Elan School
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Elan School is a private, residential behavior modification program and school (beginning with 9th grade and extending beyond highschool completion) in Poland, Androscoggin County, Maine.
It was founded in 1970 by psychiatrist Gerald Davidson and Joseph Ricci. In 2005 it had an enrollment of 172. The annual cost is $49,071.96.
[edit] See also
Long and controversial history. Elan has evolved through the years, discarding controversal methods as the program has changed to meet the needs of students and parents. Program is for students who have failed in regular public schools, public school special education programs and various other residential programs. Facilities are located on Range Ponds with three residential houses, school buildings and administraion buildings. Classes are from 6:00PM to 10:30PM, Monday - Thursday. Study Hall on Fridays.
While many reports of abuse etc. have been reported by disgruntaled former students, no follow-up investigations by teams from the State of Maine or other states have ever substantiated such reports.
FINDINGS (BASIC SCHOOL APPROVAL REPORT PERTAINING TO THE ELAN SCHOOL, Maine Department of Education -2002)
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.
http://www.maine.gov/education/Elan%20Report90302%20Final.htm
The profile of students who attend Elan School is important to consider. Students who attend Elan School are those who have failed in public school progrrams, public school special education programs and often many other residential school programs.
Elan is the "last step" school for a great many students who face much more restrictive placements in their future. Students did not make wise choices to get to Elan and many continue to make poor decisions during their stay and after. A number of students sign out when they reach their majority and often fail in their continuing lives after Elan, often blaming Elan for their failings.
In contrast, many students have successfully graduated high school and the elan program over the years. Many going on to college and university, other schools and often the military. Those who grow within the program and graduate find a more positve future than the one they arrived with.
