may be useful for requesting accommodations 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)?
College Preparation
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 challenge 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.