Special Education

and Intervention Services

Our Commitments to Children and Families

District-Provided Services and Supports

• All CMSD schools provide access to special education services. 
  • As much as possible, students with disabilities attend the same school that they would attend if they did not have a disability.
• A student's IEP team determines the settings in which the child will receive those services, with a focus on the Least Restrictive Environment - educated with non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible.
  • No student will be segregated or excluded from regular classes solely based on their disability.
• Specially Designed Instruction and core content education may take place in the regular education classroom with accommodations and supports, or in a small-group resource room setting, or in a single classroom environment (separate classroom) for one or all core subjects. These decisions are made by the IEP team and are based on the needs of the student as well as the type of instruction and services identified. 
  • For example, a student in seventh grade who requires specially designed instruction in basic reading may receive some of that instruction in a resource room setting with an Intervention Specialist because the seventh grade curriculum does not include phonics instruction for all students.
  • As another example, a student with multiple disabilities may receive instruction that is significantly modified to address functional and life skills, and they may be grouped with students who require similar modifications.
• To meet the needs of students in their LRE, all CMSD schools have access to related services from highly qualified CMSD profesionals, including but not limited to:
  • psychological services
  • nursing services
  • speech and language therapy
  • augmentative and assistive communication
  • occupational therapy
  • physical therapy
  • audiology
  • itinerant Teacher of the Deaf services
  • sign language interpreter services
  • itinerant Teacher of the Visually Impaired services
  • orientation & mobility services for visually impaired students
  • secondary transition services
• CMSD also offers specialized classes within schools in every region of the city for specific and/or significant needs.  Models include:
  • Special Education Preschool - integrated and self-contained models
  • Intensive Academic Support (adapted grade-level curriculum)
  • Low Incidence (significantly modified, functional curriculum)
  • Intensive Behavior Intervention (grade level curriculum with enhanced support for social-emotional and behavioral needs)
  • Medically Fragile (significantly modified, functional curriculum with additional help with daily living)
  • Self-contained classes with a Teacher of the Deaf or Teacher of the Visually Impaired
• In the event that a child's neighborhood school cannot provide the services outlined by the IEP, transportation is provided to a school that can meet their needs, taking distance into account.

The IEP as a Pathway to Success, From Identification to Graduation

Regardless of a student's disability or placement, their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is designed to map out their unique pathway to postsecondary education, competitive integrated employment, and a fulfilling, independent adult life.