Special Education & 504 Plans
Special Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that all students identified as a "child with a disability" have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This plan outlines specific accommodations that will be made to help the student perform successfully in school. At SLCSE, students who receive Special Education services take all core classes together with their peers, but during their elective period they have a class called Directed Studies. Special Education teachers co-teach in some of the core classes, so they understand what work is required of students and can help them during Study Skills.
The process for receiving an IEP is as follows:
1. A student is identified (by parents or teachers) as one who would potentially benefit from Special Education services.
2. The student is evaluated and eligibility determined. The student must meet the IDEA definition of a "child with a disability."
3. If eligible, an IEP is created. If not eligible, at SLCSE we will look at what other accommodations can be made to help the student.
U.S. Department of Education Website: A Guide to the Individualized Education Program
504 Plans
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states, ‘No qualified individual with disabilities, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.’
If a student has a disability that impairs "a major life activity" (such as sitting, standing, seeing, walking, etc.) they have the same right to an education as everyone else. SLCSE will develop a plan to ensure that this student has full access to the curriculum. In the case of a 504 Plan, modifications to the curriculum are NOT made.
U.S. Department of Education Website: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities
Special Education
At SLCSE, we believe all students should have the opportunity to create their own future. We believe each student has potential and strengths and we want to help them find and nurture theirs. Part of our motto is failing forward. We teach this by allowing students to make mistakes and learn from them and by teaching them that failure is part of the process and perseverance will be their biggest success.
Students are in a full-inclusion model where they participate in all general education classes. They also take a Directed Studies class in which they are given rigorous direct instruction that is focused on supporting their unique learning styles as it relates to their disability. Individually differentiated instruction is provided in students’ core subject areas by Special Education teachers and paraprofessionals to ensure academic success and achievement. Students are taught social and emotional, executive functioning, and academic skills related to their IEP goals. Teachers’ expectations in these areas increase at each grade level to help prepare students to reach their post-secondary goals