Services

Overview
   The department's special education consultants provide technical assistance to schools and other organizations to help ensure that schools understand and comply with federal and state laws and regulations related to providing special education services. In addition, the special education division offers a due process procedure to parents who have concerns about the services offered to their children.
   Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, Idaho is required to identify and evaluate students who have disabilities and to offer them individualized education programs (IEP) for special education and related services. Decisions regarding the serviced that are included in an IEP are made by a team using a process specified in the law. An IEP team includes a student's classroom teacher, special educator, parent(s) and representative of the school district who is empowered to commit resources such as staff time or funding. By law, schools are required to carry out provisions outlined in a student's IEP

Services
Resources Instruction
   Students with mild to moderate disabilities receive resource instruction in a separate classroom for part of their school day. This level of service supplements regular class instruction. Resource teachers typically work with student on skill deficits or subjects, and provide daily individual and small group instruction. All of our schools provide resource special education classrooms, and have instructional assistants who provide instructional services within the student's regular classroom.

Self Contained Classroom
   At this level of service, students with severe problems receive instruction in a separate classroom for the majority of the school day. Self-contained classrooms offer the environment changes needed for severe problems. One teacher is in charge for most of the school day and provides the majority of instruction. This type of setting is used for students that need to work on life skills.

Homebound Instruction
   Homebound instruction is provided for special education students who because of medical or behavioral problems are either:
     1. Unable to attend regular classes for a period of not less than three school months; or
     2. Capable of learning at school but are unable to attend classes for intermittent periods of time during a school year.

Related Services
   Related services include transportation and other support services, such as speech or physical therapy, required for students with disabilities to benefit for special education. Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are available at all of our district schools.

Extended School Year (ESY)
Extended school year services are offered to eligible special education students during summer vacation. ESY is for students who lose important skills due to regular breaks in instruction and who require an excessive amount of time to regain those skills. Skills appropriate for ESY consideration include those related to self-sufficiency, behavior, socialization, communication skills, medical history, cognitive development, gross/fine motor skills, and social-emotional development. Eligible children may attend a developmental preschool program at Grace Elementary School.

Transition Services
Transition services are provided for students who are at least fourteen years old. These services, which are based on each student's needs, interests and preferences, help students make the transition for school to post-school activities, including college education, vocational training, employment, continuing and adult services, independent living and community participation.