http://www.state.me.us/education/Elan%2 ... 0Final.htmFINDINGS
1. There was no indication that students enrolled in the Elan School are placed at risk for their safety or well-being.
2. There was no indication that any families or any other placement agencies have removed their children from the program based upon their concern for the safety or well being of their child or client. The reasons students leave the program include graduation from high school and the house program, graduation from high school and the placing school unit will not continue to provide funding for the house program, and eighteen (18) year old students who sign themselves out of the program.
3. It was reported by the Elan administrative team and in the interviews that since at least October 2000, the Elan School no longer employs the use of the ?Ring?, where students were subjected to boxing fights with other students as a part of a system of student discipline. An example of how the Elan School currently addresses student discipline issues, is a student court system that examines incidents and determines consequences. The outcome from the student court system is that students are required to perform community service on the campus as a way to atone for misdeeds or inappropriate actions. Student issues are also examined in an adult supervised peer mediation process.
4. The present policy of the Elan School states that wrist and ankle protective devices are available for use only in situations when students may injure themselves or others. In any case, the program psychologist must authorize the use. The Elan administrative team has submitted a draft amended policy that addresses the Department of Education?s concerns regarding the use of the wrist and ankle protective devices.
5. Although there have been specific allegations regarding the excessive use of restraints and use of the ?Ring? in the several years prior to October 2000, the Department of Education, after conducting a thorough investigation, cannot substantiate the allegations.
6. The year round education program includes up to six (6) hours of instructional time, Monday through Friday. This exceeds the instructional day requirement of five (5) hours contained in Chapter 125 Rules Governing Basic School Approval. It should be noted, that the average student enrollment period in the Elan School is two and one-half (2.5) years. In total, the education program exceeds the state instructional day (5 hours per day) and instructional year (175 days) requirements.
7. The education program staff is involved in a comprehensive review and update of the curriculum and assessment process at the Elan School.
8. Students have daily opportunities to express their needs and concerns through the daily log system and other lines of communication.
9. Due to the geographic composition (from several states and countries) of the student body, the program is required to meet the educational and other programming needs from a number of states and institutions besides Maine.
10. The application of technology in systems management and instruction is very limited.
11. The science coursework does not provide adequate laboratory experiences for the students.
12. Formalized professional development plans for the staff and teachers do not exist.
13. Although all new students are provided with an orientation program and a student mentor, when this review was conducted there was no student handbook, a written set of rules and regulations or a student code of conduct.
14. There is no handbook for the residential staff.
