“I’m glad to be at my school.  Once in awhile there is problem but mostly it goes great.  My interpreter helps me understand everything that is said. 
I have to sit near the front to hear better and my mom goes to lots of meetings but other than that, I am just like any other fourth grade kid. 
I want to be a paramedic when I grow up so I have to learn a lot.”                      Maddie Burkholder, Grant Elementary

                                             FAQs for Parents of Special Education Students

1. What is “Special Education”?
2. What is "IDEA"?
3. What does “Least Restrictive Environment” mean?
4. What other definitions come from Colorado Exceptional Children’s Act?
5. What is Response to Intervention and how does it work for students with special needs?
6. What is a “Special Education Assessment”?
7. What is an "IEP"?
8. Where do I start?
Parent Website Resources

  1. What is “Special Education” ?
Special Education is the educational system for students with disabilities.  For your child, Special Education provides specialized
services and programs to fit the unique learning strengths and needs of your student. A major goal of special education is to teach
the skills and knowledge the child needs to be as independent as possible. Special education programs focus on academics and also
include therapy and other related services to help the child overcome difficulties in all areas of development. These services may be
provided in a variety of educational settings but are required by IDEA to be delivered in the least restrictive environment.

      Types of Disabilities:
       *Significant Limited Intellectual Capacity        *Significant Identifiable Emotional Disability
       *Perceptual or Communicative Disability         *Hearing Disability
       *Speech/Language Disability                            *Vision Disability
       *Preschool Child with a Disability                     *Physical Disability: 
       *Multiple Disabilities                                                    -Traumatic Brain Injury
                                                                                            -Autism
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2. What is “IDEA” ?
      IDEA  stands for “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.” This federal law that provides the legal authority for early
      intervention and special educational services for children birth to age 21. Part B outlines services for children ages three
      to 21. Part C outlines services for children birth to age 3.

      Under this law, a child with disabilities is entitled to a “Free and Appropriate Education” in the least restrictive
      environment.  In addition, the child is entitled to education supports specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the
      student as specified through an individualized education program. 

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3. What does “Least Restrictive Environment” mean?
Least Restrictive Environment is the setting that is as close as possible to the general education environment. This is the
educational setting that permits a child to receive the most educational benefit while participating in a regular educational
environment to the maximum extent appropriate.

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4. What other definitions come from Colorado Exceptional Children’s Act?
      In December 2007, Colorado expanded the definition of students with specific learning disabilities who qualify for special
      education services.  A child with a specific learning disability means a that the child suffers from a disorder in one or more
      of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest
      itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations, including
      conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.

      Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of: visual, hearing, or motor
      disabilities; significant limited intellectual capacity; significant identifiable emotional disability; cultural factors; 
      environmental or economic disadvantage; or limited English proficiency.

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5. What is Response to Intervention and how does it work for students with special needs?
    Response to Intervention (RtI) is a framework for identifying and addressing the needs of students who lack academic or
      behavioral success in school.  RtI provides an individualized, assessment and intervention process, using team
      problem-solving, to identify and address student difficulties.  RtI benefits each student when teachers use research-based
      interventions and regular progress monitoring. 

      Students who significantly lag behind their peers either by their achievement level or their rate of learning may be eligible
      for special education services.   It should be noted that some students automatically (such as those with the disabilities
      listed in questions 1) may qualify for special education services without going through the RtI tiered intervention system. 

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6. What is a “Special Education Assessment”?
     A Special Education Assessment is a series of tests used to determine whether a child is eligible for special education.  If
     the child qualifies for special education, the assessment also outlines which special education services would be helpful to
     the child.  You may request this assessment  be done if you suspect or know that your child has a disability or your child’s
     teacher may suggest this step if she has concerns about your child’s progress in the classroom. You may also want to get a
     third opinion from an outside agency that specializes in this type of testing.

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7. What is an “IEP”?  
     “IEP” stands for  “Individual Education Program” -  A written statement of a child’s current level of educational
      performance and an individualized plan of instruction, including the goals, specific services to be received, staff who will
      carry out the services, the standards timelines for evaluating progress, and the amount degree to which the child will
      participate with typically developing peers (Inclusion/Least Restrictive Environment). The IEP is developed by the 
      child’s parents and the professionals who evaluated the child and/or are providing the services. It is required by
      Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for children eligible for special education.   The intent of the IEP
      should be to identify the child’s strengths and how to use those strengths to meet his or her educational needs.

      The parent of a child with a disability and the school may agree to use alternative means of meeting participation, such as
      video conferences and conference calls.

 The school will notify you when an IEP meeting will be held to establish or update your child’s IEP goals and action plan.

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