View source for Mount Bachelor Academy

{{Infobox school
| name              = Mount Bachelor Academy
| image             = Md_MBA_logo.png
| imagesize         = 200px
| streetaddress     = 33051 NE Ochoco Highway
| city              = [[Prineville, Oregon|Prineville]]
| county            = [[Crook County, Oregon|Crook County]]
| state             = [[Oregon]]
| zipcode           = 97754
| country           = {{flagcountry|USA}}
| coordinates       = {{Coord|44.465628|-120.434618|type:edu_source:googlemaps_region:US-OR|display=inline,title}} <!-- geocoded street address and centered on entrance -->
| type              = [[Private school|Private]] [[therapeutic boarding school]]
| accreditation     = [[Northwest Association of Accredited Schools|NAAS]]<ref name="naas">http://www.northwestaccreditation.org/schools/Oregon.pdf</ref>, [[Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools|PNAIS]]<ref name="pnais">http://www.pnais.org/page.cfm?p=98</ref>
| affiliations      = [[National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs|NATSAP]]<ref name="natsap" />
| district          = 
| principal         = 
| grades            = 8-12<ref name="ode-directory">{{cite web|url=http://www.ode.state.or.us/pubs/directory/school-directory-september-2008.pdf|title=Oregon School Directory 2008-09|publisher=Oregon Department of Education|pages=139|accessdate=2009-05-28}}</ref>
| age range         = 14-18<ref name="mtbafacts" />
| students          = 
| faculty           = 
| rival             = 
| mascot            = 
| mascot image      =
| team_name         = 
| colors            = <!-- no colors per OSAA {{color strip|border-color=black|border-style=dotted|border=1||}} -->
| conference        = 
| newspaper         = 
| opened            = 1987
| closed            = 2009
| picture           = [[Image:MBA Arial.jpg|thumb|300px|Aerial View of Campus]]
| homepage          = 
}}
'''Mount Bachelor Academy''' (known as MBA) was a private co-educational, [[therapeutic boarding school]] providing help to families of adolescents experiencing [[emotional and behavioral disorders]] including, [[minor Depressive Disorder]], [[Oppositional Defiant Disorder]], [[Substance abuse]], and [[ADHD]] as well as help for teenagers and families struggling with [[adoption]] issues.<ref>http://www.mtba.com/adoption-curriculum.html</ref><ref>http://www.byparents-forparents.com/adoption-mba.html</ref>

Located in the [[Ochoco National Forest]] near [[Prineville, Oregon]], [[United States]] the campus can accommodate 110 teenagers.<ref name="natsap">[http://www.natsap.org/program_details.asp?id=54 Datasheet] at [[National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs|NATSAP]]</ref> The typical student was between 14 and 18 years of age. The average length of stay was 14 to 16 months.<ref name="mtbafacts">[http://www.mtba.com/fact.html Fact Sheet], homepage of the program</ref>

==Academics==
Mount Bachelor Academy offered a year-round academic curriculum and a low student-to-teacher ratio.     
MBA was [[special education]] approved and recognized by the [[Oregon Department of Education]] <ref name="ode-directory" /> The school had been accredited through the [[Northwest Association of Accredited Schools]] since 1994<ref name="naas" /> and also accredited through the [[Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools]].<ref name="pnais" />

==History==
The school was founded in 1987 by College Health Enterprises under the direction of educator Linda Houghton.<ref name="welcomemba">[http://www.welcomemba.com/mbahistory.htm MBA history], Mount Bachelor Academy website, accessed October 9, 2009</ref>. The school was originally to be located in Powell Butte, Oregon but eventually landed at the location of the former Mark's Creek Lodge.<ref name="unconventional" /> The site was at one point intended to be converted into a resort, then a youth camp. Finally it was approved as a private school to accommodate 60 students. It was expanded a number of times until it reached its current capacity.<ref>[http://www.centraloregonian.com/ArcStoryPage.asp?Database=Story&StoryID=633 Permits requested for school expansion] Bill Sheehy, The Central Oregonian</ref> Around 1998, College Health Enterprises spun off MBA and a handful of other facilities into the company that became [[Aspen Education Group]].<ref name="unconventional" />

In March 1998, four ex-employees and two parents alleged that high-risk students attending Mount Bachelor Academy were [[deprived of sleep]], subjected to obscenity-laced tirades and forced to work in near-freezing temperatures overnight.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-6160706.html EX-EMPLOYEES, PARENTS SAY TEENS MISTREATED AT PRIVATE ACADEMY], The Columbian, March 19, 1998</ref>  The [[Oregon Department of Human Services]] cleared the program at MBA following their investigation.<ref name="szalavitz-article">[http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1891082,00.html An Oregon School for Troubled Teens Is Under Scrutiny], by Maia Szalavitz, Time Magazine, April 17, 2009</ref>

In December 1998, 17 year old Brandon H. died outside the facility. The death was investigated by the Crook County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and the Crook County Coroner’s office and ruled a suicide.<ref>Crook County Sheriff Case # 982737</ref>

In December 2007, a search was conducted for a group of teenagers and staff members, which had been delayed by snow during a wilderness trip. The "very well-equipped" group of 10 campers and 3 staff with wilderness survival training and experience, including wilderness "first-responder" training reported in by cell phone and returned without incident<ref>[http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?s=7492965 Overdue boarding school group found safe, well], By Barney Lerten, KTVZ Central Oregon, December 13 - 2007.</ref>

In June 2008, an Oregon state licensing inspector visited Mount Bachelor Academy during license renewal. The inspectors report stated the school had "a lot of outdoor activities, a seasoned staff and a program that requires parents to be involved".<ref name="two-investigate">http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/state_conducts_two_investigati.html By Rebecca Lacy, The Oregonian April 06, 2009, Retrieved 9/9/09</ref>

On March 31, 2009, the [[Oregon Department of Human Services]] (DHS) sends "confusing" letter to parents of students at MBA suggesting they prepare to move their children out of the school. MBA receives hundreds of letters of support from parents and alumni. State later notifies parents that "there is no imminent threat of closing MBA".<ref>http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/MountBachelorBN_090408.shtml</ref>

In April 2009, the school became the target of an investigation into allegations of child abuse. A Time online article appears to imply that the U.S. Supreme Court case, Forest Grove v. TA, is related to the investigation being conducted by the [[Oregon Department of Human Services|DHS]].<ref name="szalavitz-article" />

In June 2009, after hearing arguments in the case [[Forest Grove School District v. T.A.]], the U.S. Supreme Court hands down a decision affirming that the [[Individuals with Disabilities Education Act]] covers a claim for reimbursement made against a public school system for a student diagnosed with disabilities and subsequently enrolled at MBA.<ref>http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/08-305.ZS.html</ref><ref>http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=10265376</ref>

On November 3, 2009, the [[Oregon Department of Human Services]] suspended MBA's operating license and ordered the school's temporary closure due to findings of child abuse and neglect.<ref>[http://kohd.com/news/local/147574 Mount Bachelor Academy Ordered to Temporarily Close], By Rachel Azevedo, KOHD news, November 3, 2009</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/11/state_suspends_license_from_sc.html| title=State suspends license from central Oregon school for troubled teens| last=Cole| first=Michelle| date=2009-11-03| work=[[The Oregonian]]| accessdate=2009-11-04}}</ref>. In parallel, DHS provides the Crook County Sheriff's Office with the report of their investigation. The Crook County Sheriff's Office Operations Commander reported that DHS had not made him aware of their [7 month long] investigation - something he felt was out of the ordinary. The commander was quoted as saying  "It's an unusual investigation not to include the Sheriff's Office if they're looking at criminal charges."<ref>[http://www.centraloregonian.com/ArcStoryPage.asp?Database=Story&StoryID=9948 Future of Mt. Bachelor Academy unknown] Jason Chaney, The Central Oregonian</ref>

On November 9, 2009, [[Aspen Education Group]] announced that the school would close permanently by December 9, 2009.<ref name=Hsuan>{{cite news |url= http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/prineville_boarding_school_to.html |title= Mount Bachelor Academy in Prineville to close by Dec. 9 |author= Hsuan, Amy |date= November 9, 2009 |work= [[The Oregonian]] |accessdate= 2009-12-16}}</ref>

==Program==
{{Further|[[Therapeutic boarding school]]s}}
The roots of the therapeutic curriculum originated at [[CEDU#Ideological and therapeutic underpinnings|CEDU]] <ref name=unconventional>[http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091115/NEWS0107/911150428/1001/NEWS01&nav_category=NEWS01 Ever unconventional, long controversial], By Keith Chu, ''Bend Bulletin'', November 15. 2009</ref> and incorporate elements of the [[therapeutic community]] or [[milieu therapy]] model.
The [[Therapeutic_boarding_school#History|history of CEDU]] is largely the history of the development of parent-choice, private-pay residential programs. A significant number of the schools in the Emotional Growth/Therapeutic schools industry were developed or strongly influenced by people who were originally inspired by their CEDU experience.<ref> http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/article_5922.shtml</ref>
The [[principle]]s on which the MBA program was founded include Soul Searching and Emotional Growth.<ref name="neighbors" >Shelly Strom, Our Neighbors Down the road, Central Oregonian, 1994</ref>

'''Self Study'''

: Described as discipline for running away or breaking other codes (agreements), a self-study is being left alone to do some soul-searching assignments.<ref name="neighbors" />

'''LifeSteps'''

:In 1994 LifeSteps were described as follows: Intended to foster emotional growth and civic responsibility, LifeSteps encourage students to examine personal values and adopt positive self identities. LifeSteps are describes as intense workshops some lasting a day to three days. The La Mancha LifeStep is an 18 day field trip.<ref name="neighbors" />

:{| border ="1" style="text-align:left"
!!!Original!!19xx through Spring 2009!!Transition Workshops*!!Note
|-
|||First Step -The Truth|| ''eliminated'' ||||
|-
|||The Bridge||The Bridge||Transition one||
|-
|||Forever Young||Forever Young||Transition two||
|-
|||The Castle||''eliminated''|| ||
|-
|||The Promise||The Promise||Transition three||
|-
|||Venture I|| Venture || ||
|-
|||Venture II|| ''eliminated'' || ||
|-
|||La Mancha|| || ||La Mancha no longer a LifeStep
|-
|||Veritas|| Veritas || ||
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{External links|date=December 2009}}
* [http://www.welcomemba.com/looking.htm MBA School Newspaper]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o_t5kIiJEM A Brief Look Inside MBA: Day 1A] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK_jF1FiQXs&feature=related Part 2], A two part, student produced video.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq0dgwA6n0c Sage Ryan Graduation Speech]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/craigster1952#p/a/u/0/KL7zEUhPVec MBA dorm tour 2009]
* [http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1257432724753&subj=1497687098 MBA - A Student's Perspective]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcpU7LuXLgk The last graduating class]
* [http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/6363432.html Phase Two: Family Creates Safe Place to Overcome Addiction]
* [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-6160706.html EX-EMPLOYEES, PARENTS SAY TEENS MISTREATED AT PRIVATE ACADEMY], The Columbian, Marts 19 1998.
* [http://cafety.org/images/stories/documents/MBA/mba_emergency%20suspension_2009.pdf Emergency Suspension], Department of Human services, November 2, 2009
* [http://cafety.org/images/stories/documents/MBA/mba_complaint%20%20order%20to%20correct_2009.pdf Complaint and order to correct conditions not in conformity with the licensing standards], Department of Human services, November 2, 2009
* [http://cafety.org/images/stories/documents/MBA/mba%20background%20info%20upon%20request.doc Background Information: Mt. Bachelor Academy] - Children, Adults and Families Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, November 2, 2009

[[Category:Therapeutic community]]
[[Category:Psychotherapy]]
[[Category:Behavior modification]]
[[Category:Crook County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Oregon]]
[[Category:Middle schools in Oregon]]
[[Category:High schools in Oregon]]
[[Category:Special schools in the United States]]
[[Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Defunct schools in Oregon]]
[[Category:2Fix]]