By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Fifty students with autism crossed the graduation stage on Friday at Arizona Autism Charter Schools, including two Tucson students.
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The schools are free public charter schools with no tuition cost. They maintain a low student-teacher ratio of one teacher for every three students.
High schooler Austin Leyva said he was at a crisis point until he transferred to the Tucson campus. Leyva said he struggled to keep up in class at Canyon del Oro High.
“I understood it, but it was how fast they were going. It was next subject, next subject, and I was on the last one,” Leyva said.
The struggle pushed him to a breaking point. He needed immediate medical care at a crisis recovery center.
“I was really suicidal, and I ended up in the CRC, and so that went really downhill, but the connection here and being here has really helped me,” Leyva said.
Low student-teacher ratio helps students thrive
Leyva said transferring to Tucson’s Autism Charter School helped him recover. The low student-teacher ratio allows him to connect with teachers.
“One teacher that stands out right now is my art teacher…she doesn’t feel like an art teacher; she feels more like a mom,” Leyva said.
Vanessa Garcia’s son Lorenzo was promoted from eighth grade to high school during the ceremony Friday.
Garcia is a single mother who previously used ESA funds to place Lorenzo in an autism-focused private school. When that school moved to a four-day week, she couldn’t make it work.
“I’m a single mom, and so I didn’t have another person in the house who could support him being home by himself,” Garcia said.
She found the Arizona Autism Charter School in Tucson. Lorenzo started there in sixth grade and was promoted to ninth grade in Friday’s ceremony.
“He’s got a yearbook, and he has more teacher signatures than students right now. He’s working on kids, but the staff here- he just knows they welcome him, they understand him, and he just has so many trusting adults on campus,” Garcia said.
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Schools expect to double enrollment
Chief of Schools Myla Goyne said the small class sizes make the school high quality. The charter school status makes it free.
“We do not need ESA money, we do not need tuition, we do not need any type of payment, so as long as we have an opening, we are here for your child,” Goyne said.
Goyne said small class sizes and connections to teachers distinguish the school.
“So we can really take the time to get to know the children on an individualized basis; we can differentiate instruction; we can also provide specialized instruction – all the related services for special education and things like that,” Goyne said.
Goyne said 1,000 students are enrolled statewide, with 1,000 more waiting for a spot. As many public and charter schools struggle to fill seats, she expects enrollment to double in the next five years.
“We have heard the call that we need more locations, so here in Tucson, we are excited to announce we will be expanding next school year,” Goyne said.
“We really do specialize in how students with autism learn – that’s our jam, that’s what we love, and we do a pretty good job at it,” Goyne said.
Leyva said the school helped improve his mental health.
“It’s really helped, and my mental state has gone up a lot, and I just feel happier here,” Leyva said.
The Tucson campus is expanding to a new location a mile down the road to accommodate more students. Although there’s a statewide waitlist, the Tucson school has openings available for fall.
Isabela Lisco is a Report for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
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