Welcome to
The Forum School!

Our supportive approach to the challenges our students face provides opportunities for success. Here, children and young adults thrive in our atmosphere of care and dedication.

Our supportive approach to the challenges our students face provides opportunities for success. Here, children and young adults thrive in our atmosphere of care and dedication.

The Forum School is a New Jersey state-approved private, non-profit school serving children with autism and related learning, language, behavioral, and social challenges who have not been successful in a public school setting.

Our Approach

Every child is different, and needs a unique approach that draws on a wide range of proven teaching methods.

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Our Programs

Structured and nurturing behavioral and psycho-educational approaches, with a stimulating and developmentally appropriate curriculum.

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Admissions

Regardless of the challenges that our students have faced in the past, we offer each one the promise of new achievements and hope.

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Why Choose the Forum School?

We believe in the dignity, worth, and capacity for self-realization of every child. From their earliest school years to their formal preparation for independent life in the community, our experienced educators and therapists foster each student’s individuality, allowing them to grow and blossom.

The Forum School offers a unique combination of individualized academics, social skills learning and life readiness in a welcoming, safe, and hopeful environment.

We have more than six decades of success working with students who have not been celebrated in other settings. Our students develop deep and lasting friendships, and have the opportunity to be truly fully included and valued as members of the school community.

Our school is small enough to feel like a family, yet large enough to offer a range of “typical” school experiences – chorus, school dances, a lunchroom, parties, art, lockers for older students, and more.

Recent Forum News

  • Blended learning combine online learning with traditionl classroom teaching.

Meeting Students Where They Are Through Blended Learning

March 9, 2025|Comments Off on Meeting Students Where They Are Through Blended Learning

By combining traditional classroom teaching with online learning, blended learning has become part of nearly every classroom at The Forum School.

  • Brian Detlefsen Director The Forum School

Letter from the Director

March 5, 2025|Comments Off on Letter from the Director

Once a student is placed with us, our focus is on providing the Least Restrictive Experience. We strive to provide a school experience where students are able to grow their independence and fully engage in the school community.

  • student images of famous artists arranged in a grid

Spectrum of Creativity

November 22, 2024|Comments Off on Spectrum of Creativity

reativity abounds in our students when teaching focuses on process over product. In art classes, students learn the building blocks of expression: color, line, shape, and design.

What are People Saying About The Forum School?

I appreciate you and all the staff so much for all that you are doing for the kids. Under these circumstances you’ve all managed to run a safe and successful learning environment in person and online for the students. Phoenix is so lucky to have the opportunity to attend school in person. I love reading about how well he did disassembling computers and VCR’s. I love that he gets to play Christmas songs with chimes in music class. He loves getting to see his friends and teachers at school. The dedication you all have for the success of our kids, we’re forever grateful for that.

Forum Parent

After one visit to The Forum School, I left very impressed by what I heard, felt and saw. I witnessed a school dedicated to helping the neediest students with patience and unconditional acceptance, with the right personnel and resources to get the job done. My student has significantly grown academically, emotionally and socially. Since then, I have had several students placed at The Forum School. The Forum School has shown me what a true therapeutic educational environment should be like…”

Leo O., Public School CST Case Manager

I am happy to tell you that John has been inducted into the National Honor Society, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He was a student at The Forum School from K to 5th grade. When he arrived he had very little language and couldn’t even use a scissor. The teachers at The Forum School and the Speech Therapist took him out of his isolation. Although he does have social skills problems associated with autism, he does well at his new school, and will be going on to college.”

Sue S., Forum Parent

Forum School is such a special place… I gained confidence in myself as a teacher and established even more that I was meant to teach special education. The amount of growth that can happen with these students continues to be so rewarding for me every day. This is a school where the faculty is so supportive of each other and their students, the students grow and reach goals, and ideas and opinions are shared and heard.”

Alex R., Former Forum Employee

This school should be a model for statewide special education. Outstanding!”

Forum Parent

Contact us to learn more or schedule a tour of our school