What is Special Education?

Special Education is a specially designed individual plan on education developed from an extensive evaluation and in consultation with the parents, the student’s teacher(s), and appropriate special education staff. The plan is entitled and Individual Education Plan (IEP) and is designed to meet the specific needs of a child with special needs. Instructional programs, interventions and consultations are tailored to meet each student’s needs in order to provide a successful school experience. These services are provided at no cost to the parent or guardian.

 

The following steps show the process a student, parent or teacher access special education services.

    •    Pre-referral consultations occur with teacher or parents to suggest possible instructional/behavioral

          strategies that might solve the problem without a formal referral.

    •    If strategies and interventions prove to be unsuccessful, a referral is made for the student to be

          evaluated for a possible disability.

    •    Parents of the referred student must provide informed consent prior to the evaluation.

    •    Evaluations are completed within 60 days.

    •    Parents, the student’s teacher(s), an administrator and Coop personnel meet together to

          share and discuss the results of the evaluation. This team of parents and professionals

          determines whether or not the student meets eligibility requirements under IDEA.

    •    If the child is eligible, the parents, the student’s teacher, Coop staff and any other involved

          professionals develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) with parental consent.

    •    Parents play an essential role in this process and have extensive legal rights including

          informed consent for evaluation and services. A copy of parental rights is provided

          routinely and at parental request.