Kulanu Academy
Kulanu Academy is a specialized school serving students with special needs, ages 11 through 22. Our student body is diverse in both strengths and challenges, and we take pride in offering a wide range of individualized programming to best support each learner.
Class sizes are structured to meet varying support needs, with student-to-staff ratios ranging from 6:1:1 to 12:1:1. Our educational programming spans from foundational life skills and communication development to Next Generation Learning Standards in alignment with Regents-based academic instruction.
A team of licensed professionals, including speech, occupational, and physical therapists, work collaboratively with students to support growth across multiple domains. School counselors focus on emotional development and social skill-building, while board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) partner with teachers and families to encourage meaningful behavioral change and break down learning tasks to promote student success.
In addition to academic and therapeutic instruction, students benefit from enriching specialty classes such as drama, art, and adaptive physical education, which help reinforce goals through creative and engaging modalities.
Graduates of Kulanu Academy transition into a variety of post-secondary pathways, including gap-year programs, bachelor’s and associate degree programs, vocational training, supported employment, and day habilitation services, each step tailored to meet their individual aspirations and needs.
Kulanu Academy’s Vocational Program, integrated into the school day, provides students with hands-on experience through internships at more than 100 partner businesses in the community. One-to-one job coaches offer personalized guidance, helping students develop the vocational and social skills essential for obtaining and maintaining employment. As students explore career interests, they spend increased time within specific career clusters, allowing them to build fluency in industry-specific language and skills across multiple related sites. By the time they approach graduation, students have gained real-world experience in their chosen field, built professional networks, and developed strong resumes, significantly boosting their employability.
Our Educational program
Educational Program
Kulanu Academy’s educational program serves the needs of children aged 11-22. Kulanu’s students are placed in 1 of 5 unique programs, according to their academic ability as well as their social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Kulanu Academy places great importance on students naturally connecting with each other to form meaningful social connections and use this principle when placing students within classes .
Kulanu Academy offers academic programming to all students with special needs through it’s diverse and unique programming. Students participate in one or more of the following programs based upon their needs and goals.
Middle School Integration Program
Kulanu Academy’s Middle School offers a range of supportive, self-contained classroom environments designed to meet the diverse needs of students in grades 6 through 8. Our programs emphasize academic growth, social development, and vocational readiness, tailoring instruction to the individual learning profiles of each student. With small student-to-teacher ratios, personalized instruction, and task-analyzed learning, students thrive through differentiated strategies and hands-on experiences.
Academic instruction spans English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, with a functional focus for those needing practical skill-building in verbal behavior, daily living, and community navigation. Social skills are nurtured through direct teaching by social workers and reinforced through community-based experiences. Students build independence through the systematic fading of prompts and the use of positive reinforcement.
Vocational preparation is integrated throughout the middle school experience, with students exploring various career clusters, such as culinary arts, retail, and office skills, at Kulanu’s and in local community settings. Whether through academic enrichment, life skill development, or job readiness training, Kulanu Academy empowers each student to achieve success both in and out of the classroom.
High School Academic Development Program
Kulanu Academy’s High School Programs are designed to support students in achieving academic success, developing life skills, and preparing for meaningful post-secondary experiences. Through self-contained classrooms with low student-to-teacher ratios, students benefit from individualized instruction tailored to their unique learning needs. Our Academic Development Class provides instruction in core subjects—English language arts, mathematics, science, and history—using a co-teaching model that integrates general and special education. For students who meet the criteria, preparation for and participation in New York State Regents exams is available, along with personalized academic support.
Our Vocational Development Class blends academics with career readiness, using the New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) framework. Students gain functional academic skills, engage in job exploration, and develop independent living and social skills. Hands-on instruction, verbal behavior strategies, and task analysis help students build independence. Community-based vocational experiences, supported by one-to-one job coaches, allow students to explore career clusters such as culinary arts, retail, and office work. Social skills and travel safety are reinforced through real-world application both on and off campus.
At Kulanu Academy, each student’s pathway is guided by transitional goals developed in collaboration with families and staff, ensuring that every graduate is prepared for life beyond high school.
Bridges Program
Kulanu Academy’s Bridges Program is designed for young adults ages 18–22, offering a dynamic blend of classroom instruction and real-world experiences that build both vocational and independent living skills. With a dual focus on Work Readiness including courses in business writing, career development, finance, and workplace social skills and Life Readiness, featuringtravel training, banking, executive functioning, and home maintenance—the program prepares participants for meaningful, independent lives. Skills taught in the classroom are reinforced daily through community-based internships and exploration, using local businesses, public transportation, and other real-life settings as learning environments. Individualized clinical services such as counseling, speech, occupational, behavioral, and physical therapies are available to support each participant’s journey. The Bridges Program transforms the community into a classroom, fostering growth, confidence, and lasting independence.
Clinical Therapeutic Services
Regardless of which academic program a child is placed in, all students access Kulanu Academy’s clinical therapeutic services. Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Counseling are provided by licensed and experienced therapists in a warm and supportive environment. Each service is delivered in a unique and meaningful setting, tailored to the targeted activity and desired outcome.
Vocational Training Program
Our programming is rounded out by Kulanu Academy’s Vocational Training Program. Kulanu’s 1:1 Job Coaches accompany and support students in their community based vocational internships. Hands-on experiences at over 100 local business who partner with Kulanu, provide students with community integration exposure, while targeting vocational skill building in real world settings.