At Cannon County Schools, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. The Department of Exceptional Learning partners with families, educators, and community agencies to provide individualized supports that help students reach their full potential academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.
We are committed to creating inclusive learning environments where students with disabilities are valued, supported, and encouraged to participate alongside their peers to the greatest extent appropriate.
Special education services are available for eligible students ages 3 through 21 who have disabilities that impact their educational performance and require specially designed instruction. Eligibility is determined through a comprehensive evaluation process and follows the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Tennessee Department of Education guidelines.
Students may qualify for services under one of several disability categories, including autism, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, visual impairment, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities. Tennessee also recognizes developmental delay for eligible children ages 3 through 9 and intellectually gifted as eligibility categories for special education services.
Every eligible student receives an Individualized Education Program (IEP) developed by a team that includes parents, educators, and other professionals who know the student's strengths and needs. The IEP outlines goals, services, accommodations, and supports designed to help the student make meaningful educational progress.
Whenever appropriate, services are provided in the least restrictive environment (LRE), allowing students to learn alongside their peers while receiving the individualized support they need to be successful.
Families are an essential part of the IEP team, and we value open communication and strong partnerships throughout a student's educational journey. By working together, we can ensure every child has access to meaningful learning opportunities and the support needed to achieve success in school and beyond.
We are honored to serve the students and families of Cannon County and are committed to helping every learner thrive.
"We are committed to a comprehensive system of support to assure... that EVERY student reaches a high level of academic achievement."
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act requires school districts to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to any student who has met disability eligibility standards and whose needs cannot be met in the general education setting without the provision of special education services and related services to meet their unique needs. We are dedicated to serving our students the least restrictive environment, providing children with as much participation with same age peers and engagement in the regular curriculum as possible. IDEA Regulations 300.1 (a)