The Judson Independent School District (JISD) provides special education services for students with disabilities. The APPLE program is part of the continuum of services available to students with autism and special needs in Judson ISD. Like all students receiving an individualized education program under the services of the special education department, some students with autism require specialized services in a highly structured and intensive behavioral support setting. Only the most severe students with autism that require an intensive and more restrictive environment in order to develop foundation skills may receive services under the Autism Programming for Positive Learning Experiences (APPLE) program. This specialized program includes the use of research supported strategies and methods for children with autism to address individualized needs and skills. The APPLE teachers receive specialized training and materials to implement these research based strategies. The APPLE program is specifically designed to meet the needs of students on the autism spectrum that require comprehensive behavior, academic, social and communication training. Students in the APPLE program access the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) through instruction in pre-requisite skills with extensive modifications to the standard curriculum. A placement into the APPLE program is the most restrictive setting on a general education campus due to the small staff to student ratio, the high level of intensive supports required, and the limited availability of the classes throughout the district.