Please click the following link for Q & A regarding CMCSS K-12 Virtual Parent Virtual Q & A for IDEA and Section 504
Why is my child struggling in school?
When a child is struggling in school, it is important to find out why. It may be that a disability is affecting your child’s educational performance. While our school district offers a variety of supports for students who show delay, your child may qualify for and require special education and related services. This page provides an overview of how you and the school can work together to help your child grow and succeed.
As a first step, the school may need to try sufficient interventions in the regular education classroom (Tier I) and modify instructional practices before referring your child for a special education evaluation.
What is special education?
Special education is instruction that is specially designed to meet the unique needs of children who have disabilities. Special education and related services are provided in public schools at no cost to the parents and can include special instruction in the classroom, at home, in hospitals or institutions, or in other settings. This definition of special education comes from IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This law gives eligible children with disabilities the right to receive special services and assistance in school.
More than 6.8 million children ages 3 through 21 receive special education and related services each year in the United States. Each of these children receives instruction that is specially designed:
to meet his or her unique needs (that result from having a disability); and
to help the child learn the information and skills that other children are learning in the general education curriculum.
Who is eligible for special education?
Children with disabilities are eligible for special education and related services when they meet IDEA’s definition of a “child with a disability” in combination with state and local policies. IDEA’s definition of a “child with a disability” lists 13 different disability categories under which a child may be found eligible for special education and related services. These categories are listed below. IDEA describes what each of these disability categories means. The criteria for eligibility regarding many of these categories has recently been updated. Click this TN Eligibility Criteria link to view a list of current (and comparative) eligibility criteria:
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IDEA’s Categories of Disability
Autism
Deafness
Deaf-blindness
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disabilities
Multiple disabilities
Orthopedic impairment
Other health impairment
Serious emotional disturbance
Specific learning disability
Speech or language impairment
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment, including blindness
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States and school districts must follow IDEA’s definitions, but they also may add details to guide decision making about children’s eligibility.
Early Childhood Ages 3-5
Infants and toddlers can have disabilities, too. Services to children under three years of age are also part of IDEA. These services are called early intervention services and can be very important in helping young children develop and learn. Contact Melinda Smith at Melindal.smith@cmcss.net if you have questions regarding the development of a child between the ages of 3-5.