Please note inquiries, tours, and observations do not guarantee student enrollment. All admissions are classroom-specific and dependent on multiple factors including age, present level of performance, support needs, etc. Due to the volume of our requests, responses to inquiries and scheduling of tours or observations will be prioritized based on Mainspring Academy's current openings (above).
At our school, we welcome students ages 5-22 with a wide range of learning, emotional, physical, neurological, and developmental disabilities. The admissions process begins with our Online Inquiry Form which requests basic information about your child and allows you the opportunity to upload their recent IEP and/or Psychological Evaluation. Please note that acceptance and classroom placement at Mainspring Academy is dependent on many factors including age, student academic baselines, level of independence, socioemotional skills, behaviors, support needs, etc. Begin the admissions process below. To avoid delays, please input all requested contact information and submit all required documents.
During the tour, you’ll see our school and some of our classrooms in action. We’ll discuss your child’s current academic placement, your goals for their future, and what you’re looking for in a school. We'll also discuss tuition and answer any questions you have. A copy of your child's IEP will be required before the date of your scheduled tour to help us better understand how they perform as a student. If your child does not have an IEP, a copy of their psychological evaluation will be required. Tours typically run for about 30 minutes.
Whenever you're ready, you can complete an Application for Student Observation , then we'll give you a call within 2 business days to schedule an observation. This will give us a better idea of your child's skills, academic, behaviors, and support levels. During the agreed-upon time frame, the Enrollment Team will take your child to a prospective classroom and make notes on how they engage with their environment (participation in activities, baseline skills, preferences, level of independence, support needs, socioemotional skills, etc.) In order for staff to see how your child adapts to our classrooms, parents are not permitted to accompany students.
After your observation, the Enrollment Team will complete a thorough review of your child’s psychological and academic history, as well as any other information that will help us understand where your child is educationally and behaviorally. Documents that we review include, but are not limited to:
Once you’ve completed the above steps in the admissions process, administration will make a final enrollment decision within 14 business days. If the decision is a “yes", we’ll forward you a contract that is to be returned with an $1000 registration fee to secure placement. If we feel your child is not an appropriate fit, we’ll recommend alternative placement based on what we’ve learned about your child.
If your child has been accepted for enrollment, visit our Parent's Corner.
To avoid delays or the risk of losing your child's spot, please return the Enrollment Contract with the registration fee as soon as possible before the stated deadline. Once this is complete, the Enrollment Team will reach out to you with directions on how to begin the official registration process!
Please visit our Parent's Corner in the meantime to read our Parent Student Handbook!
Mainspring Academy staff receives training in behavior interventions and applies a variety of foundational concepts in the classroom. However, we do not provide clinical services. We welcome providers that parents arrange for their child with their private insurance. Additional services are neither required nor necessary for all students, but they are welcome as long as providers submit a current Level II Background Check and sign our Provider Agreement Form. Below is a list of our families' commonly-used agencies. Please note Mainspring Academy has an application and approval process in order for providers to serve clients on our campus. Parents will also sign our Permission for In-School Services Form. Please reach out to our Operations Coordinator for more information on this process.
ABA Providers
Speech Providers
OT Providers
Please complete the student tour form to receive an intake phone call.
We are an independent, educational institution what focuses on developing an individualized academic program where children progress through a curriculum of concepts and skills at their own pace. We believe that individuals with learning differences can be taught effectively, but only when instructional methods and curricula are tailored to each student’s unique learning needs. Consultation between parents, classroom teachers, resource teachers, private therapists, and other specialists is continuous so each child’s program can be modified to meet their specific needs.
Specialized staff
In 2019, Mainspring Academy was rated in the top 20 percent of Florida private schools for the highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees by Private School Review. 100 percent of teachers have degrees in special education or psychology; 100 percent of administration have advanced degrees; 75 percent of total staff have bachelor’s degrees; 30 percent of staff hold registered behavior technician certifications; and 2 staff are certified to train Ukeru, a trauma-informed crisis intervention approach. In addition, Mainspring Academy consults with a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.
Extended school year
We believe consistency is a major key to learning. That’s why our school program runs from August to June. Our summers are shorter than other schools, but we spread three additional week-long breaks throughout the school year in Fall, Winter, and Spring. During those breaks, parents have the option of keeping students in school by enrolling them in Intersession and Extended School Year Programs, where they have extra opportunities for creativity in a structured learning environment.
Collaborative environment
Our children’s futures are a team effort. We believe that teamwork promotes consistency and maximizes student success. Mainspring Academy welcomes third-party credentialed applied behavior analysts and therapy providers including, but not limited to occupational, physical, speech, music,and feeding. Staff, parents, and providers work together to develop our student’s goals throughout the school year and during our annual Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) meetings. We also believe in supporting student progress when they’re ready for a new environment, so we’ve partnered with several other special education programs in the area. Those schools often refer students to our specialized program so we can help them work on foundational skills, and we work with our families on transition plans when we feel a student is ready to move on. Up to 10% of students at Mainspring Academy are transitioned into least restrictive environments every year.
We welcome students ages 5-22 with a wide range of learning, emotional, physical, neurological, and developmental differences. Every student at our school receives a quality, individualized education in a safe environment. Typical diagnoses include:
Mainspring Academy accepts students between the ages of 5-22. However, considering student progress, there are a few circumstances for which Mainspring Academy will meet with parents to discuss short or long-term transition plans, including:
Dropoff at Mainspring Academy is permitted between 8:25-8:45am.
Classes begin promptly at 8:45am.
Pickup is permitted between 2:15-2:45pm.
Extended School Day
The morning Extended School Day Program runs between 7:30-8:30am.
The afternoon program runs between 3:00-5:30pm.
Parents may apply for the part-time or full-time program.Extended School Day Applications are sent out in July prior to the start of the school year. Applications do not guarantee acceptance to the Program as students are selected based on several factors including available staffing, behavior, and level of independence. Space is limited during the school year after the July pre-selection period, but parents may request an application for any available spots, or to be placed on an Extended School Day Program waitlist.
In a majority of classes, the student-to-teacher ratio is typically 6:2. Class sizes are determined by the developmental needs of the students. Each classroom has a teacher and a teacher’s assistant. Additionally, private therapists are permitted to provide push-in and 1:1 private testing.
Mainspring does not accept insurance to cover tuition fees. However, most of our students benefit from the Step Up For Students Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) to cover a portion of their tuition.
Most of our students benefit from the Step Up For Students Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) to cover a portion of their tuition.
We offer a limited number of internal Tuition Hardship Scholarships to qualifying families, based on financial need. We prioritize eligible currently-enrolled families for Tuition Hardship Scholarships, who must submit a new application with proof-of-income documents each year. Applications are then offered to new families are based on the remaining availability of Tuition Hardship funds.
Most of our students benefit from the Step Up For Students Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) to cover a portion of their tuition. FES-UA has its own criteria for the amount of scholarship funding each child may receive. Funding amounts can be based on IEP matrix scores, diagnostic evaluations, income, age, residency, and county. Most Mainspring families pay different ranges of out-of-pocket expenses for tuition, depending on the remaining balances after their scholarship is applied.
Please note that an FES eligibility letter stating your child will receive 100% scholarship indicates that you qualify for the max amount of funding for your child’s matrix and funding level; It does not necessarily indicate it will cover 100% of Mainspring Academy’s tuition.
Yes! Mainspring Academy has rolling admissions based on current openings. Even if we do not have open spots, if your child is accepted as an appropriate fit for our school, they will be placed on our waitlist and we will contact you as soon as a spot is available. As soon as you sign an Enrollment Contract and pay the enrollment fee, your child’s spot is secured.
Students are placed in classrooms that will best meet their developmental, behavioral, and academic needs, based on the Observation and Document Review stages of their initial admissions process. Teaching and learning styles are taken into consideration, along with student age, present level of performance, and the availability of socially appropriate peers.
Once you’ve completed a Tour and Student Observation, Administration will discuss Observation notes and complete a Document Review. You should receive an enrollment decision within 14 business days. If the decision is a “yes,” we’ll forward you a contract that is to be returned with a $1000 registration fee to secure placement. If we feel your child is not an appropriate fit, we’ll recommend alternative placements based on what we’ve learned about your child.
Mainspring Academy staff receives training in behavior interventions and applies a variety of foundational concepts in the classroom. However, we do not provide clinical services. We welcome providers that parents arrange for their child with their private insurance. Additional services are neither required nor necessary for all students, but they are welcome as long as providers submit a current Level II Background Check and sign our Provider Agreement Form. Below is a list of our families’ commonly-used agencies. Please note Mainspring Academy has an application and approval process in order for providers to serve clients on our campus. Parents will also sign our Permission for In-School Services Form.
View our families’ commonly-used agencies>
Our campus has two private testing rooms that can be utilized for 1:1 assessments and therapy sessions. We have other spaces available for 1:1 work, too.
Mainspring Academy does not provide pick-up or drop-off transportation services.
Due to the high number of student dietary restrictions and allergies, Mainspring Academy does not provide student meals.
Parents have many opportunities to be involved. Each year, all Mainspring Academy families are required to complete 10 parent participation hours. Our administrative team and Parent Action Committee recruit community, corporate, and parent volunteers to assist them in carrying out major fundraising events and campaigns. We organize many school activities and always appreciate new volunteers.
We believe that communication is an integral part of a successful school experience. In addition to parent collaboration and ILP meetings, we encourage parents to communicate with teachers via phone or email. Parents are also always welcome to request a meeting with their child’s team members. We truly believe that parent involvement is fundamental to student success.
New parents, please visit our Parent’s Corner. All forms, requests, due dates, resources, and most of the information you may need for the school year can be found here.
Openings: 2
Classroom:
(2) Primary 1
Age Range:
5-7 (Primary 1)
Grade Range:
K-1st (Primary 1)
Inquiry Category: Please see (a.) below.
The Enrollment Team will do a quick review of the recent IEP and/or Psychological Evaluation you uploaded in your Online Inquiry Form to determine a possible fit for the classroom. If the Team determines a possible fit, you will receive a call within 2-5 business days to schedule your tour.
Tour Scheduling: Beginning September 2024
Tour Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
Tour Times: 9:30am-11:30am
The Enrollment Team will do a quick review of the recent IEP and/or Psychological Evaluation you uploaded in your Online Inquiry Form to determine a possible fit for the classroom. If the Team determines a possible fit, you will receive a call within 2-10 business days to schedule your tour.
Tour Scheduling: Beginning October 2024
Tour Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
Tour Times: 9:30am-11:30am
Please submit your inquiry beginning November 2024.
Tour Scheduling:
Beginning November 2024 (Student Observations will then be scheduled beginning January 2025)
Tour Days:
Beginning January 2025: Mondays and Wednesdays
Tour Times:
9:30am-11:30am
