Special Education

What is an IEP?

An Individualized Education Program, or IEP, describes what special education services a student will receive from the school district. It is drafted by an IEP team, which includes the parents. Students begin receiving special education program services as soon as their IEP is signed.

As appropriate, services are incorporated with general education curriculum and interactions with peers who do not have IEPs.

Parent/guardian(s) receive regular reports on students’ progress toward IEPs goals. In addition, the IEP team, including the parent(s), will review and update the IEP annually.

Which children are eligible to receive services?

Children with physical, emotional, academic, or intellectual disabilities age may be eligible for special services through the district’s Special Education program when they have a disabling condition which significantly affects educational performance and requires specially designed instruction. Evaluations for eligibility are completed at the school level. Parents/guardians are involved in the eligibility process and in determining placement into the program.

Information considered in the evaluation process:

• Teacher information
• Related health information
• Parent input
• Formal assessments
• Attendance information, past academic performance, and any additional pertinent data

To qualify for services, a child must meet criteria that have been established by Washington state and be in need of specially designed instruction. Specially designed instruction is defined as assistance that is tailored to your child’s needs and planned by a special education teacher. For more information, please contact the counselor or administrator at your child’s school.

Transportation is provided as part of the special education services potentially available to students.

The IEP team determines the need for special transportation on an individual basis. Transportation is most often provided for students who are in specialized programs.

Special education students who ride the bus are transported with special education peers.

A guardian or established emergency contact person must meet special education students at their bus stop. Emergency contact people should present photo IDs to receive the student.

For this reason, it is important that contact information for guardians and emergency contact people is kept up to date. If you have recently changed your phone number(s), or have questions about transportation, please contact the transportation department.

How does a student exit out of Special Education Services?
Exiting special services requires the student’s IEP team to meet to review the student’s progress.

• It may be necessary to conduct a full or partial re-evaluation to determine next steps.
• The student may graduate and/or reach the age of 21.
• The parent may revoke permission to continue in special education.

Special education records include IEPs, evaluations and testing results.

Please note:

• The processing time is usually three to five business days. Emailed requests generally can be processed more quickly.
• Records can be picked up at the district office at  2715 Lilac St.
• If you are over 18, your records cannot be released to your parent(s), unless the parent has full legal guardianship. You must request and sign for the records.
• Records that are older than six years are not available. State law does not require districts to retain records for more than six years.
• If you are applying for Supplemental Security Income benefits, you do not need to provide a copy of your records to the Social Security Administration; they will request the records by an official form.