Founder Francie Austin returns to the state where her passion for educating children with complex needs first began.

More than three decades after investing her family's life savings to create a school for children who had exhausted every other educational option, Francie Austin is celebrating a milestone that has become deeply personal.

As The Austin Centers for Exceptional Students (The ACES) enters its 32nd year serving approximately 1,200 K–12 students with complex educational needs, its Colorado campus enters its third school year, bringing Ms. Austin’s lifelong educational philosophy back to the state where her journey began.

A nationally recognized provider of specialized education for students with autism, emotional disabilities, and significant behavioral challenges, The ACES now serves students across Arizona and Colorado. For Ms. Austin, the Colorado campus represents far more than geographic growth. It is a homecoming to the place where she first discovered her calling while studying at the University of Colorado Boulder and later began her teaching career at the Evans School in Denver Public Schools.

"What makes this milestone especially meaningful is that we're serving families in the place where my own journey as an educator began," said Ms. Austin, co-founder of The ACES. "Colorado shaped my passion for serving students with disabilities, and it's incredibly rewarding to see the educational model we've spent more than three decades developing now entering its third year of serving students and families here."

Founded in 1995 by Francie and Gene Austin, The ACES was created to serve students whose behavioral, emotional, or developmental needs could not be fully supported in traditional educational settings. Today, the organization operates eight campuses across Arizona and Colorado, providing individualized educational programs that help students build academic, behavioral, and communication skills while restoring confidence and hope for both children and their families.

Long before founding The ACES, Ms. Austin was already helping shape the future of special education. After moving to Arizona, she worked alongside parents and community advocates to create educational opportunities for children with disabilities during a time when many had no guaranteed access to public education. Throughout her career as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent, one challenge remained constant: ensuring that students with the most significant behavioral and emotional needs were not left behind.

That commitment became the foundation of The ACES' educational philosophy, one centered on individualized instruction, relationship-based learning, and proactive behavioral support. Rather than focusing solely on discipline, educators emphasize prevention, communication, and helping each student discover their strengths while building confidence, resilience, and independence.

"As educators, we believe every child deserves personalized opportunities to succeed," Ms. Austin said. "Many of our students have been told what they can't do. Our mission is to help them discover what they can do."

As schools across the country continue seeking effective approaches to supporting students with increasingly complex behavioral and developmental needs, The ACES' presence in Colorado represents more than a new location. It brings more than three decades of proven experience to Colorado students, families, and school districts while reinforcing the organization's commitment to expanding access to high-quality specialized education.

For Ms. Austin, it also represents a full-circle moment. The state that inspired her life's work is now home to the educational model she spent more than 30 years building, one that continues to change the lives of children who need it most.

About The ACES

Founded in 1995, The Austin Centers for Exceptional Students (The ACES) provides specialized educational services for students with autism spectrum disorder, emotional disabilities, and significant behavioral challenges. With campuses in Arizona and Colorado, The ACES partners with school districts to deliver individualized programs that help students achieve academic, behavioral, and social success while preparing them to return to their local schools. Each year, The ACES serves more than 1,200 students through partnerships with more than 100 school districts. The National Association of Special Education Teachers has recognized The ACES among its National Schools of Excellence for 10 consecutive years.

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