What is Special Education?

What is Special Education?

Special Education is the final tier of an intensive, individualized learning model that is tailored to meet the needs of students who have struggled to make academic progress in a general education setting, one-on-one setting, or in small groups. Special education gives students with an identified disability the opportunity to receive services and supports that allow them access to the same free and appropriate public education as their non-disabled peers. Disabilities are identified through the criteria listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, and may require a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnosis, a International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) diagnosis, and/or formal cognitive and achievement testing.