Admissions Overview
At Sulam, our goal is to provide a customized learning program for each student, which will prepare the student for a life of learning and achievement well beyond his or her school years.
To enable our team of highly specialized faculty to achieve this goal, documented evidence of learning differences is required at the time of application to Sulam.
Sulam students are those with mild to moderate learning needs, which may include:
Specific learning disabilities
ADHD
Twice Exceptional (Gifted and Talented, Learning Disabled - GTLD)
Emotional Disability and behavior challenges
Social Skills Deficits
Language Delay
Sensory-motor Integration Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Intellectual Disability
Sulam does not offer programming for students with severe to profound intellectual or emotional disabilities who require specialized support and intervention.
Admissions Process
To best serve our students, Sulam requests that parents begin the admissions process as early as January and no later than April 30th of the preceding school year. The deadline for all applications is May 1st.
Steps to Apply:
Contact the School
Call us at (301) 348-1323 or email us at office@sulam.org to schedule a parent interview.Parent Meeting
The parent meeting with Lianne Heller, Executive Director, and appropriate faculty members will primarily be about your child, his or her strengths, interests, talents, and challenges. The interview is typically one hour long and will include a discussion about the student’s past educational and social experiences, and will also be an opportunity to tour the school and ask questions about our program. This is a parent-only visit. An application package will be offered if appropriate at this time.Submit Application
Parents will be given an application for admission at the end of the parent interview if appropriate. The completed application form, and a $300 non-refundable application fee should be returned to Sulam at 13300 Arctic Avenue, Rockville, MD 20853, along with copies of all educational/psychological testing, current IEP (if there is one), signed release form, and application fee. All documents requested, including current and updated testing must be submitted. Only completed application forms can be processed.Admissions Placement Committee convenes
When all documentation has been submitted, Sulam’s Special Education multidisciplinary team meets to review the application. All documentation is reviewed in order to make an initial assessment as to whether Sulam may be an appropriate match for the student. If so, the admissions process continues. If a Sulam placement is clearly not appropriate at the current point in time, parents are notified and the process ends.
Parent Interview
Parents are invited to meet the team to discuss further details about the student. At this meeting, Sulam educators develop a deeper understanding of the potential student with parent input. The Admissions team will begin reaching out to the applicant’s therapists, doctors, and teachers in order to gather further information on the student.Observation
A member of the Sulam Admissions team observes the prospective applicant in his/her current educational setting when possible. This is arranged with input from parents and other consultants as to the best setting in which to observe the student.Student Visit
Sulam Special Education Director, Division Head, Teachers, and the Sulam psychologist observe the student participating in the Sulam classroom setting and have the opportunity to meet and interact with the student. Informal academic testing may occur at this time.Admissions Placement Committee Reconvenes
A meeting is held where committee members review further documentation, outside observation, and the student’s visit to Sulam. The committee maps out an individual academic program based upon information gathered. As part of Sulam’s collaborative philosophy and programming, relevant Sulam administrators will meet with the Berman Hebrew Academy administration, as they are an essential part of our programming.Recommendation from Sulam’s Admissions Committee
Once the committee has arrived at their decision and determined appropriate placement, if any, it communicates its recommendation to the Sulam business office. The parents are notified of the student’s acceptance, and parents will have a two week window to return all signed enrollment paperwork and registration fees. Once these items are received, the student’s placement is guaranteed.
Requesting Information:
For a brochure, or to schedule a parent interview, contact the Admissions Office:
Email: office@sulam.org
Phone: 301-348-1323
Mail: Sulam Admissions, 13300 Arctic Avenue, Rockville, MD 20853
For more information on the cost of attending Sulam and options for tuition assistance, see Tuition and Financial Aid Forms.