All of the Hopewell School sites provide educational, therapeutic and transitional services that provide students the tools necessary for a successful transition to independence. But, which Hopewell site, if any, provides the appropriate setting for a particular student to reach their educational goals? In order to determine that, we provide a comprehensive referral process for each prospective student.

Who Do We Serve?

While particular Hopewell sites serve students with different special education categorical labels, the following is a list of primary disabilities that we currently serve:

• Emotionally Disturbed
• Specific Learning Disability
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Other Health Impairment
• Mental Retardation

What Paperwork Do We Need?

Before scheduling an initial intake meeting, we review information about prospective students. Each program in New Lenox, Joliet, Lemont and Evanston offer various services to students. A thorough review of student information assists us in determining which school site would best serve the prospective student’s needs. Prior to an initial intake meeting, school districts must submit all pertinent documentation regarding the student including the following:

• The Most Recent IEP
• The Latest MDC
• Current Psychological Tests
• Health Records
• Updated Grade Reports and Transcripts

The Initial Intake Meeting

After a review of the documentation, we contact all parties to schedule an initial intake meeting at the appropriate site. The meeting should include the prospective student, parents or guardians, and a representative from the referring school district.

The School Visit

If the intake meeting participants feel that the placement might be appropriate, the prospective student will be scheduled for a visit in a classroom at one of our schools. The visit gives us a chance to evaluate the student in our setting and affords the student an opportunity to also participate and experience our school setting. After the visit, we make a determination whether or not we will feel the student is appropriate for our program.The student and parents/guardians also have the opportunity to make the decision as to whether they want to attend Hopewell. 

What Happens After A Student Starts?

After a student begins attending Hopewell, we complete some formal assessments to evaluate a student's academic, emotional and transitional status. For academics, the primary points of emphasis are the student's current levels of achievement in reading and math. We utilize a computer-based testing program to determine the math, reading and language usage levels of each student. For emotional status, we assess students in individual and group counseling sessions as well as more formalized assessments such as the completion of the BASC testing battery. For transition, we utilize diagnostic transition assessments such as career exploration inventories (www.careercruising.com) and the Transition Planning Inventory (TPI).