What is Special Education?
The IDEA is a federal law that requires school districts to provide a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities. A “free appropriate public education” means special education and related services are to be provided as described in an individualized education program (IEP) and under public supervision to your child at no cost to you. The Robla School District provides a variety of services for those individuals falling within the IDEA guidelines.
Who is eligible for services?
Special education is designed to meet the unique, educational needs of children with disabilities. Children may receive special education services under one (or more) of following disabilities.
- Intellectual Disability
- Hard of Hearing
- Deafness
- Speech or Language Impairment
- Visual Impairment
- Emotional Disturbance
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other Health Impairment
- Established Medical Disability
- Specific Learning Disability
- Deaf-Blindness
- Multiple Disabilities
- Autism
- Traumatic Brain Injury
What special education programs are available in the Robla School District?
District services are provided to children based on their eligibility for special education, and appropriateness of a service as determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Services may include:
- Regular classroom – in some cases the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for an eligible student is the regular classroom, perhaps with consultation from a special education staff person or DIS services.
- Designated Instructional Services (DIS) – provide students with services in order for the student to benefit from their educational program. Services may include speech therapy, adapted physical education (APE), occupational therapy (OT), audiological services, orientation and mobility instruction and vision services.
- Resource Specialist Program (RSP) – The RSP program includes students with mild handicapping conditions, who can succeed in the regular classroom when provided with one to three hours of special education support each day.
- Special Day Class (SDC) – The SDC serves those students who require more than 50% of the day in a special education setting.
- Home or Hospital instruction and services may be provided for those students whose physical condition requires confinement for prolonged periods of time (a minimum of three weeks), and who require long-term instruction at home or in the hospital. This service must be recommended by the IEP team.
- Preschool programs for children age 3 years to 4 years 11 months are also available. Preschool services may include, but not be limited to, Designated Instruction and Services (DIS) such as speech and language, adaptive PE and occupational therapy (OT).