All districts are required by state and federal law to provide services to identified special needs students beginning at the age of three.
Districts conduct screenings of preschool age children each year to identify those who qualify for special education services. All eligible children are served by preschool programs at the schools, services in the home, or some combination of these. Students who are deaf or hard of hearing, visually impaired, orthopedically impaired, speech or language impaired, emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded, have special learning disabilities or have other health impairments, qualify for services.
Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) are developed for all enrolled students who are identified as needing Special Education Services. Regular education staff, Special Education staff, and the student’s parents all participate in the development an IEP.
Special Education services are part of school districts’ General Fund budgets. In response to state and federal policies and regulations that have made the education of special needs students local responsibility, schools have become increasingly skilled at meeting the needs of this population.