What is Special Education?

Special education is a range of services and supports that help people with disabilities learn.  It’s all about the individual child and giving them the resources they need to make progress in school.

These supports look different for each student. For example, some students may spend most of the day in a general education classroom. Others may spend an hour or two with a special education teacher. Some students may benefit from working with a speech and language pathologist. And others might need to attend a different program that specializes in supporting students with higher needs.

First Steps

If your child is having difficulty in school, it’s important to find out why, so your first step is to have a conversation with their teacher. Make a list of your feelings, concerns, and thoughts about how your child is doing in school.

Depending on where your child is struggling, we'll work alongside your child’s teacher to try making some adjustments in the classroom setting before referring your child for an evaluation.

Before a child can receive special education services, they need to be evaluated for a disability.  To request an evaluation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your school district’s director of special education or your child’s principal.

Identify Needs

After a request for evaluation, the school conducts an evaluation or provides notice that it will not conduct an evaluation (the notice will explain why the evaluation is not being conducted).

Evaluation Process

Our team of specialists will conduct a formal evaluation.  The evaluation includes giving your child some tests, reviewing their school records, and observing them in their classroom.  

After completing the evaluation, the team will summarize their findings and recommendations in a report.

Determine Eligibility

One of the main factors in determining your child’s eligibility is whether or not they have one or more of the disabilities listed in the Individual Disabilities Education Act.

Those disabilities are:

However, having one of these disabilities doesn’t automatically qualify a child under IDEA. To be eligible, your student must:

• Have a disability and, as a result of that disability…
• Need special education to make progress in school

Develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

The IEP is a document developed by you and the school support team (the IEP team). It explains the specialized instruction, supports, and services kids need to make progress and thrive in school.

Learn more about IEPs from the Michigan Alliance for Families and the U.S. Department of Education.

Educational Setting

Children are placed in the least restrictive environment (LRE). A Least restrictive environment (LRE) means kids who get special education are in the same classrooms as other kids as much as possible.

Provide Specialized Instruction

Your child will receive instruction to best help them make progress toward educational goals based on their needs.

Measure Results

We keep track of how your child is doing with meeting their educational goals and objectives and review their progress with you at your child’s annual IEP meeting.

Review the IEP and Make Changes as Needed

The IEP team, including you, meets at least once per year to review the IEP. Together, you’ll consider your child’s progress and needs, and the team will make appropriate changes to the IEP.

Parents can also request an IEP at any time.