ACADEMICS + SPEECH THERAPY + OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

A Therapeutic Approach to Education for Special Needs Students

We’re a private, nonprofit K-12 school in the Tampa Bay area for special needs and neurodivergent students who benefit from a more supportive approach to learning. Click here to learn about our admissions process.

Student attending school at a private school for special needs students in Tampa Bay, FL

Therapy is built into every school day.

Students receive individual speech and occupational therapy, along with therapeutic support integrated into the classroom.

We don’t use ABA or external rewards.

Our DIRFloortime® model is relationship-based and focused on development, regulation, and communication.

Low teacher-to-student ratios.

We operate at a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio, providing a very specialized and individual program for every student. 

Serving kids K-12 in the Tampa Bay area.

Welcome to REConnections Education Center

Student working on writing at a neurodiversity-affirming private school in Tampa Bay, FL

REConnections is not a diagnosis-specific school. We welcome students with a wide range of needs and focus on how they learn—not on a label.

We meet kids where they are and support them with what they need. Many of our students have been asked to leave previous schools or didn’t thrive in traditional classrooms. Here, we build upon your child’s strengths while helping them develop the skills to be successful at school, at home, and in the community.

The REConnections Difference

We’re not a diagnosis-specific school. Instead of focusing on labels, we focus on each child’s strengths, needs, and learning profile.

Child excited to go to school at REConnections Education Center in Tampa Bay, FL

Who We Help

We support K–12 students with differences in regulation, communication, sensory processing, and motor planning. Our students may use AAC, struggle with transitions, or simply need a more supportive and flexible school environment.

What makes our approach different:

  • Weekly 1:1 speech and occupational therapy included

  • Integration of speech and occupational therapy into everything we do

  • Teachers and therapists collaborate daily

  • No ABA, no reward charts—just understanding and support

  • Students aren’t expected to mask or “act neurotypical”

Our goal is to help students feel safe, connected, and confident while making real academic, social, and emotional progress.

Child receiving play-based occupational therapy while at school in Tampa Bay, FL

Is This the Right Fit for Your Child?

Families often come to REConnections Education Center after feeling unsupported elsewhere. This program might be a fit if:

  • You’ve been called to pick up your child because they ran out of the classroom, had a meltdown, or struggled to stay safe.

  • Your child resists going to school or becomes overwhelmed just thinking about it.

  • Your child hasn’t progressed in traditional settings with rigid schedules and limited sensory or movement breaks.

  • You want therapy and education to happen in the same place, with a team that understands developmental and sensory needs.

Still not sure? We’re here to talk it through with you. Schedule a tour.

REConnections Education Center: Serving Children in Grades K-12 in Odessa, FL

We offer rolling admission. Here's what to expect:

STEP ONE:

Start by reaching out to schedule a 30-minute tour.

This visit is just for parents or caregivers to learn more about our program, ask questions, and see if REConnections feels like the right fit.

STEP TWO:

Schedule a 2-day trial visit for your child.

After the tour, we’ll schedule a two-day trial for your child.

Day 1: Your child spends time with our therapy team.

Day 2: Your child joins a class and is observed by our education staff.

STEP THREE:

Our team will review your child’s needs and fit for our program.

After the trial, our full team meets to discuss your child’s needs and determine if they’re a good fit for our program.

STEP FOUR:

You will receive an admission decision.

If we’re the right fit and have an opening, you will complete the enrollment paperwork.

If there isn’t space available, your child will be added to our waitlist while we work on staffing or classroom availability.

Common Questions About the Admissions Process

Kids working on social skills during lunch at private school for students with special needs in Tampa Bay, FL

  • We seek to enroll students who will benefit from our specialized programs.

    Admission is based on:

    • a family interview and tour

    • followed by 2 trial days to determine if our educational environment is the right fit.

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

    Once it is determined to be a good fit, you will pay a non-refundable deposit to be added to the waitlist. Then, when space becomes available, you will finalize the contract and financial agreement to be admitted.

  • We do not offer scholarships directly through REC, but we are providers for the:

    This is a pot of money through the Florida Department of Education that families can access, which can supplement your family’s portion of tuition.

    In many cases, the highest level of funding will cover the full tuition and fees.

    We can recommend advocates and answer questions regarding funding to the best of our ability. Contact us if you need support.

  • Yes, there is a non-refundable application fee paid following acceptance after the trial period to secure a spot on the waitlist.

  • "...we’ve seen such huge progress in her confidence, self-esteem, and abilities."

    “Reconnections Education Center cares so much about our daughter, and we’ve seen such huge progress in her confidence, self-esteem, and abilities. Their developmental, therapeutic, and individualized approach supports not only our special needs child but the entire family. We feel respected and a sense of relief that our child has a school that can help her become her best self!”

  • "We couldn’t live without this school!!!"

    “My child is on his 3rd year at REConnections! This school has changed his life and ours. He in nonverbal, and the school has really helped him with a communication device. He is also learning math and spelling... things I never thought my child was going to be able to comprehend! We couldn’t live without this school!!!”

  • "...their education and caring have made a world of difference."

    “This facility has helped my nephew advance far more than we could have hoped. He has special needs, and their education and caring have made a world of difference.”

  • "I am so thankful for REConnections Education Center."

    “I am so thankful for REConnections Education Center. REConnections Education Center is the special needs school my son attends, and I cannot say enough good things about them and how many gains my son has made since starting school there. In addition to providing individualized attention, specialized education, and multiple therapies in a loving environment, REConnections Education Center is one of the few private special needs schools that does not require students to be potty-trained, and they are the only private special needs school I know of that will manage a student's G-tube.”

  • "We are so thankful for REC!"

    “REConnections Education Center is the only school I trust with my children! Their developmental approach has been a game changer for our family. We are so thankful for REC!”

Support Our School

As a nonprofit, REConnections Education Center relies on donations to help fund supplies and essential resources for students. Donations play a vital role in empowering our school to create a positive impact on the lives and development of special needs students and their families.

How You Can Help:

Gift Us Items From Our Amazon Wish List

Make a Monetary Donation via PayPal

Sponsor a student, program, or event

Every donation helps us continue to provide specialized support for children who need it most.