A new therapeutic day school is taking shape in Aberdeen, bringing specialized education and behavioral health services to children and families across northeastern South Dakota. Children’s Home Society of South Dakota (CHS) is proud to expand their program and expects to welcome its first Aberdeen students in January 2027.
The new school will provide education alongside therapeutic services for students ages 4 to 14 who have experienced emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges related to childhood trauma, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, reactive attachment disorder, abuse and neglect, anxiety disorders, aggression and other parent-child challenges. These experiences can significantly affect a student’s ability to succeed in a traditional classroom setting.
“We are excited to bring a day school to Aberdeen and expand our services to more children and families who need extra help to thrive,” said CHS President and CEO Michelle Lavallee. “At CHS, we specialize in providing curriculum that blends academic instruction, special education, behavioral support and therapeutic services within the school day. The goal of our education program is not to replace services provided by public schools, but rather to complement them. We want to give kids the tools they need to successfully transition back to their home school.”
In May, CHS received grant funding from the South Dakota Department of Education to support the development of the Aberdeen therapeutic day school. The idea for the program grew from conversations among CHS, the Department of Education, Aberdeen Area School District, local business leaders, community organizations and state lawmakers, including State Representative Lana Greenfield, who sponsored legislation that established grant funding for the program.
“This project started with people around the table asking how we could better support kids,” said CHS Business Development Officer Dr. Mike Groher. “School, business and state leaders, along with CHS, all recognized a need and were willing to work together to come up with a solution. That’s what makes this project so exciting—it’s the result of the community coming together to create something that will make a real difference for these students.”
The Aberdeen school builds on CHS’s 30-plus years of experience providing therapeutic school services at Sioux Falls Loving School and Rockerville’s Owen School. CHS school programs are approved by the South Dakota Department of Education and academic curriculum aligns with the South Dakota Content Standards.
Unlike CHS’s residential treatment programs, students who attend the day school return home each day, allowing them to receive the services they need while remaining part of their families and communities.
In March, CHS marked one year of serving Rapid City children at the Lincoln School through a similar partnership with the Rapid City Area School District. That experience will help guide the development of the Aberdeen program.
CHS has identified a location in Aberdeen and signed a lease for the future school. The next steps include hiring qualified staff and preparing the space to welcome students this winter.
Community Support for New Therapeutic Day School
The new therapeutic day school in Aberdeen would not have been possible without the support of the community. School leaders, business leaders, community organizations and local and state government collaborated with Children’s Home Society (CHS) to help identify a need, create a path forward and bring this vision to life.
“This opportunity is possible because of the leadership, advocacy and partnership of so many individuals,” said CHS President and CEO Michelle Lavallee. “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Becky Guffin, Representative Lana Greenfield, Robert Fouberg, our partners at the South Dakota Department of Education, regional school leaders, community organizations and the many others who have invested their time, expertise and confidence in this effort.”
Comments from key players who helped bring the CHS day school into the Aberdeen community, as well as a Q&A can be found below. Addition information about CHS’s school program can be found on our website.
Dr. Becky Guffin
Superintendent, Aberdeen Area School District
“This investment will make a meaningful difference for our district and for students across South Dakota. Schools are increasingly serving children whose needs extend far beyond what typical school-based supports were designed to address. Expanding access to specialized therapeutic services ensures that students receive the right level of care, delivered by the right professionals, at the right time—and as close to home as possible. This kind of partnership allows schools to remain focused on education while ensuring students and families receive the comprehensive support they deserve.”
Representative Lana Greenfield
South Dakota House of Representatives
“My motivation for drafting HB 1262 began last summer when I heard about declining behavior in elementary classrooms across the state. It became apparent that something needed to be done to address behaviors that hampered quality learning in classrooms and that mental health needed to be addressed. The bill I brought forward created a one-time funding mechanism of $2 million to identify and furnish a building and partner with Children’s Home Society to operate a therapeutic day school.
In addition to the Aberdeen School District, surrounding schools have also expressed support and can participate in this valuable program. In South Dakota, we define a problem, work out a plan and put that plan into place. This is a positive plan, one that deserves support.”
Robert Fouberg
Chairman and CEO, Dacotah Bank
“Aberdeen has a long history of citizens coming together to develop solutions that strengthen our community. The Children’s Home Society therapeutic day school is yet another great example of that community spirit at work. As a regional hub serving people from across a large area, Aberdeen is well positioned to connect children and families with services that may otherwise be impossible to access in their rural communities, or difficult to reach in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. The school will give students a place where they can receive an education tailored to their individual needs and an opportunity to heal, build resilience, and discover their path to success. My hope is that this school grows to accommodate every student in our region who can benefit from it and that those children and their families can build healthy, successful futures right here in Aberdeen and surrounding communities.”
Aberdeen School Q&A
Is education a new service CHS provides?
CHS has historically excelled at providing therapeutic school services in collaboration with its residential treatment program, expanding these services to non-residential students in partnership with public schools for more than 30 years. Recently, CHS marked one year of serving Rapid City children through a similar partnership with the Rapid City Area School District.
Each classroom at Loving School and Owen School has a state-certified teacher and full-time teacher assistant, ensuring a classroom staff-to-student ratio of 1:4.
What is offered in CHS’s Therapeutic Day School Program?
The Aberdeen program will integrate individualized academic instruction, special education expertise, behavioral supports, and therapeutic services within the school day. Classroom instruction aligns with the South Dakota Content Standards, providing grade-level instruction as well as differentiated instruction, meeting the unique learning needs of each student. Our curriculum programs promote daily interactions that allow students to learn cooperatively and develop values such as cultural understanding, responsibility, respect, caring, fairness and helpfulness.
In addition to working inside our classrooms, our students receive individual, group and family therapy bi-weekly or based on the child’s needs. A Master Treatment Plan is created for each student in our school settings. A student’s academic and social-emotional growth is documented on a weekly basis and reported at individualized quarterly meetings. The student’s treatment team meets quarterly to share progress and monitor goal-related growth.
What grades will be served at the Aberdeen Therapeutic Day School?
CHS’s new day school is being developed to serve students ages 4 to 14—K through 8th grade—whose emotional, behavioral or mental health needs significantly affect their ability to be successful in a traditional school environment.
What is the class size?
CHS provide small, highly supported therapeutic learning environments. Classrooms operate with approximately a 1:4 staff-to-student ratio, allowing team members to provide individualized academic, behavioral and therapeutic support.
How are students evaluated?
Students are evaluated through classroom observations, work samples, skill-based assessments and file reviews. Our teachers utilize NWEA MAP Growth assessments to measure achievement and quarterly growth in mathematics and reading. These assessments provide classroom staff with accurate, actionable evidence to help inform instructional strategies regardless of how far students are above or below grade level.
What is the relationship between the School District and CHS?
The program is intended to complement, not replace, services provided by local public schools. Students remain connected to their home school districts while receiving specialized educational and therapeutic services through CHS.
Families, school district representatives and CHS staff participate in quarterly student progress meetings to review each child's growth, needs and progress towards the student returning to their home school.
Will my student be safe?
Yes. The school provides a structured, trauma-responsive learning environment supported by small class sizes, highly trained team members, individualized supports, therapeutic services, and strong relationships with students and families.
How does enrollment work?
Students are referred to CHS in partnership with their local school districts. Placement is a team decision involving the child's family, home school district, and CHS, based on the individual student's educational and therapeutic needs. CHS will work closely with families and district partners throughout the referral and placement process.
I’m interested in having my child attend:
Families interested in learning whether the Aberdeen therapeutic day school may be appropriate for their child should begin by connecting with their local school district. Questions about the CHS Aberdeen program may also be directed to Allison Sanderson, CHS Chief Operating Officer and Dr. Mike Groher, CHS Business Development Officer.