Admissions
Referral and Transition Processes
Olympic Academy is not an appropriate placement for all students. Students must have all the necessary prerequisite skills and demonstrate a need for the services and supports offered at Olympic Academy to be eligible. Home district special education directors and/or superintendents should contact Olympic Academy early to discuss potential applicants. Email Olympic Academy Program Director Joshua Maerzke at jmaerzke@esd113.org.
Referral Process
Note: Referrals are reviewed in the order they are received. If the student is assessed to be an eligible candidate for Olympic Academy, but the program is full, the student will be placed on a waitlist.
Step 1 – Referral
The superintendent, special education director, or designee contacts the Olympic Academy Program Director.
Please email jmaerzke@esd113.org.
Step 2 – Screening Committee
After receiving the information, our Olympic Academy intake team will review the information provided with input from our program consultant, administrative team, and an impartial special education director.
Note: The screening process should take our team 3-5 days, depending on staff availability. In certain cases, a member of the Olympic Academy team may request to observe the student in their current placement to help the determination process.
Step 3 – Decision
A member of the intake committee will notify districts if the student is accepted into an Olympic Academy program.
Step 4 – Initial Family Meeting
If the student is accepted into an Olympic Academy program, prior to an IEP meeting to change placement, a member of the Olympic Academy team will meet with the current IEP team and family to discuss the program and, by family request, complete a tour.
Transition Process
Step 1 – IEP Meeting/Amendment
The student’s current IEP team conducts an IEP meeting to amend the following:
- Service Minutes
- Placement
- Transportation
- Any other areas to appropriately reflect the student’s current needs
Please note: A member of the Olympic Academy coordinator team is available to support case managers in the amendment process. An Olympic Academy administrator or coordinator will be present at the meeting to discuss the program with the family.
Step 2 – Intake Meeting & Tour
Olympic Academy staff will contact the student’s family to set up an intake meeting and tour following the completion of an IEP meeting.
- Families will learn about the program
- Families will complete intake packet
- District representatives and Olympic Academy staff will exchange paperwork
Step 3 – Contract/Transportation
Prior to a start date being identified, the following will be completed by the LEA:
- Identify transportation routes
- Sign interlocal contract with ESD113
Step 4 – Start Date Identified
Once all paperwork has been received by Olympic Academy, ESD113, and transportation is identified, a start date will be identified for the student.
