Admission & Enrollment
The Meyer Center for Special Children provides intensive developmental education and therapy services to children with disabilities in the Upstate.
The Meyer Center serves children with disabilities (birth – 2nd grade) from all economic and demographic backgrounds. Early intervention is key in determining our students’ pathways to reaching their maximum potential for future success in education, employment and independent living.
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
The Meyer Center operates as a DSS licensed daycare facility for children under 3.
Eligibility Requirements
0-3 years of age
Must qualify for 2 of 3 therapies: occupational, speech and/or physical
Must qualify for one of the special education classifications: intellectual disability, developmental delay, speech/language impairment, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, traumatic brain injury and/or multiple disabilities.
Tuition is based on a sliding fee scale according to household size and income. Proof of income is required.
ABC voucher is available for those that meet eligibility requirements
How to Apply
Complete and return student referral and ALL of the following:
Individual Family Service Plan
Therapy evaluations for at least two of the therapies we offer: speech, physical and/or occupational.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment
Students are placed on a waiting list and are added to the program first come, first serve as space is available. Screenings for new students occur in the spring and children are typically added at the beginning of the school year.
South Carolina Public Charter School
The Meyer Center is chartered by the South Carolina Public Charter School District (SCPCSD) as an Alternative Education Campus (AEC).
Eligibility Requirements
Age 3 by September 1 of the upcoming school year
Must qualify for two of three therapies: occupational, speech and/or physical.
Must score below average on the DP3 assessment and qualify for one of the special education classifications: intellectual disability, developmental delay, speech/language impairment, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, traumatic brain injury, autism, and/or multiple disabilities.
Attends school at no cost during the school year
ENROLLMENT PROCESS
1. Open Enrollment
Enrollment is limited by the number of spots available and capacity of school charter
Open Enrollment runs through the last day of February each year. If more applications are received during Open Enrollment than there are spots available, a lottery for the coming school year will be held following open enrollment.
To be eligible for enrollment and/or potential lottery, a student must have completed the Child Find process with their home school district and complete and return student referral form including ALL the following to the Meyer Center by the last day in February:
Child Find eligibility determination letter
Psychological or Confidential Report
Current IEP
Incomplete applications and applications received after the last day of open enrollment will not be eligible for the lottery.
2. Enrollment
As an Alternative Education Campus, students enrolled at the Meyer Center are grouped in classrooms according to age, cognition and ability. The needs of the students will drive or determine the number of classrooms.
After open enrollment, applicants will be placed in queue in anticipation of a lottery. Applicants will be grouped by the most appropriate classroom spot as determined after reviewing the required documents above. These documents must be received by the last day of open enrollment to be eligible for enrollment and/or lottery.
In the event a lottery is not required, applicants will be required to go through the screening process for final eligibility determination as described below.
3. Lottery
If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of the school on the last day of Open Enrollment, a lottery will be held to determine enrollment. Applicants that are selected on the basis of a lottery will be given a non-identifying number to participate in the lottery process. The lottery will be open to the public and duly publicized. A non-involved party will conduct the lottery. The official results will be notarized immediately after.
Applicants that are not selected during the lottery process will be placed on a waiting list. These applicants will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows.
4. Screening for Final Eligibility Determination
After Open Enrollment, admitted Applicants will be screened for final eligibility and appropriate class placement. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements above.
After the screenings are conducted, the admissions team will make final determination of the student’s eligibility by:
Reviewing all documentation submitted as part of the application process
Reviewing the results of the screenings and parent consultation
If necessary, the admissions team may seek the consultation of a psychiatrist, psychologist or physician regarding documentation and/or evaluation results, interpretation and/or ambiguity.
Appeals regarding the final eligibility determination of a student may be made to the Meyer Center Board of Directors no later than 15 days after notification. The decision by the Board of Directors is final. If no appeal is made, all decisions made by the admissions team are final.
Special Exceptions
Children of Meyer Center employees and siblings of children already enrolled at Meyer Center are exempt from the lottery and given enrollment preference as allowable per state and federal law.
For further information or to make an inquiry, please fill out the form above OR contact the Center’s Family Services Manager, Allie Rogers, at (864) 250-0005, extension 254.