Our Special Education Department supports the district’s goal to create a caring and positive environment that encourages each student to develop his or her potential in academic, physical, social, emotional, cultural and moral aspects. We provide a variety of special education programs, which include pull-out resource rooms, in class resource rooms and a preschool disabled program. The Special Education Department is committed to providing individual educational programs including modifications and supplementary aides and services to students whose unique needs extend beyond the regular education program.

Child Study Team

The Child Study Team is made up of specialists in the area of educational disabilities. Members of the Child Study Team include a school social worker, a speech and language specialist, a school psychologist, and a learning disabilities teacher consultant. Their responsibility is to identify, evaluate and determine whether a student is eligible for special education and related services. Other specialists in the area of educational disabilities include occupational therapists, physical therapists, and the school nurse. The Child Study Team works closely with school personnel and parents/guardians in the development of a student’s Individualized Education Program. (IEP)

A Child Study Team evaluation typically consists of a social history reported by the parent/guardian to the school social worker, an assessment of the student’s academic achievement by the learning disabilities teacher consultant, an evaluation of the child’s potential for learning and their learning characteristics by the school psychologist, and if needed, an assessment of a student’s expressive and receptive language skills by the speech and language specialist. Once a student is determined to be eligible for special education and related services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed. Placement options are considered with the least restrictive environment being the determining factor.