What We Do:
Special Education addresses the education needs of children in the District
who have identifiable disabilities, from age 3 until age 21, or until they
receive their high school diplomas. In consonance with state requirements,
the District arranges for multi-disciplinary evaluations, which for 3-5 year-
olds are conducted by County-approved providers, and for school-aged children
age 5-21 by District Personnel.
Following evaluation and classification, children age 3-5 receive educational
and therapeutic services arranged by the District through contracts with
County-approved agencies. Children ages 5-21 receive school-based services
through District staff, including special education teachers,
psychologists ,social workers, and physical, occupational and speech
therapists.
An Individual Education Plan (IEP), which addresses the unique needs of the
individual learner, is drawn up for all children who are classified by the
Committee on Special Education. The IEP for every student is reviewed
annually; the District conducts a comprehensive re-evaluation of each
classified student every three years.
The District's Special Education department strives to offer services in the
least restrictive environment - that is, to the maximum extent appropriate,
providing an education in the same manner as it is provided to every other
child, alongside peers in a general education environment. Only if a
Committee on Special Education team concludes that a child's needs are not
being addressed in the general classroom will that child be placed in a
special education setting for some part or all of the day.
