School Program

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8am - 4pm | M - F

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9am - 3pm | M - F

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School Calendar 2021-2022 COVID-19 Resources

Spring Open House

Saturday, April 6, 2019 11:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.

Learn about St. Coletta’s special education program that focuses on functional academics and life skills.

more info

Our Approach

Our more than fifty years of experience has confirmed that the real focus of education needs to be on the individual learner and the skills he/she needs to be successful in life. We believe that individuals learn best by doing.

To that end, we plan hands-on, theme-based activities that allow for experimentation and trial and error. Instruction occurs as often as possible  in the natural setting, thus our adults and students spend a lot of time in  the community.

Student choir performing at the gala 2019

Our Program

The program is an extension of the school's philosophy that stresses the importance of building on and celebrating individual strengths. Upon graduation students earn a high school certificate in lieu of a high school diploma.

Functional Academics
Adaptive Physical Education
Computer Skills
Arts Education

Skills of Daily Living
Community Based Instructions
Vocational Training

Therapies

Related services are available to students to support them in accessing their educational program. Decisions regarding services are determined during the Individual Education Plan meetings.

Speech/Language Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Music and Art Therapy
Hydrotherapy
Assistive Technology

Counseling
Social Work Services
Behavior Management
Vision Therapy
Autism Resource Services
Nursing Services

Who Can Attend?

St. Coletta serves students from Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Students served are three to twenty-two years of age, diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, autism or multiple disabilities, and have at least of 24.5 hours of special education services on their IEP. They may also have the following secondary disabling conditions: speech language disorders, vision or hearing impairments, orthopedic impairments, health impairments and behavior disorders. DC residents wishing to enroll students do so through the application/lottery process (described below). St. Coletta offers a special education and sibling preference. Enrollment for students in neighboring jurisdictions is accomplished through the IEP process with the child’s local jurisdiction.

If you live in the District of Columbia you can apply for admission by sending an application for your child to the admissions office during the open enrollment period. The office is located at:

St. Coletta of Greater Washington
1901 Independence Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20003

After we receive the information someone will contact you for a tour.

St. Coletta Public Charter School Open Enrollment Information and Lottery Procedure

Because St. Coletta is able to offer spaces to all applicants on our list as of 4/30/2021, a lottery for the 21-22 school year will not be held.

St. Coletta will continue to accept applications to our SY 21-22 waiting list and offer spaces as available until the start of the next open enrollment period in the fall. Applications for the 2021-2022 school year are available at the link below.

Open Enrollment Period Application for School Year 2021-2022
Please submit all applications via email to: cdecker@stcoletta.org.
PDF (247 KB) Spanish PDF (125 KB)

The Lottery Process

As per DC Public Charter School Law, selection for admission to the St. Coletta Special Education Public Charter School will be via a random public lottery system. St. Coletta also maintains a wait-list and will offer admission to students on the wait-list as spaces become available.

If a child's name is selected, the family/guardian will be contacted regarding their intent to enroll their child within the school program. An applicant offered a seat will be required to affirmatively respond to an offer for acceptance in writing within 48 hours. Those applicants not responding within this designated period of time will be removed from the waiting list and be required to reapply should they wish consideration for any future openings.

If there are more names in the lottery pool than spaces available in a house/age level, those students' names not selected will form a waiting list based on the date in which they completed the application process and went on the lottery pool list. A wait list will be maintained for each of the five house/age levels. All other applications will be placed after them in order of their submission to the waiting list. If a space becomes available during the school year, admissions will be offered to the next student on the waiting list.

No offer shall be made to any student not properly entitled to the available space.