Special Education Department

Shelby City Schools provides services for students with disabilities in accordance with the Operating Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities and Special Education Model Policies and Procedures.  

Special Education is defined as specially designed instruction. Specially designed instruction means “adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child under this part, the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction”.

When children are experiencing learning difficulties or needs, the educational team may provide interventions within the school day. Interventions can be designed and implemented to address academic, social-emotional and/or behavioral needs of students.  Parents who have concerns about their child’s educational progress should contact their child’s principal or classroom teacher to discuss those concerns.

EVALUATION OF STUDENTS:

Based upon the student’s response to the interventions or the student’s need for specialized instruction, the student may be referred for an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education.  When referred, a school team will convene, including the student’s parents, teacher, and potentially the school psychologist, principal, and/or special education director to review all relevant data available, including the interventions tried and the results of those interventions. The team will then determine if the student is suspected of having a disability under IDEA or Section 504. If a disability is suspected, parent permission is received and the process for a multi-factored evaluation is started.  

After completion of this evaluation, the team (including the parent) reconvenes to determine if the child meets IDEA or Section 504 eligibility criteria for a specific disability. Disabilities recognized under IDEA are: Autism, Cognitive Disabilities, Multiple Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, Other Health Impairment (Minor/Major), Orthopedic Handicapped, Severe Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Speech/Language Disability, Hearing Impaired, Deaf-Blind, Visually Impaired. 

Under section 504 a student must have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (Major life activities includes: performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, caring for oneself, walking, standing, communicating, speaking, eating, bending, lifting, working, concentrating, learning, reading, thinking, sleeping, or breathing.)

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES:

Shelby City Special Education staff provides services, evaluations, and intervention for students between the ages of 3 to 21 who qualified as a student with a disability under IDEA.

INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN:

If the child meets eligibility criteria, the team (including the parent) will develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) with specific goals and objectives, specialized services, accommodations as needed, and a determination of where the services will be provided for the child.

An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is written for all students with a disability to address their identified needs and related services.  Related services provide developmental, corrective, and other intervention services required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education.  Related services could include: Adapted Physical Education, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Audiological, Interpreter, Orientation & Mobility, School Psychological, Transportation, Job Skills, Nursing Services, and Assistants. 

Students with a disability should be educated in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); which means providing services in the regular classroom environment to the maximum extent possible. Shelby City provides a variety of settings for our students.  Our least restrictive model include co-teaching and integration.  Many of our students with a disability have identified needs which are best met by the classroom teacher who differentiates instruction for them in conjunction with a special education teacher.  Our special education teachers work cooperatively with classroom teachers and other school personnel to facilitate services for our students with disabilities.  

Some identified students with a disability may require more restrictive environments due to their intensive services or needs. These services can be provided in a resource type, small group setting. Children with multiple areas of needs and personal/social emotional needs may be served in specialized programs. Through the Special Education Program, all eligible children receive special instruction specifically designed to meet their unique educational needs, in accordance with state and federal requirements.