Admissions

Our mission statement guides the admissions process at all stages:

It is the mission of the Rawson-Saunders School to provide a comprehensive educational program for professionally diagnosed dyslexic students by using research-based methods to meet the educational needs of each child in a supportive environment. Additionally, the Rawson-Saunders School serves as a unique and valuable resource to individuals affected by dyslexia through outreach, advocacy, and awareness opportunities.

Application Process

The admission process identifies students who will benefit most from Rawson-Saunders' highly-specialized and individualized curriculum. Through the process outlined below, we get to know each student and his or her academic needs.

While we do understand that families may have more than one dyslexic child, each child is an individual. Families who wish to enroll siblings must follow the new student procedures for each child.

 

Part 1 - Informal Inquiry

Basic information about Rawson-Saunders is shared with parents through a phone conversation, mailing, fax, and/or a brief visit to campus.

Part 2 - Information Gathering/Parent Visit

During this time, the family learns more about our school and we evaluate the student and help determine what educational setting would best meet his or her needs. Families visit and tour the school, and we gather paperwork that provides a framework for creating a student profile.

New students are accepted on the basis of current psycho-educational testing and previous educational records. The following paperwork is required for a student to be considered at Rawson-Saunders:

• A psycho-educational assessment

  by a licensed professional in the field of educational assessment. This set of assessments are offered through our Testing and Evaluation Center. Click here for more information.
  
  

  First, second, or third grade students

   must have had this assessment completed within the last

  two

   years.
  
  

  Fourth through eighth grade students

   must have had this assessment completed within the last

  three

   years and must include the

  Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children IV.

  
  
  Additionally, this battery of tests must include standard scores in the areas of:
  
  
  • oral/listening comprehension
  • reading comprehension
  • letter/word identification
  • word attack skills
  • phonological processing skills
  • spelling skills
  • mathematical skills
  • written language sample (composition)




• A current teacher questionnaire

  , obtained from Rawson-Saunders, and is mailed directly from the teacher to Rawson-Saunders.




• A copy of most recent report card from the current school year

  , including conduct grades and/or comments.




• A parent questionnaire

  , obtained from Rawson-Saunders. If the student alternates home settings, each home must complete a separate questionnaire.




• Additionally, reports from any other educational service provider who works with the student.

  This may include speech, occupational, or physical therapists; special education teachers; academic language therapists; or other tutors. If the student has an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) at his or her current school, please include a copy.

When all paperwork has been received and reviewed, a consultation is held to review the information and create a student profile. The fee for this consultation is $125.00, but is waived for students who have had testing completing through the Rawson-Saunders Testing and Evaluation Center.

Part 3 - Student Visit and Final Decision

As part of the consultation with the student's family, it will be determined whether Rawson-Saunders School is able to provide the educational environment that will meet the student's needs. If so, the next step is to schedule a consecutive two-day student visit. The student will attend classes with a 'student buddy' from the class he or she would likely join.

The Admissions Committee usually meets within 24 hours following a student visit to determine whether to admit the child. The decision will be based upon the paperwork listed above, feedback from the student and his or her family, feedback from the school faculty, and space availability. The family will be notified by the Director of Admissions. In rare cases, additional information may be required to complete the determination.

The student's family will be given the Rawson-Saunders Preliminary Student Information Form. Click here for a printable copy of this form. This form is returned to the school with a non-refundable $125.00 Enrollment Fee deposit to hold the student's place. The remainder of the Enrollment Fee, $875.00, will be paid when the contract is signed.

Since class sizes are strictly limited, students may be accepted but placed on a waiting list. Placement information will be kept open and active for twelve months.

Part 4 - Student Placement

Upon admittance, a conference with the student's parents/guardians is scheduled with the Director of Admissions and Evaluations to review the enrollment packet and answer questions. Included in the packet is an enrollment contract which defines the tuition payment schedule. When the contract is signed, the $875.00 balance of the non-refundable Enrollment Fee and first month's tuition is collected.

Financial Information

Tuition for 2006-07	$16,000
One-time Consultation Fee	125
Enrollment fee	$1,000
First year Total Tuition & Fees	$17,125

Payment options:

Yearly, semester or monthly installment plans are available.

Financial assistance:

Contact the school office for scholarship application forms.

Sallie Mae offers low interest education loans. Rawson-Saunders is listed as "Austin Area School for Dyslexics", our name on our incorporation. Our school code is 607919. Click here for more information.

Rawson-Saunders School
2600 Exposition Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78703
(512) 476-8382 -- Fax: (512) 476-1132
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