October 24, 2026 — 1:00pm

Schools enrolling students disengaged from mainstream education are among the fastest-growing statewide, but funding uncertainty is creating concern for principals already juggling soaring waitlists.

The special assistance schools are typically attended by students who have not fit the mainstream system and are different from those which accommodate physical and intellectual disability.

Berry Street School principal Katharine Smith and former student Matthew Wilson-Bronson. Joe Armao

The schools enrolled 4726 in the independent sector last year, up from 502 students a decade earlier, with two dozen providers now operating 54 campuses across the state.

Berry Street School, which has a wait list of more than 100 students at its Narre Warren campus and similar pressures across its three regional schools, is among those feeling the growing pains.

“At Narre Warren, we could double the size of our campus,” said Berry Street School principal Katharine Smith.…