Academics
ICAN Academy follows Washington State learning standards while tailoring instruction to meet each student’s developmental level and readiness. Our academic program integrates literacy, math, social studies, and science within a structured, supportive environment designed to build foundational skills and confidence.
Instruction is intentionally paced and scaffolded to support meaningful progress in communication, problem-solving, executive functioning, and classroom participation. We emphasize both academic mastery and the skills necessary for long-term educational success — including attention, regulation, peer collaboration, and independence within a school setting.
Our goal is to ensure students are not only accessing grade-level standards, but developing the foundational skills needed to thrive in future academic environments.
Not a traditional school.
Not traditional therapy.
ICAN Academy is a unique, student-centered model designed to meet your child where they are developmentally, behaviorally, and academically.
The ICAN Academy Model
Our model was developed with high-support-needs students in mind. By integrating teacher-led academics, behavioral support, and therapy services into one coordinated school day, every member of the team works toward the same goals.
Academics
Our licensed special education teacher is online throughout the school day providing live instruction, guidance, and feedback.
Students complete academic work in the classroom with 1:1 support from their BT, following teacher-written lesson plans.
Behavioral Support
Your child’s BCBA and team of BTs are in the classroom providing individualized behavioral support.
They help students to participate in academics and work on goals like communication, social skills, independence, and reducing barriers to learning.
Therapeutic Intervention
Speech, Occupational, and Feeding therapies are provided by licensed therapists throughout the school day.
Your child’s therapist may push-in to the classroom, or pull your child out of the classroom based on your child’s individual needs.
How ICAN Academy Compares
Public school IEP services can be a helpful support for many students. ICAN Academy was designed for students who benefit from a more intensive, integrated model where academics, behavioral support, and therapy services work together throughout the school day.
| Support Area | Traditional Public School IEP | ICAN Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Instruction | Academic instruction is provided through the student's public school placement, which may include general education, special education, or a combination of both depending on the IEP. | Teacher-led academic instruction with ongoing collaboration between education, ABA, and therapy providers. |
| Speech Therapy | Often provided in small groups, commonly around 30–60 minutes per week depending on the student's IEP. Intervention is restricted to skills that directly impact a students academics. | Speech-language support may be integrated throughout the school day through direct services, classroom-based support, and team collaboration. Students receive up to 5 hours of speech therapy a week, targeting all language and social areas. |
| Occupational Therapy | Often provided as a related service when needed to access the educational environment, commonly around 30–60 minutes per week depending on the student's IEP. | OT support may be provided through both push-in classroom support and pull-out therapy based on each student's needs to target sensory regulation, emotional regulation, engagement, and participation - not just fine motor skills. |
| Behavioral Support | Behavioral support varies by district, staffing, and IEP. Some students may receive behavior plans, paraeducator support, or consultation. | In-person BCBAs and BTs provide behavioral support throughout the school day to support participation, skill development, independence, regulation, and reduction of barrier behaviors. Each student has their own individualized behavioral plan developed by their BCBA. |
| Feeding Therapy | Feeding therapy is generally not provided as a school-based service unless directly tied to educational access or safety during the school day. | Feeding therapy may be available through ICAN's interdisciplinary clinical team when clinically appropriate to target sensory aversions, fine and oral motor skills, and picky eating. |
| Provider Caseloads | School-based providers often support large caseloads across multiple classrooms, grades, and sometimes multiple buildings. | Students are supported by a coordinated interdisciplinary team focused on the ICAN Academy setting, with small caseloads sizes. |
| Team Collaboration | Collaboration often occurs through annual IEP meetings, consultation, and periodic team communication. | Providers collaborate regularly across academics, ABA, speech, OT, FT, and other supports to work toward shared student goals. We hold bi-annual IEP meetings for each student. Additional parent coaching and education is built into all student's plans. |
| Primary Focus | Services are designed to support access to public education and progress toward IEP goals. | Services support the whole child across academics, communication, behavior, regulation, independence, motor skills, social development, and daily routines. |
Service levels in public schools vary based on the individual student's IEP, district resources, staffing, and educational needs. ICAN Academy is designed as an alternative option for families seeking a more intensive, coordinated support model.
