Beasley Elementary is a school that Lamar CISD was planning to move students out of in 2026. Now, the district believes it has a bright future.
"I'm very excited about it because we have to do school differently," Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens said. "We have to do school differently to meet the needs of our young people."
On Tuesday, trustees moved forward with plans to create Bright Futures Academy at Beasley Elementary, a charter school only for students with autism.
"I'm not aware of any public school districts that are chartering, or have any specific charter school for students with autism," Lamar CISD special education executive director Tiffany Matthis said.
To create the environment for these students, officials said they want there to be flexible school hours, sensory-friendly classrooms, and to allow therapists to visit the classroom. Officials said they plan to hold informational meetings next year, but parents can apply starting in February.
Officials said the school is open to students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and live within the district boundaries.
They'll start with 100 spaces. If more than that apply, leaders say they'll hold a lottery and waitlist.
Officials believe there will be demand. They said there are 1,800 students with autism, which is a number Matthis said has doubled over the last five years.
This is a free option they'll soon have that school leaders hope will make a difference not only for kids but also for their parents.
"Some of our parents spend up to $40,000 a year in providing services to their children," Nivens explained. "I spoke to one parent, and they were telling me how they had to pretty much lose their home and go into an apartment so they could afford to get services for their students."
When Eyewitness News reached out to a number of groups that work with students with autism, the Arch of Fort Bend County, which advocates for people with disabilities, responded and said they weren't aware Lamar CISD was doing this until ABC13 told them.
They said they're encouraged that the fastest-growing district in the area is doing this because they said it'll serve the unique needs of students with autism.
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