The History and Philosophy of "The ACES"
The Founders
The late Gene Austin and Francie Austin, founders and administrators
The ACES is a state certified, private, year round, special education school for kindergarten through twelfth grade special needs students. A comprehensive instructional program is offered for students with an emphasis on academic achievement and the development of effective social and behavioral skills.
The ACES opened its doors on August 28, 1995 in Glendale, Arizona with twenty-two students. It has expanded to two state certified private special education schools in the greater Phoenix area; and by the year 2008 the enrollment at The ACES has increased to approximately 650 students.
The ACES meets the unique needs of students referred by the Arizona public school districts and state placement agencies who require special education services outside the public school environment. It adheres to the procedures, conditions, and standards set forth by the Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services and functions as an extension of the districts that refer students to The ACES.
Many of the students who attend The ACES have a history of inappropriate behavior in an instructional or social environment. A team of educators, psychologists, therapists and behaviorists implements a systematic plan to replace inappropriate student behaviors with those that are acceptable in a classroom environment. It is the philosophy of The ACES to provide a consistent school-wide therapeutic behavioral plan that assists the students in changing behaviors by providing intensive positive recognition for appropriate behavior and reliable consequences for poor behavioral choices.
The ACES provides a supportive and nurturing environment that draws on the innate desire of students to make right choices and appropriate decisions when given positive feedback, both tangible and intangible, resulting in a sense of greater self-esteem and a positive self-image. It is our belief that the key ingredients to a successful program such as The ACES include a high staff to student ratio, qualified and trained professional staff and a team effort of positive communication between parents, district personnel and ACES staff members.
Each year The ACES conducts an anonymous survey of parents to determine if they believe that the program is meeting the needs of their children. Parents overwhelmingly acclaim the progress that their students are making. We hope that you will give us an opportunity to assist your child in making positive life choices in an environment... "Where Every Student is #1".
Mission Statement
The goal for every student at The ACES is to increase the student's academic level to the point that he will be able to successfully compete in public school, eliminate inappropriate behaviors and replace them with behaviors that are acceptable in a classroom environment, and return the student to public school as quickly as possible.