Academic and Behavioral Support for Students Ages 5 to 22
You know what it’s like to try to juggle all the support your child needs with what you have always hoped their education would look like. You want a Christian school where the curriculum is shaped by faith, where your child is challenged to succeed, and where they are welcomed instead of pulled aside.
The Distinct Abilities Learning program at The First Academy was created for families living in that tension. In smaller classrooms, teachers adjust instruction and build learning plans that reflect each student’s strengths and goals. At the same time, students are part of the wider TFA community — sharing the same campus life as their friends and siblings.
For many families, discovering DAL means finally finding a Christian school where support and belonging exist in the same place.
A Program Designed for Students Who Learn Differently
What does that support actually look like day to day? Several key elements shape the learning environment and set Distinct Abilities Learning apart:
Three Distinct Support Options for Your Child’s Learning and Growth
Students develop at different paces, and the support they need can change over time. The Distinct Abilities Learning program offers three clearly defined options, each designed to provide the right level of academic, behavioral, and life skills support. School leaders carefully review each student’s academic records and psychoeducational evaluation recommendations, using that information to determine which option provides the level of structure and support the student needs.
Exceptional Student
Education Foundations
K-12: Academic Instruction |
Foundational Skill-Building |
Individualized Learning Goals
In ESE Foundations, the primary focus is academic growth. Teachers provide direct instruction in core subjects while adjusting pacing, reinforcing reading and math skills. They also help students develop the organizational habits needed to manage assignments and coursework.
Students work through grade-level curriculum with differentiated instruction designed to close learning gaps while strengthening independence in the classroom.
Attendance Options
Exceptional Student
Education Success
K-12: Behavioral Support |
Social-Emotional Development |
Individualized Academic and Behavior Goals
Some students benefit from a classroom environment that emphasizes behavioral structure and social development alongside academics. In the ESE Success option, teachers help students build routines, practice communication skills, and learn strategies for navigating challenges that may arise during the school day.
Families may also arrange Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) services through an outside provider if additional support is needed.
Attendance Options
Journey to
Independence
Ages 14–22:
Life Skills Development |
Vocational Preparation
Beginning in high school, some students transition into the Journey to Independence option. Alongside continued academic instruction, students practice the everyday skills needed for adult life.
Students learn practical skills such as budgeting, meal preparation, personal care, household management, and workplace communication. On-campus work opportunities — including operating the school café and snack shack — give students hands-on experience.
Attendance Options
Distinct Abilities Learning at TFA provides an incredible place for me to teach and guide wonderful students who benefit from the gift of time. Our classrooms are safe places for students to be who they are, with support and resources to help them succeed. Our school fosters a Christ-centered, family-oriented environment where diverse learning styles are supported within a Biblical Worldview.
-Laura Johnson, DAL Teacher
We have three children at The First Academy, and over the past 14 years, our family has experienced every single division at TFA! From PreK, Lower, Middle, and Upper School to the Hybrid Home+School and Distinct Abilities Learning programs, we have covered them all!
But we couldn’t imagine our lives without the loving, kind, and consistent support of the Distinct Abilities Learning team. For more than a decade, this faithful group of faculty and staff has nurtured Elianna’s growth, encouraged her strengths, supported her development, and loved on the entire Barrett family. We simply don’t have the right words, but we are deeply grateful for their care, dedication, and commitment to our family and so many others.
-The Barrett Family
DAL has been the biggest blessing for our two children. The care, attention, and love that our kids have had bestowed upon them have given our family hope that our children will have a brighter future ahead of them. The Christ-centered education and attention to their academic needs have really helped them be more engaged and retain what they have learned to apply it to real life in a way that no other school has been able to achieve. For our family, DAL at The First Academy is the winning combination of faith, family, and academic excellence.
-The Miclat Family
Part of the Life and Traditions of The First Academy
Students attend all-school chapels, participate in dress-up days during Homecoming Week, and celebrate milestones alongside their peers. Students look forward to prom, field trips, Daddy-Daughter and Mother-Son events, and other school traditions. These shared experiences help students build friendships and connect to the larger TFA community.
The school day also includes opportunities to develop interests beyond the classroom. Students participate in special areas such as physical education and fine arts, and many join After-School Academies led by teachers and staff. These activities allow students to explore creativity, movement, and teamwork while discovering new interests.