The Van Cleve Program accepts children with learning and emotional disabilities from four years nine months to eleven years of age. Children may remain in the program until the age of thirteen. The goal of the program is to remediate the behavioral and learning deficits of students by providing academic and social skills necessary to enter a less restrictive program.

The program provides a highly structured educational day and 5 day residential setting, including counseling services for both students and families. The program's philosophy lies in the belief that students want to progress, learn and be successful. To assure their success a supportive, structured setting is provided in which the students discover themselves to be valued and capable individuals. The class sizes are small with a ratio of 1 Teacher and 1 Teacher Assistant to six children maximum.

A multi-disciplinary evaluation team provides a complete assessment of the child's functioning levels. A complete battery of educational tests are administered to assess skills and levels. A neuropsychiatric, psychological, social history, medical and physical movement evaluation is completed prior to the student's entry in the program. These evaluations help formulate the student's Individual Educational Plan (I.E.P.), with goals developed in the areas of academics, behavioral management, physical and social development.

All children are reevaluated at specified intervals to assess their progress and to ensure continued appropriate planning. In addition to the educational curriculum, the students also receive related services, art, music, physical education and computer instruction.

Upon completion of the Van Cleve Program students are placed in their next educational setting after meetings held by their local Committee on Special Education. Students have moved into the regular public school system, less restrictive educational settings and other residential treatment facilities.