Special Education Department

Some children may need extra help at school through special education. Special education is for children who have a disability. Schools must follow certain procedures to decide if a child is eligible for special education. These procedures are written in state and federal laws. 

Procedural Safeguards (Notice of Parental Rights)

Annual Notice of Special Education Referral and Evaluation Procedures

Information for Parents/Guardians

Early Childhood: Child Find

Special Needs Scholarship Program

Special Education Terms

• DPI: Department of Public Instruction. DPI is in charge of all public schools.
• FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education.
• IEP: Individualized Education Program. The IEP is a written plan. It tells how the school will change the way they teach to fit your child’s needs.
• IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is the federal special education law.
• LEA: Local educational agency. Your LEA is usually your school district.

Resources:

• Parents United: A non-profit consortium of 18 Southeastern Wisconsin special education departments that provides free presentations on various topics to help parents and educators of students with special needs.
• Parent 2 Parent of Wisconsin: Connects parents who have similar experiences with their special needs child.
• Parents Place: The organization focuses on strengthening families and protecting children through community education, parenting classes, support groups, child advocacy, and supervised visitations.
• Wisconsin First Step: Information and referral hotline that serves Wisconsin families with children/youth who have special needs
• Katie Beckett Program: Special eligibility process that allows certain children with long-term disabilities or special healthcare needs to obtain healthcare coverage under Wisconsin's Medicaid Program
• Sibling Support Project: Provides peer support & information opportunities for siblings of persons with special needs
• Disability Scoop: Developmental disability news
• Broadscope Disability Services: Provides programs, services, and resources for people and families with disabilities

Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Resources

• Attention Deficit Disorder Association
• Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
• One ADD Place
• ADDitude Magazine

Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Resources

• Reading Resource: Resources for struggling readers and those with dyslexia
• Learning Disabilities Association of Wisconsin
• Learning Disabilities Association of America
• National Center for Learning Disabilities
• International Dyslexia Association
• Guide to Overcoming Dyslexia

Autism Resources

• Autism Society of Wisconsin
• Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin
• Global Autism Collaboration
• National Autism Association
• US Autism & Asperger Association
• American Autism Association
• Autism Research Institute
• Autism Speaks

Down Syndrome Resources

• Down Syndrome: Health Issues
• National Down Syndrome Society
• National Association for Down Syndrome
• Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin

Cerebral Palsy Resources

• United Cerebral Palsy

Mental Health Resources

• The Balanced Mind: Resources for bipolar disorder
• National Institute of Mental Health
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Mental Health America of Wisconsin

Speech & Hearing Resources

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (Apraxia Kids)
• International Stuttering Association
• American Academy of Audiology
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• National Association of the Deaf