About 15% of the public school population receives special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), with 13% qualifying due to an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Shaw et al., 2025). As the prevalence of autism continues to rise—with 1 in 31 children diagnosed—educators face an increasing responsibility and opportunity to create inclusive, supportive learning environments.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is becoming increasingly common in educational settings. More often than ever, schools are turning toward ABA providers to support the behavioral, social, and academic needs of their students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. ABA therapists, including Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®) and Registered Behavior Technicians® (RBTs®), play a critical role in learning outcomes for these students.

Executive functioning skills are mental processes that help with organization,