Special Education

 
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.