About the ProgramBEACON logo

Our BEACON program is dedicated to serving students with speech and/or behavioral disabilities through an approach that emphasizes personalized attention and comprehensive support. This program is offered at both campuses. With class at a maximum of just five students per teacher, plus the support of an SLP in our speech classrooms, and a Teacher Assistant in our classrooms with behavior support needs, we ensure each child receives the individualized care and instruction they need to thrive.

Students in the BEACON program are expected to participate and learn successfully alongside peers in a small group classroom setting, rather than requiring a 1:1 instructional model.

Benefits of BEACON

Personalized Attention: Extremely small class sizes allow our teachers to understand each student's unique needs and tailor their instructional methods accordingly. This individualized approach helps in addressing specific speech and behavioral challenges more effectively.

Enhanced Communication Skills & Speech Support: In our non-speaking and limited-speaking classrooms, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) co-teaches alongside the classroom teacher for portions of the day during times of direct instruction. This collaborative teaching model provides continuous speech instruction and services, facilitating better communication outcomes for our students.

Behavioral Support: With fewer students per class, teachers can implement and monitor behavioral strategies more closely, ensuring a supportive and structured environment that promotes positive behaviors and social interactions. We utilize evidence-based behavior management techniques to help students develop positive coping strategies. Our classrooms provide a safe, nurturing, and highly supportive educational setting that fosters academic growth, emotional development, and social success. Classrooms with more intensive behavior needs are also staffed with a full-time Teacher Assistant to provide additional support. 

At Ignite Achievement Academy, we are committed to supporting students with a wide range of behavioral and communication needs. While we understand that challenging behaviors are often part of the learning process, the safety of our students and staff must remain our highest priority. For this reason, we are not able to accept students whose behaviors include physical aggression toward peers or staff that could cause significant harm. Our BEACON program is designed to provide a highly supportive, structured environment for students with complex needs, but participation requires that students can safely engage in a classroom alongside others without posing a risk of physical danger.

Hands-On Curriculum and Sensory Experiences

We enrich our students' learning experiences through a hands-on curriculum and various sensory activities, both in the classroom and in our on-campus sensory room. Our approach incorporates tactile, auditory, visual, and kinesthetic elements, allowing students to engage with the material in a multi-sensory manner. This method not only makes learning more accessible and enjoyable for students with speech and behavioral needs but also enhances their cognitive development and retention of information. The sensory room offers a calming and stimulating environment where students can explore different textures, lights, sounds, and movements, helping to regulate their sensory inputs and improve focus. These experiences support emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, and promote social interaction, leading to a more effective and holistic educational experience for our students.

Academic Integration with Differentiation

  • Lessons are adapted to individual learning levels while maining appropriate academic rigor for each specific student.
  • Alternative learning approaches include hands-on activities, visual schedules, and task breakdowns to help students remain engaged.
  • Frequent 'brain breaks' allow for academic and planned sensory breaks.
  • Personalized academic support aligned to the student's academic plan is provided throughout the school day.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices

In our non-speaking and minimally-speaking classrooms, students are encouraged to utilize augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to support their communication needs. The curriculum we utilize was designed with specific supports and integrated links to ensure the seamless incorporation of these devices throughout the school day. By using AAC devices, students can effectively express their thoughts, needs, and emotions, fostering greater independence and participation in classroom activities. The use of AAC also enhances social interaction, as students can more easily communicate with peers and teachers. This not only boosts their confidence but also contributes to improved academic performance and overall well-being. Our commitment to integrating AAC devices into our educational framework ensures that every student has the tools they need to succeed and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Behavior Supports

While every child's support and plan is individualized to their own needs, here are some of the support strategies you may see utilized in our BEACON behavior support classrooms:

  • Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports
    • Reinforcement of positive behaviors through a structured reward system.
    • The use of clear expectations and consistent routines to promote student success.
    • Encouragement for students to take ownership of their own actions coupled with goal-setting and self-monitoring (once appropriate based on age and ability).
  • Individualized Behavior Plans
    • All BEACON students requiring behavior support will have a component of their individualized academic plan tailored to their specific behavior-support needs. Data-driven decisions ensure ongoing adjustments to strategies based on student progress in this area.
  • Trauma-Informed Practices
    • We recognize there may be an impact of past trauma for some of our students and we will provide a safe, predictable environment for all students.
    • We will create an atmosphere for and encourage trust-building relationships with teachers and staff.
    • We will use de-escalation techniques to support students in moments of distress.
  • Functional Communication Training
    • Helps students develop effective communication skills to express their needs instead of using challenging behaviors.
    • Supports students with verbal and nonverbal communication through visual supports, assistive technology, and social stories. 
  • Sensory and Self-Regulation Supports
    • Our classrooms and sensory room provide a calm-down space as well as sensory tools (fidget toys, weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, etc.) to help students regulate emotions.
    • We incorporate mindfulness exercises like deep breathing, movement breaks, and yoga.
  • Social Skills Instruction
    • Explicit teaching of conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and peer inteaction skills.
    • Role-playing and structured social groups help students practice appropriate responses in various situations. 
  • Crisis Prevention and De-escalation Strategies
    • Focus on preventing crisis situations by identifying early warning signs and providing proactive interventions.
    • We use calm, reassuring communication to help students feel supported and understood.

Inclusive Participation in School Activities

Within the BEACON program, we believe in the holistic development of our students. Alongside the specialized support they receive, students in our program participate fully in all school activities. This includes:

  • Cooking: Hands-on learning in our cooking classes helps develop practical life skills and fosters independence.
  • Woodshop: Students engage in creative projects, enhancing their fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities (age-dependent).
  • Physical Education (PE): Regular physical activity is vital for overall health and helps improve coordination and teamwork.
  • Music and Art: These classes provide an outlet for self-expression and creativity, essential for emotional well-being and cognitive development.

Our integrated approach ensures that students in the BEACON program benefit from a rich, well-rounded educational experience while receiving the specialized support they need to succeed. 

BEACON Tuition

Because the class size is smaller within the BEACON program and additional staff and material supports are provided, there is a slightly increased tuition associated with this program. The full-year 2025-26 tuition cost for BEACON is $33,000. We do accept NC's ESA+ and Opportunity Scholarship. 

Join us at Ignite Achievement Academy and discover how the BEACON program can illuminate a brighter future for your child!