SAIL Program

An identified learner is someone who, through a multi-factored evaluation by a school psychologist, has been identified as having one or more distinct challenges that interfere with learning.  Some common challengers are ADHD, dyslexia, verbal processing disorder, written language disorders, and dysgraphia.  At times, there are several challenges that occur all at once, or that cannot be categorized so specifically.  The SAIL Program uses a variety of strategies to minimize the difficulties that are identified in students. 

If you are interested in applying for our SAIL Program, we ask that you first apply to McNicholas and indicate you are interested in the program on your application. The SAIL application and accompanying requirements will then appear in your Parent Portal checklist for completion. There is a $50 fee to apply to the SAIL Program.

SAIL Application deadline is November 15.

Apply to McNicholas 

In addition to the application, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Students must be evaluated by a psychologist for a discrepancy between aptitude and achievement, with the learning problem identified.  This evaluation must have been completed within the last three years.
    
2. As a part of the above evaluation, students must demonstrate a full range aptitude of at least an average ability.
    
3. Students must be recommended for admission to the program by either their previous school or by the psychologist who tested them.

An interdisciplinary team of McNicholas counselors, administrators, intervention specialists, and the school psychologist will evaluate the student’s records and determine if our fully mainstreamed curriculum with tutorial support is the optimal learning environment for the student.

The SAIL Program is limited in size to ten students per period.  Each student will meet with their specialist daily for a total of 250 hours over the course of the school year.

There is an additional fee of $5,750 for the SAIL Program. A non-refundable $50 deposit is required before the application will be reviewed.  (This fee is waived for current McNicholas students applying to the program.)

McNicholas is a state of Ohio Jon Peterson Scholarship provider. If your student has an IEP/ETR, we encourage you to apply for the scholarship. Jon Peterson awarded funds are applied to the SAIL fee, with any remaining funds being applied to offset McNicholas tuition. For more information, eligibility requirements, and award amounts for this scholarship, please visit the  Ohio Department Education’s website.  Once a student is enrolled at McNicholas, we will provide you with the Jon Peterson Scholarship application and help facilitate forwarding it to the state of Ohio for approval. 

EdChoice scholarships may also be used for tuition.

For questions about applying for the Jon Peterson Scholarship, contact

The intervention specialist is the tutor and case manager for each student. The specialist is the student’s advocate and acts as a liaison to the rest of the professional staff. For students not on an IEP, the specialist drafts an accommodation plan in the fall, which outlines the student’s accommodations and goals for the year. The recommended accommodations are communicated to each of the student’s teachers. The specialist is in weekly contact with the classroom teachers and parents.

Parents are encouraged to understand that their child’s learning style is unique, and that parental involvement is critical in helping their child succeed in the high school setting.  Frequent communication with the specialist and classroom teachers is essential for all SAIL participants. Conferences are requested by the parent and specialist when needed.

McNicholas requires 24.5 credits for graduation as outlined in the Course Directory.  These requirements will be reduced by one elective credit for every year a student is enrolled in the SAIL Program.  Students enrolled in the SAIL Program will meet the graduation requirements of the State of Ohio.