What we offer

Our district works to create an environment where children of all learning types succeed. Each campus has a student support team for those struggling behaviorally or academically as well as a team of dedicated professionals for special education.

We provide campus-based Special Education so that our Special Education teams can create flexible services and programs designed for the specific children on campus. We encourage our parents to be a part of the process by participating in meetings, asking questions and working closely with their child’s teacher and school.

Please contact your child‘s school if you have a concern. 

Eligibility for Services

Who is eligible?

Any student is eligible when identified within one of the categories of disability as defined under state and federal definition. This determination is made by qualified professionals.

Eligibility Classifications

The categories of disability which must be met in order for students to qualify for special education include: autism spectrum disorder, cognitive disability, deaf-blindness, developmental delay, emotional disability, hearing impairment including deafness, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment including blindness.

What happens in the evaluation process?

Every school has a Building Intervention Team (BIT) that processes referrals from parents, staff or other concerned parties of students who are experiencing educational difficulties. The BIT reviews information and designs appropriate intervention to assist staff in providing alternatives. The BIT is responsible for referring students to the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) for further evaluations if these alternatives are unsuccessful. After obtaining the parent’s/legal guardian’s written consent, the MDT will conduct an assessment of the student that includes teacher and parent/legal guardian interviews, testing and classroom observation(s). The MDT is comprised of individuals knowledgeable in the area of the suspected disability, as well as persons familiar with the student’s background. The purpose of the MDT is to determine if the student is eligible under one of the existing disabilities. The results of the evaluation are given to the Individual Education Plan Team (IEP Team) who reviews that information with the parent/legal guardian. If the IEP Team determines the student is eligible, special education and related services may be initiated to provide appropriate educational services.

Child Find

Child Find is a district-wide service designed to locate and assess students, ages birth through 21 whose disability adversely affects educational performance. The purpose of this service is to identify all disabled children who need special education and related services and to implement appropriate services at an early age.

Child Find endeavors to locate students with disabilities through:

• Public awareness programs to alert parents/legal guardians and community members who oversee or work with young children in order to facilitate early diagnosis and services.

• Screening of all students beginning in kindergarten for motor, speech, language, hearing, cognitive and health problems.

• Standardized testing of students enrolled in school.

• Observation and referral of students by classroom teachers.