Youngstown, OH: Autism school sees 44% increase; ratio: 1 staff member to 2 students

Sept 22, 2018, Youngstown (OH) Vindicator: More than 200 enrolled at Potential Development http://www.vindy.com/news/2018/sep/22/potential-development-sees-a--increase-i/ Potential Development School for Students with Autism saw a 44 percent increase in students’ enrollment from the 2017-18 school year to the 2018-19 school year. The school has more than 200 students enrolled. Paul Garchar, Potential Development executive director, said the growth is due to increased name recognition and by word-of-mouth sharing. … But the growth means added costs with a need for more staff and space. … For classrooms of six students each, there is one teacher and two aides, so it’s a one-staff-member to two-student ratio…. Potential Development offers structured, state-certified curriculum for students on the autism spectrum from preschool through high school.