Beard School is a specialty Chicago Public School that services students with special needs from Pre- K to 3rd grade. Age ranges of students attending Beard are from 3 to 8 years old. Programs are designed to have an academic focus integrated with social and emotional learning skills. Staff members are highly trained specialists in working with students on the spectrum of autism. Teaching models and curriculums used at Beard include TEACCH, PECS, ABA, Unique Learning Systems, News-2-You and VBA. Beard has two instructional half day Pre-K programs that service students with special needs requiring additional supports. In addition to our specialty programs, we also have a blended preschool program comprised of general education students from the neighborhood along with preschool students with special needs.

Placement and enrollment into Beard are completed only through the Office of Special Education and Supports. Students enrolling into Beard must have 100% of their IEP minutes allocated for a separate day school, unless it's for the Blended Pre-K Program.

Instruction throughout the school is highly differentiated to address the individual learning styles of our students. Home-school software programs that supplement academics include Raz Kids, IXL.com, Compass Learning, Envision, BrainPOP Jr. and other instructional apps.

In house therapeutic services are also provided by a team of highly qualified clinicians. Beard School provides services to students in psychology, social work, speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nursing based on IEP eligibility.

The extended school day has afforded students an increase in instructional minutes in the common core subjects of Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science. Students have specialized classes in Adaptive P.E., Art, Music, Technology, and Library. Over the course of the year, students will also participate in the following additional enrichment programs: Urban Gateways, Children’s Theater Red Kite Thera-play program, Chicago Botanic Gardens program, Special Olympics Young Athletes Program, Drama, Garden Science, Science Experiments, Social Skills Development, Xbox Dance, Wii Sports, Yoga, and Cooking.

Beard School is also very fortunate to be one of the few schools in the state of Illinois to have a certified nature explore outdoor classroom developed by stakeholders of the school.

The school is located on the northwest corner of Jefferson Park in Chicago near the intersections of Nagle and Gunnison.