What is a Therapeutic Educational Environment?

At Pepin Academies, an essential component of our educational model of learning is our Therapeutic Educational Environment. But what exactly does that mean?

It means that Pepin Academies supports students with unique learning needs by providing on-campus access to a wide range of therapeutic services and specialists on every campus, including:

• Speech Language Pathologists
• Occupational Therapists
• Mental Health Counselors
• Social Workers
• Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Specialists
• Registered Nurses

Comprehensive In-School Therapy Services

Eligible students receive these vital services directly on-site at our campuses, free of charge, as outlined by their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). This approach allows us to provide:

1. Individualized Education – Students receive an education tailored to their specific needs, guided by their IEPs.
2. Therapy and Counseling Support – In addition to classroom instruction, students benefit from services like speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health counseling. These are offered through a combination of pull-out sessions or push-in classroom support, ensuring services fit naturally into their daily school experience.

How is a Therapeutic Educational Environment Different from Traditional Schools?

In most traditional schools, therapeutic services are often limited. Many public schools may have just one therapist who divides time across multiple schools, and private schools may offer similar services but often at a high cost to students and families. At Pepin Academies, we believe that in-school therapeutic support is crucial for student success, so we maintain school-based therapists and counselors who interact with students daily, becoming personally familiar and forming a close bond and deep understanding of each student’s needs.
Rarely do you find a traditional school employing a registered nurse, but due to the health needs of our students, Pepin Academies prioritizes health by staffing a registered nurse on every campus. This level of support does not come without significant cost to Pepin Academies.

Why Pepin Academies Invests in a Therapeutic Model

Operating our Therapeutic Educational Environment requires substantial resources, with forty-two therapeutic positions across our three campuses, totaling over $2.7 million in salaries and benefits. While reducing these services might lower our costs, we are steadfast in our commitment to our therapeutic model, which has proven essential for our students’ well-being and educational success over the last 24 years. We remain dedicated to funding this program because it aligns with our mission to provide what’s best for our students.