How to Enroll
Enrollment at Handprints Academy occurs through the school district as part of the IEP process. Students may be considered for placement only after their IEP team determines that a specialized school setting is appropriate based on the student’s individual educational, behavioral, and regulatory needs.
Families who are exploring whether a specialized school placement may be appropriate are encouraged to contact their child’s Special Education Department or request an IEP meeting to discuss concerns, placement options, and next steps. While families may share placement preferences, placement decisions are made by the IEP team in accordance with state and federal special education requirements.
Once a specialized school placement is included in a student’s IEP, the school district may refer the student to Handprints Academy as part of the placement coordination process. Families are always welcome to reach out to Handprints Academy for general information, questions, or to learn more about our program, even though enrollment decisions are made through the school district.
Handprints Academy Intake Process
District Contact: Once a student’s IEP team has determined that a specialized school placement is appropriate, the school district’s Out-of-District Coordinator initiates the referral process. The district may contact Handprints Academy, along with other specialized placement providers, to formally submit a referral for consideration.
Documentation Review: After a referral is received, members of the Handprints Academy intake team review available records and documentation to determine whether our program may be an appropriate match for the student’s educational, behavioral, and regulatory needs.
Observation Coordination: If appropriate, our team works with the school district to schedule an observation of the student. Observations are typically conducted in the student’s current educational setting or another environment that reflects the student’s typical day and support needs.
Family Tour & Discussion: After the observation, and if our team believes the student could be supported successfully within our program, the family is invited to tour the school and participate in a discussion about our classrooms, supports, and transition planning process.
Final Decision: Once the district, family, and Handprints Academy team are aligned, placement is finalized and a start date is determined.
Contact Information:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (720) 962-4555 x105
Alexis Powers – Regional Director of Educational Services