James P. Murphy Staten Island Preparatory School of AHRC NYC operates as a Non-Public School (NPS) approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) under Chapters 4410 for preschool (ages 3-5) and 853 for school age (ages 5-12). We offer 3 preschool classrooms with student-to-teacher ratios of 8:1:2 and 6:1:2, and 5 school-age classrooms with ratios of 8:1:3 and 10:1:2.
Educating ages 3 to 5 and ages 5-12
All staff are appropriately certified and credentialed as per NYSED.
The school follows all regulations as set forth by NYSED and the Board of Regents.
Eligibility:
Students must be approved for a New York State Approved Nonpublic School. Each student must possess an IEP with one of the following classifications: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Other Health Impaired, Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disability, Learning Disabilities, Multiple Disabilities, and Emotional Disabilities. The students’ placement is determined by the Committee on Special Education.
Principal: David Haimovich, EdD
Location: 23 Summit Street, Staten Island, NY 10307
Phone: 718-285-9377
School Hours: 9:00 am to 2:30 pm
Staten Island Prep serves students diagnosed with autism between the ages of 3 to 12 but is also approved to educate students with learning disabilities, other health impairments, emotional disability, and or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Cost of Services
Currently, there are no out-of-pocket expenses for families, but families have an option to pay a tuition for the program. Student services are funded by the New York State Education Department and New York City. Our program operates with the approval of and under the oversight of the NYC Department of Education.
The staff at SI Prep have become family and I have no complaints regarding the facilitation of their educational process… I am truly grateful and thankful for all that they have done and continue to do.
Parent of the first child to be enrolled in SI Prep when it opened in 2020
SI Prep Preschool Program
Our preschool is an approved 12-Month Program by the New York State Department of Education for the following classifications: Autism, Multiple Disabilities, Emotional Disability, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities and Other Health Impaired.
Our preschool students receive transportation services across all five boroughs of New York City through a partnership with the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT), in accordance with their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and any mandated bussing requirements. Families also have the option to transport their children independently.
There are three specialized classrooms for preschoolers with disabilities between the ages of 3 to 5 with ahigh teacher-to-student class ratio of 6:1:2 and 8:1:2.
Our special education teachers and instructional support staff receive continuous, collaborative support from the Principal, Assistant Principal, Related Service Supervisor, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and School Psychologist. Grounded in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), this support includes comprehensive training in evidence-based behavioral strategies, structured teaching methodologies, and effective academic instruction.
Our team includes a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who will help to oversee advanced behavioral interventions, modifications, and supports.
Our school program offers a comprehensive range of supports and services, including:
- A research-based Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) curriculum utilizing the Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research (STAR) program
- An on-site Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to support individualized behavior planning and implementation
- A dedicated sensory room designed to help students regulate, calm, and engage through sensory-based activities
- Parent Counseling and Training (PCAT) workshops to promote collaboration between school and home
- Differentiated instructional programs tailored to each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and learning levels
- Small class sizes with high teacher-to-student ratios to support personalized instruction
- Speech and Language Therapy, provided in both individual and group settings
- Occupational Therapy, available in individual and group formats
- Physical Therapy as prescribed by each student’s IEP
- An on-site school psychologist offering individual and group counseling services
- A registered school nurse available on-site during school hours
The school will utilize the following strategies, programming, and instructional methodologies:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Strategies and Teaching based on the Autism Research (STAR) Curricular Framework
- Sunshine Literacy Program
- Creative Curriculum
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- Technology (iPads, computers, and Promethean Boards in every classroom)
- Self-Help and Daily Living Skills
- Counseling
- Groden Relaxation Techniques and Strategies in Self-Regulation
- AAC Devices / Communication Devices
THESE SERVICES ARE FUNDED BY THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND IN NEW YORK CITY, OPERATE WITH THE APPROVAL OF AND UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SI Prep Elementary School Program
Our elementary school is an approved 12-Month Program by the New York State Department of Education for the following classifications: Autism, Multiple Disabilities, Emotional Disability, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities and Other Health Impaired.
Our elementary school students receive transportation services across all five boroughs of New York City through a partnership with the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT), in accordance with their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and any mandated bussing requirements. Families also have the option to transport their children independently.
The program features five specialized classrooms designed for elementary school students with disabilities between the ages of 5 and 12. Each classroom maintains a highly supportive class ratio—either 8:1:3 or 10:1:2— determined by the individual learning and behavioral needs of the students. Instruction is guided by each child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and delivered in spacious, well-equipped classrooms that promote engagement, structure, and personalized support.
Our team includes a full-time and on-site Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who will help to oversee advanced behavioral interventions, modifications, and supports. Additionally, our BCBA provides ongoing instructional support for our elementary students who receive our Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) curriculum of STAR (Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research) and LINKS (Linking Assessment and Instruction for Independence).
The STAR Program utilizes evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) instructional methods—Discrete Trial Training (DTT), Pivotal Response Training (PRT), and the teaching of functional routines—to form the core of instruction for children with autism.
The LINKS Curriculum is a comprehensive, web-based program designed to promote independence in upper elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students with autism and other developmental disabilities. It focuses on building functional skills across school, community, and vocational settings through systematic, evidence-based instruction.
The instructional programming will focus on scaffolding, differentiated instruction, age-appropriate academics, language, effective communication, social/emotional skills, self-help, and daily living skills. We will follow the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards. Students are either assessed by the NYS Standard State Assessments or the NYS Alternative Assessments.
The school will utilize the following strategies, programming, and instructional methodologies:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Strategies and Teaching based on the Autism Research (STAR) Curricular Framework
- Linking Assessment and Instruction for Independence (LINKS) Curricular Framework
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- Sunshine Literacy Program
- Evidence-Based Programming and Curricula: Reading, Math, Science & Social Studies (e.g. Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI), My Math, Collins Writing Programs, Amplify Science, and Putnam North Westchester Social Studies Curriculum, etc.)
- Technology (iPads, computers, and Promethean Boards in every classroom)
- Health Education
- Self-Help and Daily Living Skills
- Counseling
- Groden Relaxation Techniques and Strategies in Self-Regulation
- Social Skills Groups
- Person-Centered Planning
- AAC Devices / Communication Devices
Admission Process
For information about admissions, please email
Principal David Haimovich David.Haimovich@ahrcnyc.org or
Assistant Principal Melissa Flaccavento Melissa.Maietta@ahrcnyc.org