Special Education
Families and Students
Introduction to Special Education
Some children have unique learning needs that require special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Resources for Families
There are many resources to help students and families understand special education and prepare for IEP meetings.
Organizations that Help Families
There are many agencies and organizations that provide free resources and support to families.
Parent and Student Rights
Students with disabilities and their parents have certain rights under state and federal special education laws.
Schools and Educators
Special Education Compliance
Maintaining compliance with state and federal special education laws through sample forms, notices, and procedures as well as bulletins, procedural compliance self-assessment, and dispute resolution options.
Disability Category Forms and Guides
Wisconsin has criteria for 12 disability categories that provide information for special education disability category identification.
Special Education Fiscal Resources
Budgeting technical assistance to address identified needs and improve outcomes.
Mission
Beliefs
- We believe that supporting a culture of high expectations to promote excellence for all students is best achieved through intentional partnerships.
- We believe educational decisions are made with and by students and their families, supporting students to become experts in their own learning and active participants in determining their future.
- We believe all educational environments should be accessible, inclusive and equitable to achieve social justice.
- We believe that everyone brings valuable perspectives that deserve representation when developing and implementing policies and best practices.
Collective Commitments
- The intentional use of an equity lens while making policy decisions, recommendations, and determining work priorities
- Providing excellent customer service through using a trauma informed care lens if applicable, while empathizing and humanizing families’ experiences navigating the special education systems
- Partnering with stakeholders in an authentic way to ensure lived experience is evident in all we do
- Providing timely, accurate information
- Maximizing human and financial resources to promote equity, high expectations, and positive outcomes for students with IEPs
- Questioning the status quo to bring underlying assumptions to the surface
- Embracing flexibility rather than protecting silos
- Collaborating and networking with intention
- Using asset-based language as evidenced by highlighting successes as well as gaps to illustrate positive student outcomes
- Promoting and modeling socially valued roles across all teachers, families, and educators
- Supporting our teammates
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