Structured Therapeutic
Education for Grades 6-12
​Now Accepting District Placement Consultations 2025-2026 School Year
Serving the Greater Chicago Region and
surrounding communities, with a flexible service model designed to support district placement needs.
Program Overview PDF
When students disengage from traditional settings, Relay reconnects them to learning.
Our Mission
Our mission is to reconnect students to learning by meeting them where they are and providing flexible, supportive pathways toward academic success and real-world readiness.
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Why This Model Matters Now
Across Illinois, many students—especially those with IEPs—are struggling to attend school consistently.
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• Nearly 1 in 5 students miss significant instructional time due to chronic absenteeism
• For students with IEPs, that number rises to approximately 28% in many suburban districts
• Nationally, an estimated 30–45% of students with IEPs are chronically absent—rates that are often higher in large urban districts such as Chicago
​Traditional school settings do not consistently meet the needs of all learners—particularly students with IEPs who require more individualized and flexible approaches.
Grounded in Proven Models
Flexible learning models have demonstrated success in re-engaging students—paicularly those with IEPs and those who have struggled untraditional school settings.
Relay Academic Preparatory draws directly from and expands upon approaches used in programs such as:
• Wallace Academy (Hoffman Estates, Illinois) – an ISBE-approved nonpublic special education therapeutic day school successfully utilizing a structured, nontraditional office-based model to support students with IEPs, behavioral needs, and challenges with traditional school engagement.
• Illinois Connections Academy (statewide, Illinois) – a recognized virtual public school model demonstrating how flexible, nontraditional delivery models can improve student access and engagement.
These models demonstrate that when learning is flexible, structured, and student-centered, student engagement and attendance can improve.
Relay Academic Preparatory brings this proven, student-centered approach to the Greater Chicago region—expanding access to a structured, nontraditional model designed to re-engage students and support successful outcomes.
About
About Relay Academy Preparatory Therapeutic Day School
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​Relay Academic Preparatory Therapeutic Day School serves students with IEPs across the following eligibility categories, including:
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• Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
• Emotional Disability (ED)
• Other Health Impairment (OHI)
• Speech/Language Impairment (SLI)
• Multiple Disabilities (as appropriate)​
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Benefit from smaller, structured, and supportive learning environments tailored to their individual needs
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Require therapeutic behavioral and social-emotional supports to fully access instruction across settings
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Need individualized, IEP-driven academic instruction with consistent progress monitoring
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Have experienced difficulty succeeding in larger or traditional school environments
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Demonstrate challenges with school engagement, attendance, or behavioral regulation
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Would benefit from structured transition planning, life skills development, and community readiness preparation​
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​Our Service Delivery Model
Relay Academic Preparatory Therapeutic Day School serves students in Grades 6–12 who benefit from smaller, individualized learning environments. We provide IEP-driven instruction, therapeutic behavioral supports, and personalized academic programming designed to help students stabilize, grow academically, and re-engage in school.
Our program utilizes a structured, student-centered service delivery model that integrates in-office, community-based, and virtual supports. Services are aligned to each student’s IEP and tailored to address their academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. Relay’s service delivery model reflects established nonpublic therapeutic program approaches currently implemented in Illinois and is designed to align with ISBE expectations for student support, accountability, and individualized instruction. Transportation is coordinated through the student’s home school district, consistent with IEP services and placement decisions.
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Each student’s schedule is individualized based on their IEP; however, a typical day may include:
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8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Virtual check-in, attendance, and goal setting
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9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Academic instruction (virtual and/or in-office support)
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11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Social-emotional support, behavior check-ins, or related services
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12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Lunch
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12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Continued academic instruction and individualized support
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2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Community-based learning, vocational exploration, or progress monitoring
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Students are supported by our multidisciplinary team, which may include:
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LBS1-certified special education teachers
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Paraprofessionals
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Social workers
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Behavior technicians and support staff
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Vocational coordinators
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Related service providers and therapists, as outlined in each student’s IEP
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We partner with school districts and IEP teams to support students whose needs may not be fully met in traditional school settings. Our team emphasizes positive behavioral strategies and preparation for successful transition beyond high school, including readiness for postsecondary education, training, and employment.
Students receive a combination of:
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In-office academic and therapeutic support
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Virtual instruction and progress monitoring
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Community-based learning and real-world experiences
Each student’s schedule is individualized, but may include:
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Morning academic check-ins and instruction
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Midday in-office or community-based support
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Afternoon academic reinforcement and progress monitoring
​Staff collaborate regularly to ensure consistent implementation of each student’s IEP across all service settings.
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Students we serve may:
Executive Director
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Dr. G. Diane Walters, PhD, serves as Executive Director of Relay Academic Preparatory Therapeutic Day School, bringing decades of experience in urban and suburban public education and special education leadership.
Her work has focused on building structured, supportive school environments, strengthening student outcomes, and preparing students for long-term success beyond high school.
Community Leadership & Partnerships
Dr. Walters brings a longstanding commitment to community engagement and service, supporting initiatives that uplift underserved students and families.
She has collaborated with school systems including Chicago Public Schools, Rock Island Public Schools, and Joliet Public Schools, contributing to student support, educational programming, and community engagement efforts.
As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, an internationally recognized service organization, Dr. Walters demonstrates a continued commitment to leadership, service, and community impact.
These experiences directly support Relay’s mission to connect students to meaningful community and workforce opportunities.
Workforce & Community Partnerships
Preparing students for5 real-world success beyond the classroom
Our goal is to connect students to real-world training and workforce opportunities through aligned community programs and partnerships. These experiences are designed to support career exploration, skill development, and successful transition beyond high school.
Culinary Arts & Workforce Exposure
Relay partners with community-based organizations to provide students with exposure to hands-on career pathways. Through programs such as those developed by Co-Founder, Paulette Mitchell and the Larger Than Life Foundation, students have opportunities to explore culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and service-based learning experiences.
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Youth Development & Workforce
Readiness
Relay aligns with community-based youth development programs that support leadership, communication, and job readiness skills. These experiences help students build confidence and prepare for structured work environments.
Career Exploration & Community-Based Learning
Relay supports student participation in community-based learning experiences that may include job shadowing, supervised engagement, and exposure to a variety of career pathways aligned with student interests and goals.
Transition & Independent Living Skills
Our focus incorporates opportunities that support the development of independent living and transition skills, helping students prepare for life beyond high school, including employment and community participation.
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​Relay Academic Preparatory Therapeutic Day School partners with districts to provide structured, supportive, and individualized programming for students who need an alternative path to success.”