Student Referral Sources

Participants come primarily from three referral sources. The first group is referred from local school districts in the NW metropolitan area of Phoenix. These individuals are day students who are 16 years of age and older, usually credit deficient and the least restrictive setting is no longer the home school campus. Most of these young people have made little or no progress toward graduation and possess limited marketable job skills. Without an alternative educational environment, they will either not graduate, drop out or be asked to leave due to ongoing academic performance problems.

The second group of participants is referred from out-of-state school districts and are 18 years of age or older. The school system and parents have determined through mediation or due process that a more comprehensive educational setting is needed to meet the transition needs of the student. LDI is selected after proper admission interviews and consideration of all available alternatives. The majority of these students lack the educational, employment, and residential options needed to facilitate successful transition into adult life as well as complete diploma requirements to graduate from high school.

The third group of program participants is referred through educational consultants, advocacy organizations, clinicians, admission directors of similar programs, or other parents who have had their young adult children in the program. This group of individuals is 18 years or older and is privately funded for services offered through LDI.
These young people have been unable to succeed in traditional learning environments or have attended a school that does not offer them a standard high school diploma. Their needs are many and varied including remediation, improvement in learning abilities and processing, postsecondary education/training, and competitive employment commensurate with the individual capabilities.