ARIZONA NEWS

Charter school offers Arizona’s first autism-focused online school

Jul 16, 2021, 4:15 AM

(Courtesy photo/Arizona Autism Charter Schools)...

(Courtesy photo/Arizona Autism Charter Schools)

(Courtesy photo/Arizona Autism Charter Schools)

PHOENIX — Arizona’s first and only tuition-free autism charter school will offer a new online option in the fall, the school announced Tuesday.

Arizona Autism Charter Schools acquired state approval to become the state’s first autism-focused online school for students on the spectrum and other special needs, according to a press release.

The school in the release said it is equipped to educate up to 100 students online this fall, in addition to the more than 400 students that attend the school in-person.

The expansion comes after students excelled during the virtual learning environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with some students and families requesting virtual learning as their preferred method of instruction, according to the release.

It will also allow the school an opportunity to serve additional children and families throughout the state who may not be receiving a comprehensive, fully-integrated education from kindergarten to 12th grade where they live, the school said.

“Many of our students have various appointments throughout the day, so if their family prefers they can now learn from home, while having the support of highly-qualified teachers, learning success coaches and case managers with a low student-to-teacher ratio,” Dana Van Deinse, the school’s senior director of partnerships and online learning, said in the release.

Deinse comes to the school from Arizona State University’s Prep Digital, where she fully developed the online school and launched its high school in 2017, according to the release.

She says students in the autism charter school’s K-8 online school and online high school will participate in virtual morning meetings, online curriculum and online sessions with teachers, speech therapists and tutors.

“There will also be onsite opportunities for social events, field trips and STEM activities on campus or out in the community throughout the year,” Deinse said.

“There will be a lot of flexibility and variety in how the students learn.”

Information sessions for the school’s online program will be held on July 21 and 28 at 4 p.m., with the school year starting on Aug. 3.

More information can be found online.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

The Arizona Attorney General's Office has settled with an air conditioning company that was making ...

KTAR.com

Arizona settles with air conditioning company over illegal telemarketing calls

The Arizona Attorney General's Office has settled with an air conditioning company that was making illegal telemarketing calls for four years.

35 minutes ago

A child is dead in Gilbert after reportedly drowning in a pool at a local home. (Gilbert Police Dep...

KTAR.com

1-and-a-half-year-old child drowns in pool at Gilbert home

A child is dead in Gilbert after reportedly drowning in a pool at a home. The one-and-a-half year old was pronounced dead at the hospital.

2 hours ago

Seasonal visitor restrictions are now in effect at Banner Health facilities due to the increased ri...

Stephen Gugliociello

Banner Health facilities in Arizona restrict visitors due to flu concerns

Seasonal visitor restrictions are now in effect at Banner Health facilities due to the increased risk of flu and respiratory virus concerns.

5 hours ago

File photo of a sign near the beach at Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. Puerto Peñasco tourism screeched t...

Kevin Stone

Closure of Lukeville Port of Entry in Arizona devastating for Puerto Peñasco tourism

Puerto Peñasco tourism screeched to a halt Monday after U.S. border officials closed the main port of entry between Phoenix and the Mexican beach town.

7 hours ago

Mugshot of three men involved in a criminal street gang in Phoenix...

SuElen Rivera

Murder victim in Phoenix park allegedly mutilated by suspects with gang ties

Newly released information describes the gruesome details of the murder of a gay man at a Phoenix park last month allegedly orchestrated by local gang members.

7 hours ago

...

KTAR Video

Video: Sharper Point: New Go Safe act good first step for gun safety in Arizona, more can be done though

Sharper Point: New Go Safe act good first step for gun safety in Arizona, more can be done though. Video: Jeremy Schnell and Felisa Cárdenas/KTAR News  

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Follow @KTAR923...

Valley residents should be mindful of plumbing ahead of holidays

With Halloween in the rear-view and more holidays coming up, Day & Night recommends that Valley residents prepare accordingly.

Follow @KTAR923...

West Hunsaker at Morris Hall supports Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona

KTAR's Community Spotlight this month focuses on Morris Hall and its commitment to supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona.

...

SCHWARTZ LASER EYE CENTER

Key dates for Arizona sports fans to look forward to this fall

Fall brings new beginnings in different ways for Arizona’s professional sports teams like the Cardinals and Coyotes.

Charter school offers Arizona’s first autism-focused online school