New Ulm Public Schools

Special Education Services

 What is Special Education?
Special Education is specially designed
instruction to meet the unique needs of a child
with a disability. Special education is an
instructional service, not a place.

Students with disabilities are general education

students first. They receive special education
support services in conjunction with the general
education curriculum.
 The purpose of special education is “to ensure
that all children with disabilities have available to
them free appropriate public education that
emphasizes special education and related
services designed to meet their unique needs and
prepare them for further education, employment,
and independent living.” IDEA 601(d)(1)
 NUPS SPED Population

Statewide SPED Population: 15.7% NUPS SPED Population: 17.7%

Road to Success

2. Developing 3. Providing
1. Identifying and
Individualized specialized
evaluating students for
Education instruction and
SPED services
Programs services
1 Identifying
Students with
Disabilities
Referral and Assessment Process
 Referral Process

1. Pre-referral 2. Interventions: 3. Referral:

process: -Implement a - If both interventions
- A teacher brings minimum of two are not successful, the
the student referral interventions. child is referred to the
to the grade level Interventions are in problem solving team.
team for discussion place for 6-8 weeks The team reviews all
about interventions in an attempt to documentation and
and support for that solve the problem(s) makes recommendations
specific student. exhibited by the depending on the
- Parent request. student. specific student’s needs.
SPED Assessment

➢ A special education evaluation is a process used for making

decisions about a child’s eligibility for special education.
➢ The evaluation must be comprehensive.
➢ A special education evaluation is done to decide
○ whether a child has a disability and
○ whether a child requires special education
(demonstrates educational need).
➢ Both conditions must be met in order for a child to be
eligible to receive special education supports and services.
 NUPS Students receiving
Special Education Services

Speech and Language Impairment (SLI) - 65

Development Delay (DD) - 52
Developmental Cognitive Delay (M/M) - 10
Developmental Cognitive Delay (S/P) - 7
Physical Impairment (PI) - 4
Deaf and Hard of Hearing DHH) - 5
Visually Impaired (VI) - 2
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) - 126
Emotional/Behavior Disorders (EBD) - 54
Other Health Disabilities (OHD) - 55
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) - 66
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - 4
Severely Multiply Impaired (SMI) - 4
SPED Services

413 students from NUPS

43 students from private schools

7 students transitioning from River Bend
155 students receive SPED transportation
2
Developing
Individualized
Education
Program (IEP)
Planning Process
What is IEP?

IEP is a legal document

➢ Based on special education needs identified through a
comprehensive evaluation process
➢ Includes the student’s
○ Goals and Objectives
○ Services (in the Least Restrictive Environment)
○ Accommodations and Modifications
➢ May also include other services and support such as
○ Assistive Technology
○ Paraprofessional Support
○ SPED Transportation
○ Extended School Year Services
 The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers,
parents, school administrators, and related
services personnel to work together to improve
educational results for a child with disability.
3 Providing
SPED Services
and Support
Implementation Process
Number of Students
Receiving SPED Services

102 WLC
Jefferson
147
Elementary
115 Middle
School
High
93
School
Diagram featured by http://slidemodel.com
Washington Learning
Center SPED Programs

ECSE Kindergarten

- The Theo Right Center - Pull-out SPED Services

- Center-based Services - Separate SPED Classroom
- Pull-out SPED Services - Push-in Model
- Itinerant Teacher - Related Services (Speech,
Model/Inclusion OT, DAPE, etc.)
Jefferson Elementary

- Pull-out services - Resource Room

- Speech and Language - Sensory Breaks Room
- Related services (OT, - Push-in Model
DAPE, DHH, PI, etc.) - Level III EBD Program
Level III EBD Program

- Will provide students with behavioral needs support for

more than 60% of the school day in a special education setting,
with planned integration into regular classes.
- Service delivery model will include high structure, highly
predictable schedule, opportunities to support sensory needs,
training in social skills, and academic curriculum based on the
educational needs of the individual students.
- The program is focused on providing students with
self-management skills they need to be successful in the
classroom and community.
Middle School

- Pull-out model to provide SPED services

- Push-in model for math skills (5th & 6th)
- Study Skills training and support
- Supplementary Services
- SPED Resource Room
- Collaboration time between Gen. Ed. and SPED teachers
 High School

- Co-taught classes
Focus on three areas: - Flexible schedule to allow
students take electives
- Supplemental Services
- Pull-out Model for academic,
social, behavior, transition skills,
study skills and life skills
- ACE Program - Resource Room
with para support
- Work Experience Program
- Assessment Specialist
NEXT STEPS:
- continue improving
instructional support
-increase inclusive
opportunities for students
receiving SPED services
-better meet social and
emotional needs of our
students with disabilities
THANK YOU!

Any questions?
You can contact me at isoboleva@newulm.k12.mn.us
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