Marathon is a district behavioural program (located within high school sites) that offers a high degree of structure and support to adolescents, aged 13 to 16 years, who are unable to function effectively in a regular school setting. The primary aim of the program is to provide a vehicle through which students learn social, emotional, academic and technical skills so that they may return to a regular school system. Parental support and involvement is an important component of the program.

The Marathon Program serves students in three ways: the school-based day program for students who are able to demonstrate commitment to the educational program; the outreach program for students who are not yet able to demonstrate this commitment; the re-integration program to provide articulation and support to the home school during the transition to regular programming.

Students who have been referred to the School-Based Team and have not subsequently responded to the services and resources of the school-based rehabilitation program can be referred to the District Screening  Committee after consultation with the district behaviour resource team. School personnel are responsible for the collection, compilation and presentation of all appropriate documentation prior to screening.

Documentation required for screening includes:

1. District Screening Form
2. B1 – Behaviour Form
3. A completed Auchenbach Behaviour Rating Scale
4. Psycho-educational records along with G4 Student Card
5. Anecdotal School History

1. Behaviour has been identified as the primary interfering problem (Ministry definitions)
2. Specific learning disabilities, cognitive deficits, sensory and health factors do not appear to be the prime reason for behavioural problems
3. The student is age-appropriate (under age 16 years at time of screening)
4. High level of dysfunction, well beyond non-attendance
5. Evidence of ongoing school failure and multiple interventions attempted over time, and inability to function in a mainstream environment; L.A.C., part-time programs, resource support, in-school rehabilitation programs have not resulted in significant progress
6. District level intervention (consultation with the behaviour resource team)
7. Signed parental consent for placement has been obtained

Students may leave the day program under any of the following conditions:

1. The major long-range behavioural and academic goals have been reached
2. Behaviours of the student have been stabilized to a point where the school-based rehabilitation resources are able to provide for the needs of the student (partial or full integration);
3. The student enters a further training program or work force