Tailored Education for Every Child

Category 1: Tuition, Funding, and Enrollment

Question: How much does it cost to go to ELI?
Answer: The majority of students receive full tuition coverage through state scholarship programs. Pricing can vary depending on the amount of support a child requires. Families are encouraged to contact the school for information about their specific situation.

Question: How do I enroll in ELI?
Answer: Families can complete an enrollment application. The Director of Education reviews applications, determines eligibility, and contacts parents to schedule assessments or discuss whether additional supports may be needed.

Question: What funding sources do you accept?
Answer: ELI currently accepts the Gardiner FES-UA scholarship through Step Up For Students. The school also accepts privately funded applications.

Question: Will my child receive grades and report cards?
Answer: Yes. ELI uses standards-based grading and provides quarterly progress reports showing how the student is progressing toward educational standards.

Question: Is this program year-round?
Answer: Yes. ELI operates year-round with scheduled closure weeks for spring break, the week of July 4th, Thanksgiving week, Christmas week, national holidays, and the first Monday of each month for teacher duty day.

Category 2: Eligibility and Support Levels

Question: What ages and grades do you serve?
Answer: ELI currently serves elementary grade levels from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is also working toward a VPK program and offers push-in educational services for children who are not yet ready for the classroom setting.

Question: What qualifies a child for the ELI classroom versus push-in educational services?
Answer: To participate in the classroom setting, a child should be able to join a group of up to 10 peers without severe problem behaviors requiring more than 1:1 support. The child should also be toilet trained to the degree that they are not diaper dependent, have limited accidents, and can independently feed themselves preferred foods.

Question: What does actively participate mean?
Answer: It means the child has an established way to communicate wants and needs, answer basic questions, or follow basic commands.

Question: What if my child does not qualify for the classroom setting?
Answer: ELI offers push-in services. An educator can work with the child in the ABA clinic or home, either in person or through Zoom, for shorter sessions tailored to the child’s needs and tolerance.

Question: What if my child’s behaviors increase and they need more than 1:1 support?
Answer: If a child no longer qualifies for the classroom environment, educational services can be transferred to a push-in model in a more appropriate setting until they qualify again.

Question: My child is on the BFC waitlist and I want to enroll them in ELI too. Is that possible?
Answer: If the child qualifies for the ELI classroom and can participate within funded support levels, they may begin. If they need more intensive supports, they may need to wait until those supports are in place. Push-in services at home may be an alternative.

Category 3: School Day and Daily Experience

Question: What does a school day look like?
Answer: The school day runs from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM and includes Math, Reading, Writing and Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies daily. Students also have snack and lunch periods, two movement or recess breaks, and one special area such as PE, art, music, or another specialty course.

Question: Will ELI provide snacks and meals?
Answer: No. Families must provide snacks, lunch, and drinks other than water to meet their child’s individual needs and preferences.

Question: Will there be homework?
Answer: Homework is not mandatory. However, families who want to practice at home will receive guidance and lessons through the child’s binder so they can support current educational goals.

Question: Will there be special area classes?
Answer: Yes. ELI provides weekly music, art, and movement or PE classes, along with additional specialty courses throughout the year as available.

Question: Are there going to be field trips?
Answer: Yes. Community-based instruction and field trip opportunities are planned quarterly depending on support availability, locations, and student needs.

Question: Can I go with my child on community-based instruction outings?
Answer: Yes, especially for younger children. Parent involvement may decrease as students get older and begin learning vocational or job-related skills. This is decided case by case.

Question: What do parents need to provide?
Answer: Families should provide a backpack, lunchbox, snacks, lunch, any needed toileting supplies, and an extra set of clothes. There may also be an optional classroom wish list each year.

Category 4: Curriculum and Educational Approach

Question: What curriculum is used?
Answer: ELI uses multiple curricula and instructional resources so that supports can be individualized to each child’s learning needs.

Question: Is the curriculum aligned with Florida standards?
Answer: Yes. The curriculum aligns with the most up-to-date Florida State Standards for Exceptional Education.

Question: Is testing required?
Answer: Students receive ongoing assessments based on age, grade, and skill level to track progress. These are not the same standardized tests used in the public school system.

Question: How will my child’s grade level be determined?
Answer: Each child’s curriculum is individualized by subject area. A child may be at one level in math and another in language arts. Skill levels are determined through teacher assessments and shared with families after each administration.

Category 5: Services, Communication, and ABA

Question: Will ELI provide specialized therapy services?
Answer: ELI itself does not directly provide integrated therapy services, though ELI and BFC are working to build relationships with local providers that may offer services within their environments through medical authorizations.

Question: Will teachers be certified?
Answer: Yes. All teachers are fully certified and credentialed through the state and have at least one year of experience working with special needs children.

Question: Will parents receive daily communication?
Answer: Yes. Teachers communicate daily with families through a digital platform such as Class Dojo and through the child’s binder, which includes summaries of daily and weekly activities.

Question: Does my child have to receive ABA to attend?
Answer: No. ABA overlap is not required as long as the child can actively participate within one of the available funding levels.

Question: Can I use an outside ABA company to provide services?
Answer: No. To maintain consistency, privacy standards, and a fully integrated experience, ELI partners exclusively with BFC for ABA supports.

Question: If my child receives ABA, do ABA services continue when the school is closed?
Answer: Yes. Unless BFC is also closed, ABA services can continue on school closure days. Families are encouraged to use that time for community outings and parent training when possible.

Category 6: Attendance, Health, and Safety

Question: Are there attendance requirements?
Answer: Yes. State scholarship programs require consistent attendance for continued eligibility. Doctor’s notes may excuse medically necessary absences. Otherwise, ELI follows attendance expectations similar to the public school system.

Question: Are shots or immunizations required?
Answer: Yes. Immunization records are required by the Department of Health unless the child has a valid religious or medical exemption on file.

Question: What precautions do you take for COVID-19?
Answer: ELI follows extensive protocols to reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria, including handwashing, sanitization, and the use of protective equipment. Children are not required to wear masks.

Question: If ELI closes due to COVID, will there be a virtual option?
Answer: If the school closes due to COVID, materials will be sent home and teachers will provide one-on-one coaching and support through a virtual platform such as Zoom. Full virtual classes are not used because of the individualized curriculum and student needs.

Category 7: Long-Term Planning

Question: What steps do I need to take with the school district?
Answer: None. ELI is an approved private school through the Department of Education. Once your child is enrolled, the school handles the required state paperwork.

Question: Can my child eventually graduate from ELI?
Answer: Yes. ELI’s program is designed to progress through educational, social, and vocational development across age levels into adulthood so students can work toward long-term goals and greater independence.