Our History
The Craig School was built on more than 35 years of research and clinical work developed at the University of California, Irvine. What began as a university-based program has grown into an independent nonprofit school serving students with ADHD and related executive functioning challenges through a structured, research-informed approach.
Origins at UC Irvine
The foundation of The Craig School began at the Child Development Center at the University of California, Irvine.
For more than three decades, researchers and clinicians studied how children with ADHD function in academic environments. Their work focused on attention, self-regulation, behavior, and learning within real classroom settings.
This research led to the development of a school-based behavioral health model that integrates academic instruction with daily behavioral and executive functioning support. The emphasis was always practical application, not theory alone.
Transition to the Community
As families sought a full-day academic setting that could provide consistent structure and long-term support, the program expanded beyond the university setting.
In 2019, the program transitioned into the community and opened as an independent nonprofit school under the name The Children’s School, serving students through eighth grade. The Irvine campus brought a university-developed model into a dedicated school environment designed specifically for students whose needs were not being met in traditional classrooms.
That research foundation continues to inform the school today, shaped and refined through decades of experience supporting students and families in real classrooms.
| A legacy of research.
| A commitment to structure.
| A school built for how children learn.
From The Children’s School to The Craig School
As the program continued to grow and the middle school became a central part of the academic experience, the school’s name was updated to reflect its expanded scope and long-term vision.
The Children’s School became The Craig School.
The name change reflected growth, not a shift in mission. The academic and behavioral framework remained grounded in the same principles established through decades of research and clinical practice at UC Irvine.
The Craig School name reflects what the program had become: a full academic school, a long-term educational home, and a community intentionally designed for how students learn, regulate, and grow.
Leadership and Scientific Guidance
The development of the school has been guided by nationally recognized experts in child development, education, pediatrics, and behavioral health.
Our Scientific Advisory Board includes scholars and practitioners from institutions such as UC Irvine, UC Berkeley, Chapman University, and UC Riverside. This collaboration ensures the school’s design reflects both research integrity and real-world classroom application.
Ongoing Connection to Research
Dr. Sabrina Schuck, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, serves as Executive Director and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Schuck brings more than 30 years of experience in child development, school-based behavioral health, and clinical research. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for children with ADHD and neurodevelopmental differences through evidence-based and innovative intervention models.
In 2019, she helped establish The Craig School as an independent nonprofit organization modeled after the Child Development Lab School at UC Irvine. She continues to support the school through program development, parent education, and professional training.
A Living Legacy
The Craig School represents the continuation of decades of work dedicated to understanding how students with ADHD learn best in school settings.
While the school now operates independently, its foundation remains rooted in research, structure, and respect for each student’s development.
That history informs how students are supported today and guides how the school continues to evolve.