Finding the right educational environment for a child with learning differences can transform their entire academic trajectory. Families in Newell and the surrounding 28269 area deserve access to proven, research-backed special education programs that truly address their children's unique learning needs. At Ignite Achievement Academy's North Campus, we combine cutting-edge neuroscience research with compassionate, individualized instruction to help every student reach their full potential.

Located at 3835 W. WT Harris Blvd. in Charlotte, our North Campus serves families throughout the Newell area, providing specialized education programs grounded in decades of research on how diverse learners thrive. Our evidence-based education approach means every teaching method, curriculum choice, and intervention strategy is supported by rigorous scientific research and proven effective in real classroom settings.

Understanding Evidence-Based Education

Evidence-based education represents a fundamental shift from traditional teaching approaches to methods grounded in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and educational research. For students with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and language processing challenges, this research-based approach makes a critical difference.

Key principles of our evidence-based education include:

• Instruction designed around how diverse brains actually learn and process information
• Regular assessment and data collection to track progress and adjust teaching strategies
• Multi-sensory teaching methods that engage multiple brain pathways simultaneously
• Explicit instruction in executive function skills like planning, organization, and self-monitoring
• Small class sizes that allow for true individualization based on each student's response

Research from institutions including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development demonstrates that students with learning differences make significantly greater progress when taught using evidence-based methods specifically designed for their neurological profiles.

The Science Behind Our North Campus Programs

Our North Campus facility offers the space and resources to implement the most effective research-backed programs for a wider range of learning differences and support needs. Every program we offer is built on a foundation of scientific research about how students with various disabilities learn best.

The North Campus serves students with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, language disorders, anxiety, and more. Our larger facility allows us to provide specialized programming for students with significant cognitive delays, behavioral challenges, and those who are non-verbal or minimally verbal.

Our research-based approach includes:

1. Comprehensive Assessment: Thorough evaluation of each student's strengths, challenges, and learning profile
2. Individualized Academic Plans: Customized plans targeting specific skills and goals
3. Data-Driven Instruction: Regular progress monitoring with adjustments based on evidence
4. Evidence-Based Curricula: Programs proven effective through rigorous research
5. Multi-Disciplinary Support: Coordinated services including special education, speech-language pathology, and behavioral support

Specialized Programs for Diverse Learning Needs

Non-Verbal and Minimally-Verbal Programming

For students who are non-verbal or minimally verbal, communication development is foundational to all learning. Research from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association emphasizes that early, intensive communication intervention produces the best long-term outcomes for students with significant communication challenges.

Evidence-based components of this program include:

• Small class sizes with students grouped by age and ability level
• Certified special education teachers with specialized training in communication disorders
• Integrated speech-language pathology services throughout the school day
• Systematic use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices
• Visual supports, communication boards, and structured communication opportunities
• Highly individualized curriculum including our enCORE program for core subjects

The collaborative teaching model, where an SLP co-teaches alongside the classroom teacher, represents best practice in serving students with significant communication needs.

Programs for Significant Cognitive Delays and Behavioral Needs

Our North Campus has the expertise to effectively serve students with more severe cognitive delays and behavioral challenges related to autism, developmental delays, or other conditions. Research in applied behavior analysis and specialized instruction informs every aspect of these programs.

The evidence-based instructional process includes:

1. Conducting comprehensive assessments to establish baseline skill levels
2. Identifying priority skills based on developmental trajectories and functional need
3. Analyzing factors that support or hinder learning for each individual student
4. Designing instructional plans with appropriate intensity and teaching methods
5. Implementing instruction with fidelity to evidence-based practices
6. Collecting data to monitor skill acquisition and learning progress
7. Adjusting instruction based on data rather than guesswork

This systematic, data-driven approach eliminates the frustration of "trying different strategies and hoping they work."

The BEACON Program: Specialized Support for Speech and Behavior

Our BEACON program, available exclusively at the North Campus, represents the gold standard in evidence-based education for students with speech and behavioral disabilities. With class sizes averaging just four students per teacher, BEACON provides the intensive, individualized attention that research shows is essential.

Research-backed features of BEACON include:

• Exceptional Ratios: Four students per teacher, with additional SLP support in speech classrooms
• Integrated Speech Services: Speech-language pathologists co-teach throughout the day
• Behavioral Support: Evidence-based behavioral strategies in structured environments
• Multi-Sensory Learning: Hands-on curriculum incorporating multiple sensory pathways
• Sensory Room Access: On-campus sensory room supporting self-regulation
• AAC Integration: Systematic use of augmentative communication devices

The sensory experiences provided through our curriculum and dedicated sensory room are grounded in research on sensory integration and its impact on learning, behavior, and emotional regulation.

The FLAME Program: Transition and Life Skills

For older students preparing for life after high school, our FLAME program provides evidence-based transition education focused on employment, independent living, and community integration. Research consistently shows that students who receive explicit instruction in vocational and life skills have significantly better post-school outcomes.

Evidence-based FLAME curriculum components:

• Vocational Skills: Job readiness training including workplace etiquette, communication, and resume building
• Personal Development: Career exploration, self-advocacy training, and goal-setting
• Functional Academics: Financial literacy and practical reading and writing skills
• Independent Living: Cooking, nutrition instruction, and household management
• Social-Emotional Learning: Interpersonal skills, communication, and problem-solving
• Technology Skills: Computer skills relevant to employment
• Community Integration: Field trips exposing students to workplace environments

Applied Learning: Research Comes to Life

Our applied learning program translates academic concepts into real-world applications through hands-on experiences. Cognitive science research demonstrates that learning is enhanced when students actively construct knowledge through experience rather than passively receiving information.

Evidence-based applied learning includes:

• Cooking and Nutrition: Students learn about nutrients, chemical changes, and measurement while preparing meals
• Garden Science: Planting and maintaining vegetable gardens teaches plant biology and life cycles
• Shop Class: Building projects develops spatial reasoning and following multi-step directions
• Craft Lessons: Step-by-step instruction enhances listening skills and attention to detail

These experiences aren't extras—they're essential instructional contexts where students with learning differences can access and master academic concepts.

Small Class Sizes: The Foundation of Individualization

Research across decades consistently demonstrates that students with learning differences make significantly greater progress in smaller classes. At our North Campus, we maintain small class sizes because the research is clear: class size directly impacts the quality and effectiveness of instruction for diverse learners.

Smaller classes allow teachers to observe and respond to individual needs in real-time, collect meaningful data, adjust teaching methods, provide immediate feedback, and implement truly individualized instruction.

Technology Integration Supporting Evidence-Based Practice

Every student at Ignite Achievement Academy receives their own school-provided laptop (or iPad for younger students). Research shows that appropriate technology use can significantly enhance learning outcomes for students with disabilities by providing individualized practice, immediate feedback, and accommodations.

Technology allows our teachers to implement evidence-based instructional practices more effectively by providing differentiated practice, offering immediate feedback, accommodating individual learning needs, and tracking student progress with data that informs instructional decisions.

Connecting Research to Real Progress

We've been recognized for our innovative, research-driven approach, including being featured on Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid for our work transforming education for diverse learners.

Our evidence-based commitment includes:

• Ongoing professional development ensuring teachers stay current with research
• Regular program evaluation using student outcome data
• Collaboration between specialists
• Integration of related services based on individual student needs
• Partnership with families to ensure consistency across environments

Academic Excellence Through Research-Based Curriculum

Our curriculum integrates evidence-based practices across all subject areas and grade levels. The academic programsavailable at our North Campus provide comprehensive education addressing academics, communication, social-emotional development, executive function, and functional life skills.

Supporting Physical and Emotional Well-Being

Evidence-based education addresses the whole child. Our physical education program incorporates movement throughout the day because research shows this improves attention, reduces anxiety, and enhances cognitive function. Our art and music programs provide opportunities for creative expression and skill development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes education "evidence-based" compared to traditional special education?

Evidence-based education is distinguished by its foundation in peer-reviewed research from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and rigorous educational studies. Rather than relying on tradition, evidence-based practices have been systematically studied and proven effective specifically for students with learning differences. This means teaching methods align with how diverse brains actually process information, and interventions are selected based on data about what works. Evidence-based practice also requires ongoing data collection to ensure methods are working for each individual student.

How does the North Campus differ from your South Campus location?

Our North Campus at 3835 W. WT Harris Blvd. is larger and equipped to serve a broader range of disabilities and support needs. The North Campus offers specialized programs for students who are non-verbal or minimally verbal, students with significant cognitive delays, and students with intensive behavioral needs. The North Campus is also home to our exclusive BEACON program and provides access to an on-campus sensory room.

What is the BEACON program and who does it serve?

The BEACON program is our specialized offering for students with speech and behavioral disabilities, featuring exceptionally small class sizes of approximately four students per teacher. In classrooms serving non-verbal and minimally verbal students, a speech-language pathologist co-teaches throughout the day, providing intensive, integrated communication instruction. The program incorporates multi-sensory learning, hands-on curriculum, access to our sensory room, and systematic use of augmentative and alternative communication devices.

How do you measure progress to ensure evidence-based methods are working?

We implement systematic progress monitoring through regular data collection on specific skills and learning objectives. Teachers assess student performance frequently, analyze the data to identify patterns, and adjust instruction based on what the evidence shows about each student's learning. This data-driven approach ensures we're making informed decisions about what methods, materials, and intensity levels each student needs. Families receive regular progress reports detailing their child's skill development.

Take the Next Step Toward Proven Education Solutions

If you're searching for science-based teaching methods that truly address your child's learning differences, Ignite Achievement Academy's North Campus in the Newell area offers the research-backed programs your family deserves.

Learn about our financial aid options and review our tuition and fees schedule to understand the investment required. Read testimonials from families who have experienced the difference research-based education makes, and explore case studies showing real student outcomes.

Wondering if Ignite Achievement Academy is right for your child? We invite you to visit our North Campus and discuss your child's unique needs with our experienced team. Learn more about our academy and our commitment to transforming education through research-backed approaches.

For additional support beyond the school day, explore our tutoring services which extend our evidence-based methods into intensive sessions.

Contact us today to schedule a tour of our North Campus and learn how evidence-based education can transform your child's academic journey.