Thank you for the sacrifices your family makes in service to our nation. Our school is committed to providing a smooth, respectful transition for military-connected students by demonstrating a strong, ongoing commitment to our military families.

This page is designed to give military families clear, step-by-step information about enrollment and registration, and to connect you with support throughout your child’s transition.

Our Military Family Point of Contact

Your first stop for any questions is our Military Family Point of Contact (POC):

• Name: Corey H. Harlow Ed.S., Director of Education and Principal
• Phone: (703) 777-0800, Ext. 1540
• Email: [email protected]
• Location: 42009 Victory Lane Leesburg, VA 20176

The POC can:

• Connect you with the admissions department to assist with the enrollment and registration processes,
• Coordinate with your child’s previous and future schools,
• Connect you with administrators, teachers, and related service providers,
• Work with clinical case managers and therapists to provide information about community-based resources.

Who We Serve

The North Spring Academy provides on-site educational services for youth in residential treatment at North Spring Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.. We typically serve:

• Students 9–17 years old,
• With a primary psychiatric or behavioral health diagnosis,
• Who need 24-hour care and a structured therapeutic and educational environment.

Educational services are individualized and aligned with each student’s current or developing Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, when applicable.

Enrollment & Registration: Step-by-Step for Military Families

Because our education program is tied to residential treatment, enrollment usually happens in partnership with a placing agency, case manager, or legal guardian.

Step 1: Initial Referral & Contact

1. A referral is made to our admissions department (often by a Community Services Board, school division, social services agency, TRICARE®/insurance case manager, or other provider).
2. Our Admissions Coordinator completes a pre-admission screening by phone or secures communication to gather:
   1. Basic demographic information,
   2. Current placement and recent treatment history,
   3. Presenting concerns and reasons for referral,
   4. Funding/insurance information,
   5. Basic educational needs and services (including any IEP or section 504 plan).

For military families, we also ask if your child is military-connected (active duty, Guard/Reserve, or veteran family).

Step 2: Application for Admission & Education Enrollment Packet

The Admissions Coordinator or placing agency will work with families to complete an Application for Admission. For our school, this also functions as the foundation of the education enrollment packet. The application may include:

• Demographic information (student name, DOB, address, social security/medicaid number if applicable).
• Family & social/developmental history (family relationships, previous placements, school history).
• Dental record (documenting care within the last year).
• Immunization record.
• Medical history (physical and mental health needs, current medications, known allergies).
• Recent physical examination by a licensed physician (including hearing, vision, neurological, and basic lab information).

Step 3: School Records & Special Education Documents

To ensure smooth educational enrollment and continuity, we ask families and sending schools to provide:

• Current or most recent report card(s) and/or transcript
• IEP or 504 plan, if applicable
• Psychoeducational evaluations or other relevant testing
• Behavior plans, safety plans, and accommodations
• Attendance records (if available)

Our Military Family POC can work with the education department’s administrative assistant to coordinate with your child’s previous school or district to request and receive records.

Step 4: Clinical Review & Admission Decision

A multidisciplinary team reviews the clinical packet and application to confirm that:

• The student’s needs match the level of care and services we provide,
• The student can be safely served in our therapeutic and educational environment,
• Required documentation and consents are in place.

If the student is approved for admission, the Admissions Coordinator will contact the guardian/placing agency to confirm admission and school enrollment details and provide an anticipated admission date.

Step 5: Day of Admission & School Registration

On or before the day of admission:

• The guardian or placing agency signs a Written Placement Agreement and Consent for Treatment.
• The admissions team completes or updates school enrollment forms, including:
  • Verification of prior school(s) and grade level,
  • Identification of military-connected status,
  • Confirmation of IEP/504 status and services,
  • Home division contact information (important for Virginia and Interstate Compact coordination).

Our admissions staff will then schedule a welcome orientation for the student upon admission.

Enrollment Checklist for Military Families

To help your child transition smoothly, please try to have the following ready or requested as early as possible:

• Completed Application for Admission (with demographic and family information)
• Immunization record and recent physical examination
• Dental record (within the last year)
• Copies of IEP/504 plan, accommodations, and any behavior or safety plans
• Most recent report card(s)/transcript and testing (SOLs, standardized tests, etc.)
• Information about your military connection (branch, installation, anticipated PCS dates, etc.)
• Contact information for your sending school and, if known, your anticipated receiving school after discharge

If you do not have some of these items at the time of referral, our team will help you obtain them.

How We Support Military-Connected Students During Transitions

To honor military families, we provide:

• Dedicated Military POC to help with enrollment, records, and ongoing communication.
• Student welcome & orientation, including:
  • A tour of the school area,
  • Introduction to key staff,
  • Review of class schedules, expectations, and supports.
• Academic planning that acknowledges frequent moves, course sequencing differences, and graduation requirements across states (aligned with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children).
• Collaboration with sending and receiving schools to minimize gaps and duplication in coursework.
• Opportunities for students to participate in school-wide recognition of military service, such as Veterans Day activities.

Key Virginia & Military Resources

For more information and support, you may find this resource helpful:

• Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children – Helps reduce educational barriers related to frequent moves

Have Questions?

Military moves and treatment-related placements can be stressful. If you need help at any point:

• Call or email our Military Family POC, or
• Contact our Admissions Department for questions about referrals and documentation.

We are honored to support your family and are committed to making your child’s transition as smooth, stable, and successful as possible.