Birch Academy Receives Full Special Education Approval From New Hampshire Department of Education

Manchester school expands specialized education options for students with autism and looks ahead to future middle school program

MANCHESTER, N.H., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Birch Academy has received full special education approval from the New Hampshire Department of Education, marking an important milestone in the school's mission to provide specialized, individualized education for students with autism and other developmental and educational needs.

Birch Academy currently serves students in kindergarten through sixth grade through a multidisciplinary model that combines special education, behavioral support, speech and language services, occupational therapy and individualized programming.

The school is also planning for its next phase of growth, including a proposed Birch Middle Academy serving seventh and eighth grade beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, subject to the applicable approval process.

"This approval represents an important step forward for our students, families and the school districts we work with," said Lorin Caffelle, M.S., M.Ed., CCC-SLP, Special Education Administrator and Principal at Birch Academy. "Our goal is to make high-quality specialized education more accessible to children who need a setting designed around their individual learning, communication and behavioral needs."

Expanding Specialized Options Close to Home

For some New Hampshire families, finding an appropriate specialized educational placement can mean significant travel outside their local community.

Birch Academy is the only approved special education school in Southern New Hampshire. Currently, when school districts across the region need to send students out of district, they often must bus them to schools far from home, with many located out of state. In addition to the toll this can take on students who may spend hours traveling each day, out-of-state transportation can increase costs by as much as 30%. With district budgets already strained by the growing number of students requiring special education services, districts are looking for local options that have openings and meet high-quality standards.

This raises an important question for families, educators and school districts across the region:

What specialized educational options are available locally for students with autism who need more support than a traditional classroom can provide?

Birch Academy is working to be part of that solution.

"We know that when the right program is far away, the impact goes beyond transportation," Caffelle said. "It can mean longer days for children and families. Creating strong specialized programs within the region gives districts another meaningful option and allows more students to remain connected to their communities."

From Journalism to Helping Children Find Their Voice

Birch Academy's story also has a unique connection to New Hampshire history.

The school is located at the former Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications, often known simply as the Loeb School, a site long associated with journalism, communication and public voice in Southern New Hampshire.

Today, that legacy continues in a new way through Birch Academy's focus on helping children strengthen their communication, independence and self-advocacy.

"There's something very meaningful about that connection," Caffelle said. "For many of our students, developing communication and self-advocacy can be transformative. Helping each child find their voice is central to what we do."

Looking Toward the Future

Birch Academy's planned middle school expansion is designed to provide greater continuity as students grow and to address the need for additional specialized educational options beyond the elementary years.

The school will welcome district leaders, special education administrators and other education professionals to a District Open House on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, where attendees can tour the campus, meet members of the Birch Academy team and learn more about current programming and future expansion plans.

District Open House

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Birch Academy

749 E. Industrial Park Drive

Manchester, NH 03109

Birch Academy is a New Hampshire Department of Education-approved specialized educational program in Manchester, New Hampshire, serving students in grades K-6. The school provides individualized special education instruction and multidisciplinary support for students with Autism, Speech & Language Impairments, OHI and other developmental and educational needs while working collaboratively with families and school districts to support academic development, communication, adaptive skills and greater independence.

SOURCE Birch Academy