A person with a brown hairstyle uses a blue marker to color a picture in a coloring book, sitting at a wooden desk with a clipboard and a box of colored pencils nearby.

Education

The Arc Erie County New York provides comprehensive services to educate students in a special education environment. We operate a variety of classrooms and therapeutic services to address the needs of a diverse student population across both locations.

Preschool
School Age
A colorful abacus with black, orange, and gray beads on horizontal rods.

Preschool Education Program

A young girl with pink beads in her hair is interacting with an interactive light wall with multicolored LED lights.

The preschool program at The Arc Erie County New York Green Acres location provides specialized educational and therapeutic services for children ages 3-5, who have been deemed eligible for those services by their school districts Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).

The program strongly supports educating children at their developmental level through classroom based special education and therapeutic interventions. The program operates self-contained and inclusion classrooms that address the needs of a diverse student population. We work with each CPSE to provide comprehensive services that are appropriate and individualized for each child.

Our school uses state-of-the-art technology, is fully accessible, and participates in the NYS School Food program for both breakfast and lunch.

  • The Arc Erie County New York Preschool Evaluation Program is an approved provider of multidisciplinary evaluations for preschool-aged children through NYSED. The Arc Erie County is contracted by local counties to complete evaluations.

    Families who have concerns about their child’s development can contact the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) in their local school district to request evaluations in the areas of concern.

    The CPSE will provide a list of approved evaluators that the family may choose from.  Evaluations include a psychological and an educational evaluation to determine a child’s developmental levels. Other evaluations that may be requested include speech and language, occupational therapy and physical therapy evaluations.

    Evaluation results are shared with the family and school district CPSE, who determine a child’s eligibility for additional services. 

Logo for 'The Greenspan Floortime Approach' featuring black background with white text and a spiral graphic

At the Green Acres Pre-K Program, we use the Greenspan Floortime philosophy to meet each child’s unique needs. This strengths-based, child-led approach helps students with developmental challenges reach their full potential. By prioritizing meaningful relationships, we unlock and strengthen their social, emotional, behavioral, and intellectual growth.

Learn More About Floortime
Cartoon illustration of a smiling boy and girl with hands folded.

Preschool Peer Program

Three children smiling in a classroom, with the boy in the green shirt in front and two girls behind him, one in a pink shirt and the other in a green shirt.

The Arc Erie County New York Green Acres Preschool offers a classroom setting where neurotypical peers aged 3-5 are taught along side The Arc enrolled students by NYS certified teachers. Programming is offered two to five days per week from 8:15am to 2:30pm. The children who attend the peer program gain skills that will prepare them for kindergarten.

All students in the program participate in a variety of developmentally appropriate preschool activities including art, music, and physical education. All students learn competencies such as sharing, turn taking and participation in classroom activities. Together students reach their own unique and individual learning goals through play and social interactions.

There is a cost to our peer program. Please call 1.833.Arc.Erie or email intake@ArcErieCounty.org for more info.

We serve families from 38 school districts across Western New York •

We serve families from 38 school districts across Western New York •

Graduation cap with a tassel

School Age Program

A young man and elderly woman sit at a wooden table reviewing colorful educational materials. The young man is writing with a yellow crayon, while the elderly woman looks on attentively. Both are wearing glasses, and there is artwork visible on the wall behind them.

The Arc Erie County Education Program offers comprehensive educational and therapeutic services for students aged 5 to 22 years with disabilities at our Maryvale site. Our school-age program provides a location-based, supportive environment tailored to each student’s individual needs.

Our classrooms are designed to promote and develop independence and foster learning through academic and therapeutic programming.

Utilizing the Unique Curriculum, effective evidence-based lessons and activities are tailored for different ability levels, ensuring developmentally appropriate learning for all students. With built-in differentiation, it delivers consistent content across all academic levels.

Our school uses state-of-the-art technology, is fully accessible, and participates in the NYS School Food program for both breakfast and lunch.

Services for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities must be requested through the school district in which the student resides.

Related Services

In addition to Special Eduction Services, a range of related services may be provided as mandated by a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). These services are delivered by qualified, New York State certified, and/or licensed professionals.

Additional services may include:

Outline of a fork, spoon, and plate, representing a dining setting

Occupational
Therapy

Vision
Therapy

Magnifying glass with a heart inside.

Behavior
Support

A hand gripping a dumbbell with orange outlines on a white background.

Adaptive Physical
Education

Person leaning forward at a desk, using a laptop

Physical
Therapy

Two speech bubbles above two outlined people icons representing a conversation.

Counseling/
Parent Training

Palette with paint and a paintbrush

Art

Outline of a person's head with sound waves emanating from the mouth

Speech
Therapy

Outline of a nurse wearing a cap and uniform

Nursing

Minimalist graphic of a musical note with an orange rectangular frame

Music

Meet the Team

  • A smiling woman with red hair, wearing glasses, a black top, and a long necklace, standing against a gray background.

    Kimberlee Kuzara

    Green Acres Principal

  • Simple illustration of a faceless person with short hair, wearing a dark shirt.

    Jeff Carter

    Green Acres Assistant Principal

  • Silhouette of a woman with shoulder-length hair.

    Debbie Norwood

    Green Acres Assistant Principal

  • A silhouette of a woman with shoulder-length hair, no facial features visible.

    Kathleen Opera

    Maryvale Assistant Principle

  • Silhouette of a woman with shoulder-length hair, facing forward

    Mary Beth Dempsey

    Maryvale Assistant Principal

  • A generic male avatar with short hair and a crew cut, wearing a dark shirt, faceless, minimalist illustration.

    Richard Roman

    Associate Director of Education

  • Catherine Hart

    Coordinator of Nursing Services

  • Crystal West

    Coordinator of Physical and Occupational Therapy

  • Lisa Coughlin

    Coordinator of Speech Therapy

Parent Resources

Education Program Photo Gallery

A young girl with glasses and a blue bow in her hair, wearing a blue shirt, is practicing a hand gesture with an adult woman with glasses, in a colorful classroom setting.
A woman and a young boy with a wheel chair, smiling and looking at each other, in a room with medical equipment in the background.
A young girl and a woman sitting together in a room with backpacks in the background, smiling and talking.
Two young girls are laughing and smiling at each other, one with glasses and the other in a wheelchair, in a colorful indoor setting.
Young boy sitting at a classroom table smiling while reaching for an item with another person's hand nearby.
A woman with long curly hair and glasses helping a young boy with short hair, both sitting at a table, working on a drawing or coloring book in a classroom
A young girl sitting on a colorful cylindrical foam roller with a woman behind her holding her waist at a play or therapy center.
A woman smiling with a young boy who is also smiling in a classroom or activity room.
Young boy with dark hair in a lime green polo shirt sitting on a chair in a classroom, with a woman beside him, partially visible, with a colorful blurred background.
A woman and a boy working on an assignment together at a desk in a classroom.
A young boy with curly blonde hair and a purple shirt smiling in a classroom.
A boy and an adult man sit at a table in a classroom, sorting and organizing papers and envelopes.
A young man is opening a paper bag in a classroom setting, with another adult standing nearby, and a colorful bulletin board in the background.
A young girl with blonde hair, wearing a pink sweatshirt, jeans, and pink sneakers, sitting inside a blue plastic cube in a classroom with shelves and a table in the background.
A woman and children playing a game of rock-paper-scissors in a classroom.
A woman holding a young girl in a bright indoor setting, both smiling and looking at each other.
A woman with long blond hair and glasses talking to a smiling young boy with light brown hair in a classroom.
A young girl with two buns in her hair sitting on the floor, touching a tambourine, wearing colorful pajamas, smiling in a classroom or playroom.
A young girl with curly hair and a woman with blonde hair are engaged in an art activity at a table in a classroom. The girl is smiling and looking at the woman, who is holding colorful modeling clay or playdough.
Two young boys smiling indoors, one holding a doll.
Four children, two boys and two girls, smiling and holding a tall colorful LEGO structure with a yellow castle top, in a classroom setting.
A young girl with braided hair and colorful beads is sitting in a specialized chair, with an IV attached, in a therapy room. A woman, possibly a therapist or caregiver, kneels beside her, smiling and holding her hand, as part of a therapeutic or medi
A young boy with short brown hair smiling and playing a game with a woman at a desk. The desk has a drawing sheet and various art supplies.
A young man and woman posing for a photo in a hallway. The young man is wearing glasses and a paper turkey hat with sunglasses and a football. The woman has long hair and is wearing a green turtleneck sweater, smiling and resting her arm on the young
A girl with brown hair smiling and pointing at a tablet on a classroom table, with colorful cubbies and educational posters in the background.
A man with red hair and freckles smiling at a young girl in a wheelchair. The girl is wearing a bib and a purple glove, looking away with an expressive face. They are in a school hallway with bright colors and decorations.
A woman and a young boy play with a toy train on a table with train tracks. In the background, there is a wall decorated with stars and the words "LET'S READ."
A young girl with short curly hair smiling while sitting on a chair in a classroom or office setting, holding an orange object in her right hand, with a pink tablet on her lap displaying a colorful puzzle or game.
A young boy sitting at a desk in a classroom, smiling at the camera, with drawings and papers in front of him and various school supplies on the table.
A teacher assisting a student with a lesson on an interactive whiteboard in a classroom setting.
A woman and a boy look at a digital classroom calendar on a smartboard, with the woman pointing at Wednesday.
A young girl with her hair in a bun is lying on a table and using a tablet to look at pictures of animals, including a pig, a cow, a duck, and a dog.
A young boy and an adult man are sitting at a wooden desk in a classroom. The boy has a big smile and is holding out his arm for a medical check, while the man is examining his wrist with a focused look. A black chalkboard is behind them with some wr
An elderly woman and a young man are sitting at a wooden table, working together on a worksheet with clock diagrams. The woman is guiding the young man, and they are holding a yellow and black pencil. Behind them are posters on the wall and a desk wi
A teenage boy and a woman, possibly a teacher or caregiver, sit at a table in a classroom. The woman is smiling, and the boy looks at the camera with a slightly confused expression, holding a pencil. The classroom is decorated with colorful bulletin
A young boy with glasses and a blue shirt hammering a nail into a small wooden piece at a red tray, with an older woman with glasses smiling nearby in a classroom setting.