00+What+is+Special+Education?

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), special education means “Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.” Children who receive special education and related services are entitled to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). This includes opportunities to participate in the school’s general curriculum and to make progress towards meeting annual goals. Children who receive special education must have opportunities to take part in other typical school activities that are appropriate to their individual needs.
 * What is Special Education? **

In Minnesota, schools are required to serve eligible children from birth until the age of 21, or graduation from high school, whichever comes first.

Services are provided by licensed personnel and include individualized instruction, materials, and strategies.

There are specific criteria that need to be met in order to qualify for special education. In the state of MN the disability categories are as follows: Speech or Language Impairment (S/L) Developmental Cognitive Disability (DCD, Mild to Moderate or Severe to Profound) Physically Impaired (PI) Deaf -Hard of Hearing (D/HH) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Visually Impaired (VI) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Specific Learning Disability (SLD) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (EBD) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Deaf Blind (D/B) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Other Health Disabilities (OHD) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Developmental Delay (DD) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Severely Multiply Impaired (SMI) <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE)

====** //You have the right to be involved in ALL meetings that discuss the identification, evaluation, IEP development and educational placement of your children. The law insures that you and school personnel are equal partners in all steps during the Team process.// **====