Special Education Procedures and Policies

What is Special Education and how does a student qualify for Special Education services?

Special Education is a specialized instruction provided for children from birth to age 22 who qualify according to the laws and regulations outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). A student receives support from Special Education as identified on his/her Individual Education Plan.

A student may qualify for Special Education services as an individual with special needs in one of the following areas:

• Deaf/hard of hearing

• Deaf-Blind, Visually impaired

• Speech-Language impaired

• Specific Learning Disability

• Orthopedically impaired

• Intellectually Disabled

• Emotionally Disturbed

• Autism

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Other Health Impaired

What happens at an IEP meeting?

At each IEP meeting, the team is required to consider a continuum of options for service, beginning with the least restrictive. Their job is to determine which combination of services provides the required benefits with the least restriction in the environment. Federal law requires that the placement be as close as possible to the child’s home, and that the child is educated in the school he or she would attend if non-disable, unless the IEP team determines that the child requires some other arrangements.

AUSD Special Education Policies and Procedures:

Special Education Procedures and Policies